Low Schottky barrier of rare-earth silicide on <i>n</i>-Si

Disilicide of rare-earth metals (Dy, Er, Ho, and Gd) and Y have been formed by reacting the metallic film on both n- and p-type silicons at around 350 °C for Schottky-barrier height measurement using I-V technique. A passivation coating of W, or Pt, or both was used to prevent the rare earth from oxidation. Schottky-barrier heights of about 0.4 eV on n-Si and 0.7 eV on p-Si were determined.