Fabrication of epitaxial CoSi₂ nanowires

We have developed a method for fabricating epitaxial CoSi₂ nanowires using only conventional optical lithography and standard silicon processing steps. This method was successfully applied to ultrathin epitaxial CoSi₂ layers grown on Si(100) and silicon-on-insulator substrates. A nitride mask induces a stress field near its edges into the CoSi₂/Si heterostructure and leads to the separation of the CoSi₂ layer in this region during a rapid thermal oxidation step. A subsequent etching step and a second oxidation generate highly homogenous silicide wires with dimensions down to 50 nm.