Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
We discuss the use of electron beam induced current measurements in a scanning electron microscope to deduce local Schottky barrier height with high spatial resolution. For theNiSi2/Si system, using UHV-prepared thin “templates”, wedemonstrate the uniformity of barrier heights for A or B single crystal films. In comparison, there is evidence for local variation of barrier height in mixed A+B films. Quantitative models for EBIC dependence on barrier height are discussed. Local variations in barrier height can be overlooked by other techniques and may be much more common than previously suspected.