Effect of self-interstitials - nanovoids interaction on two-dimensional diffusion and activation of implanted B in Si

In this work, we investigate the effect of performing a high dose 20 keV He+ implant before the implantation of B at low energy (3 keV) in silicon and the subsequent thermal annealing at 800 degrees C. The implants were performed in laterally confined regions defined by opening windows in a SiO2 mask, in order to evidence the impact on a realistic configuration used in device fabrication. High resolution quantitative scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) combined with cross-section transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) allowed to clarify the role of the voids distribution produced during the thermal annealing on the diffusion and electrical activation of implanted B in Si. Particular evidence was given to the effect of the uniform nanovoids distribution, which forms in the region between the surface and the buried cavity layer.