Patent ID: 7618850

Claim:
A method of making a diode, comprising: forming a first electrode; forming a semiconductor region in electrical contact with the first electrode, wherein the semiconductor region comprises a p-n or a p-i-n junction in at least one silicon, germanium or silicon-germanium layer; forming a titanium layer on the semiconductor region; forming a titanium nitride layer on the titanium layer; reacting the titanium layer with the semiconductor region to form a titanium silicide, titanium germanide, or titanium silicide-germanide layer on the semiconductor region; removing the titanium nitride layer and a remaining portion of the titanium layer after the step of reacting; and forming a second electrode in electrical contact with the titanium silicide, titanium germanide or titanium silicide-germanide layer; wherein the titanium silicide, titanium germanide or titanium silicide-germanide layer comprises a C49 phase titanium silicide, a C49 phase titanium germanide or a C49 phase titanium silicide-germanide layer.