Silicon whisker growth by the vapour-liquid-solid process

Abstract

Crystals of silicon have been grown by the vapour-liquid-solid (V.L.S.) process from gold-silicon alloys and studied by scanning electron microscopy. The growth obtained varies from epitaxial layers at high temperatures to fine whiskers at low temperatures. The morphology of the whiskers was found to vary greatly as the experimental conditions were changed. The experiments confirm the important role played by the surface tension of the molten alloy zone. Recent criticisms against a more general application of the V.L.S. process have been largely removed as a result of this work.