Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
The oxidation resistance of ultrathin (5–15Å) thermally grown silicon nitride (Si3N4), in conditions relevant to the deposition/annealing of Tantalum Pentoxide (Ta2O5) in a Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) environment, has been non destructively examined using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). This has been carried out with a view to establishing a process window for the deposition of Ta2O5 on a Rapid Thermally Nitrided (RTN) Si(100) surface, with negligible oxidation of the Si(100) substrate. A physical model of the oxidation process of these films is also proposed.