Investigation of high resistivity p-type FZ silicon diodes after 60Co γ-irradiation

Abstract

In this work, the effects of $^\text{60}$Co $γ$-ray irradiation on high resistivity $p$-type diodes have been investigated. The diodes were exposed to dose values of 0.1, 0.2, 1, and \SI{2}{\mega Gy}. Both macroscopic ($I$--$V$, $C$--$V$) and microscopic (Thermally Stimulated Current~(TSC)) measurements were conducted to characterize the radiation-induced changes. The investigated diodes were manufactured on high resistivity $p$-type Float Zone (FZ) silicon and were further classified into two types based on the isolation technique between the pad and guard ring: $p$-stop and $p$-spray. After irradiation, the macroscopic results of current-voltage and capacitance-voltage measurements were obtained and compared with existing literature data. Additionally, the microscopic measurements focused on the development of the concentration of different radiation-induced defects, including the boron interstitial and oxygen interstitial (B$_\text{i}$O$_\text{i}$) complex, the carbon interstitial and oxygen interstitial C$_\text{i}$O$_\text{i}$ defect, the H40K, and the so-called I$_\text{P}^*$. To investigate the thermal stability of induced defects in the bulk, isochronal annealing studies were performed in the temperature range of \SI{80}{\celsius} to \SI{300}{\celsius}. These annealing processes were carried out on diodes irradiated with doses of 1 and \SI{2}{\mega Gy} and the corresponding TSC spectra were analysed. Furthermore, in order to investigate the unexpected results observed in the $C$-$V$ measurements after irradiation with high dose values, the surface conductance between the pad and guard ring was measured as a function of both dose and annealing temperature.