Optical characterization of the PtSi/Si by using spectroscopic ellipsometry

Abstract

We report optical characterization of PtSi films for thermoelectric device applications by nondestructive spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Pt monolayer and Pt-Si multilayer which consists of 3 pairs of Pt and Si layers were deposited on p-doped-silicon substrates by sputtering method and then rapid annealing process was done to form PtSi films through intermixing of Pt and Si atoms at the interface. Pseudodielectric function data <ε> = <ε 1 > + i<ε 2 > of the PtSi/Si samples were obtained from 1.12 to 6.52 eV by using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Employing Tauc-Lorentz and Drude models, the dielectric function (ε) of PtSi films were determined. We found that the composition ratio of Pt:Si is nearly 1:1 for PtSi monolayer and we observed transitions between occupied and unoccupied states in Pt 5d states. We also observed formation of PtSi layers in Pt-Si multilayer sample. The SE results were confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.