WP4: Nanosecond laser annealing of 3D devices

Fig. 1: Atomistic (LKMC) simulations of the full LA process

Fig. 2: Nano-deformations and shape modifications

Laser annealing (LA) with space uniform beams (over ~ cm2 areas) and nanosecond range pulses is an extraordinary resource for the fabrication of unconventional devices, since it can potentially focus the heating with nanoscale resolution on a sub-portion of the samples. Work Package 4 aims at developing advanced simulation models for the process of laser annealing, extending the current understanding of the physical phenomena occurring during this process. In addition, dedicated experiments will be conducted to investigate the thermal and optical properties of materials during laser annealing, their structural modification, and the dopant activation under different laser annealing regimes. WP4 will mainly focus on:

The calibration of material parameters as a function of the laser frequency, temperature, and phase (solid, liquid, amorphous)
3D models and their experimental validation in nanostructured (i.e. patterned) samples
Accurate LA simulation of alloys (e.g., SiGe), where the material parameters depend on the variable alloy fraction in time and space
Phase nucleation and thermal transport phenomena in the nanoscale, beyond the validity of the Fourier law
Atomistic (LKMC) simulations of the full LA process (see Fig. 1)
3-phase phenomena and explosive crystallization in amorphous nanostructures
Stress effects and stress evolution at the nanoscale
Nano-deformations and shape modifications (see Fig. 2)

WP4 coordinator: Antonino LaMagna, CNR-IMM

Selected publications

I. Bejenari, A. Burenkov, P. Pichler, I. Deretzis, A. Sciuto, A. La Magna
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Supporting the Development of a Continuum Model of Heat Transport in Nanowires
Proceedings 27th International Workshop on Thermal Investigations of ICs and Systems (THERMINIC 2021), p. 194-199   Download

N. Chery, M. Zhang, R. Monflier, N. Mallet, G. Seine, V. Paillard, J.M. Poumirol, G. Larrieu, A.S. Royet, S. Kerdiles, P. Acosta-Alba, M. Perego, C. Bonafos, F. Cristiano
Study of Recrystallization and Activation Processes in Thin and Highly Doped Silicon-on-insulator Layers by Nanosecond Laser Thermal Annealing
Journal of Applied Physics 131 (2022) 065301   Download

G. Calogero, D. Raciti, P. Acosta-Alba, F. Cristiano, I. Deretzis, G. Fisicaro, K. Huet, S. Kerdiles, A. Sciuto, A. LaMagna
Multicale Modeling of Ultrafast Melting Phenomena
npj Comput. Mater. 8 (2022) 36   Download