Analysis and quantification by XPS of active dopants in heavily doped epitaxial layers

Thesis topic details

General information

Organisation

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.

Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.

The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
  

Reference

SL-DRT-26-0813  

Direction

DRT

Thesis topic details

Category

Condensed Matter Physics, chemistry, nanosciences

Thesis topics

Analysis and quantification by XPS of active dopants in heavily doped epitaxial layers

Contract

Thèse

Job description

RP-CVD epitaxy plays an important role in microelectronics because it allows the growth of heavily doped layers while maintaining the crystalline orientation of the starting substrate. A good control of these layers is mandatory to ensure the reliability of the devices. In particular, heavily doped epitaxial layers of Si or SiGe are needed to reduce contacts resistivity. The objective of this thesis is to develop a characterization technique able to measure the dopants concentration and their chemical environment which determines whether they are electrically active or not. The work will consist in evaluating X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to quantify dopants such as As, P and B and identity they chemical state. The impact of growth parameters, particularly the temperature and the precursors, will be evaluated to obtain heavily doped thin films without morphological degradation while minimizing inactive dopants concentration. Methodological developments will be carried out with XPS to obtain a reproducible and in-line characterization of the doping. Experimental conditions and spectra post-treatments will be optimized. The PhD student will also do exploratory measurements using hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). Other characterization techniques such as SIMS, FTIR and XRD as well as electrical measurements will complement the results.

University / doctoral school


Thesis topic location

Site

Grenoble

Requester

Position start date

01/10/2026

Person to be contacted by the applicant

MARTINEZ Eugénie eugenie.martinez@cea.fr
CEA
DRT/DPFT//LASI
CEA-Leti
17 av des martyrs
38054 Grenoble Cedex 9
0438781951

Tutor / Responsible thesis director

MARTINEZ Eugénie eugenie.martinez@cea.fr
CEA
DRT/DPFT//LASI
CEA-Leti
17 av des martyrs
38054 Grenoble Cedex 9
0438781951

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