Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
We describe the evolution and microstructure of Si/CoSi2/Si (100) and (111) heterostructures formed by Co+ ion implantation into Si substrates (“mesotaxy”), followed by high temperature annealing. It is shown that the CoSi2 precipitate nucleation and ripening process, and eventual coalescence into buried layers, is controlled by interfacial structure and energetics. Understanding and control of these processes allows for the first time synthesis of otherwise almost identical CoSi2 buried layers with either twinned or untwinned CoSi2/Si(111) interfaces.