The critical amount of nitrogen atoms at the interface, above which the roughness of the oxynitride/Si(100) interface increases, was studied using noncontact-mode atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The interface roughness was found to increase upon increasing the amount of nitrogen atoms at and near the interface if the amount of nitrogen atoms is greater than 0.37 monolayers. This increase in interface roughness was found to be reflected in an increase in surface roughness of almost the same amount.

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