Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
Substrate material used for fabrication of P/P + epitaxial silicon wafers was preannealed at 650 °C in nitrogen ambient prior to the epitaxial deposition process for various times up to 300 min. The substrate material originated from a characterized crystal ingot. The results show that annealing before epitaxial deposition can preserve oxide precipitate nuclei from dissolution during the epitaxial deposition process. Additional postepitaxial annealing at 750 °C further enhances the growth of bulk defects.