Annealing of damage and stability of implanted ions in ZnO crystals

Abstract

The annealing of Bi, Cr, and Mn, implanted in ZnO, has been studied by Rutherford backscattering, ion channeling, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Implantation of ∼1016 ions/cm2 of any of these elements produces large concentrations of Zn interstitials, but no completely amorphous region. The temperature at which these interstitials anneal is a function of the implant species. Other defects produced by the implantation, which give rise to dechanneling and a consequent increased scattering probability in the tails of backscattering spectra, anneal at significantly higher temperature. This annealing is also a function of the implant species. Motion of the implant ions themselves does not occur when the interstitials anneal; it takes place above 700 °C for Bi and Mn, and above 1000 °C for Cr.