300-Period Si/SiGe Superlattices on 12-inch Wafers: Growth, Structural Integrity, and Challenges Relevant to 3D DRAM...

To overcome the scaling limits of conventional dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), three-dimensional DRAM (3D DRAM) has been proposed for next-generation high-density memory. Multi-period Si/SiGe superlattices (SLs) are key candidates for vertically stacked channel structures, but their high-period stacking capability is limited by degradation of structural integrity and crystalline quality. In this work, 300-period Si/SiGe SLs with different Ge contents (∼ 25 and ∼ 15%) were grown on 12-inch Si wafers using reduced-pressure chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD), achieving total film thicknesses exceeding ∼ 14 μm. A Si/Si0.75Ge0.25 SL was first fabricated and systematically characterized, revealing partial strain relaxation, degradation of vertical periodicity, and within-wafer non-uniformity. Subsequently, a 300-period Si/Si0.85Ge0.15 SL with reduced effective Ge content was grown under optimized process conditions. Compared with the Si/Si0.75Ge0.25 structure, the Si/Si0.85Ge0.15 SL exhibits improved layer-to-layer thickness control, more stable composition profiles, and enhanced within-wafer uniformity. However, partial strain relaxation and threading dislocations are still observed. Overall, this work provides experimental insights into the degradation evolution, optimization potential, and remaining limitations of 300-period Si/SiGe SLs on 12-inch wafers, offering guidance for further scaling of Si/SiGe epitaxy toward future 3D DRAM applications.