Abstract
Laser-induced melt-mediated Ni-based germanosilicide has been formed on condensed SiGe substrates (with 40% Ge). Pure Ni germanosilicide formation was plagued by the presence of amorphous oxygen-rich globules. Platinum alloying has greatly improved the morphology of the laser-induced Ni(Pt) germanosilicide with the alleviation of oxygen incorporation during laser annealing. This results in an improvement in the surface roughness and electrical conductivity of the germanosilicide film. Low affinity of Pt toward oxygen is believed to have resulted in this improvement. (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.