Patent ID: 6391662
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: C30B

Abstract:
A process for revealing agglomerated intrinsic point defects and slip dislocations in a single crystal silicon sample, the process comprising:thermally annealing the sample at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to stabilize B-defects, such that these defects may not be dissolved upon subsequent heating of the sample to a temperature in excess of about 1100Â° C.; cooling the annealed sample; coating a surface of the cooled sample with a composition containing a metal capable of decorating agglomerated intrinsic point defects; heat-treating the coated sample in an inert atmosphere to diffuse the metal into the coated sample; cooling the heat-treated sample to decorate the defects; etching the surface of the decorated sample with a non-delineating etchant to remove residues and precipitants without delineating the decorated agglomerated intrinsic point defects; and, delineating the etched surface with a delineating etchant to reveal the decorated agglomerated intrinsic point defects.