Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
A new method for the growth of epitaxial compound thin films, termed allotaxy, is proposed and the fabrication of the silicide heterostructure Si/CoSi2/Si(100) Is demonstrated. Allotaxy is a two. step process. In our example, Si is deposited on a heated Si substrate and then Co is coevaporated at varying rates such that a peaked Co-depth profile in Si is generated. At appropriate deposition conditions CoSi2 precipitates embedded in single crystalline Si are formed. These precipitates coarsen and coalesce into a buried, uniform, epitaxial CoSi2 layer during the second processing step, a high temperature anneal. Allotaxy should allow not only the epitaxial growth of silicides but also that of other binary, precipitates forming systems.