Role of strain in the blistering of hydrogen-implanted silicon

The authors investigated the physical mechanisms underlying blistering in hydrogen-implanted silicon by examining the correlation between implantation induced damage, strain distribution, and vacancy diffusion. Using Rutherford backscattering, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, they found that the depth of blisters coincided with that of maximum implantation damage. A model based on experimental results is presented showing the effect of tensile strain on the local diffusion of vacancies toward the depth of maximum damage, which promotes the nucleation and growth of platelets and ultimately blisters.