Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
We have studied strained Si layers grown on Si1-xGex virtual substrate (VS) by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Aberration-corrected HRTEM coupled with geometric phase analysis (GPA) provides precise measurements of strain. Different parameters are investigated: the VS composition (x=20, 30, 40 and 50%) and the s-Si layer thickness. Finite element method simulations confirm our measurements. Measurements and simulations lead to the conclusion that the strain state of the deposited layer is independent of the layer thickness. We apply the technique to measuring strains in the channel region of a p-MOSFET and show that the technique is a promising metrological tool for nanoelectronic devices.