Rare earth silicide Schottky barriers

Abstract

In the practice of this disclosure, rare earth disilicide low Schottky barriers (.ltorsim.0.4 eV) are used as low resistance contacts to n-Si. Further, high resistance contacts to p-Si (Schottky barrier of .gtorsim.0.7 eV) are also available by practice of this disclosure. A method is disclosed for forming contemporaneously high (.gtorsim.0.8 eV) and low (.ltorsim.0.4 eV) energy Schottky barriers on an n-doped silicon substrate. Illustratively, the high energy Schottky barrier is formed by reacting platinum or iridium with silicon; the low energy Schottky barrier is formed by reacting a rare earth with silicon to form a disilicide. Illustratively, a double layer of Pt/on W is an effective diffusion barrier on Gd and prevents the Gd from oxidation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.