Epitaxial silicon samples of n type have been implanted with 850 keV p
rotons at doses of 5.8 x 10(11) to 5 x 10(13) H+ cm(-2). Subsequent in
diffusion of platinum at 700 degrees C for 30 min resulted in the pres
ence of a single deep level, which is attributed to the platinum accep
tor level, at 0.23 eV below the conduction band edge. Depth profiling
of this level shows that the substitutional platinum is following the
vacancy profile in the peak region around the projected range for the
protons. In addition, at more shallow depths, a strong increase of the
platinum concentration is also observed. Without ion implantation, no
deep levels are detected after in-diffusion at 700 degrees C, while a
t 800 degrees C, the Pt deep level concentration is inferior to the on
e reached after preimplantation of hydrogen with a dose of at least 5
x 10(12) H+ cm(-2). In-diffusion at 600 degrees C into 5 x 10(13) H+ c
m(-2) implanted samples did not lead to an enhanced platinum accumulat
ion. A tentative explanation of this proximity gettering of Pt is prop
osed, which is for the first time observed after light-ion irradiation
. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(98)05720-X].