The influence of boron (B)/arsenic (As) on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of NiSi formation on shallow junctions is investigated in this paper. The Ni-silicide film was formed after 30 s soak anneal at 450 degrees C on ultra shallow p+/n or n+/p junctions. The atomic ratio of Ni/Si profile in depth was probed by XPS and the results show that a uniform NiSi layer forms on B-doped p+/n junction while a non-uniform, Ni-rich silicide layer forms on As-doped n+/p junction. It does not agree with the results of other independent phase identification methods such as X-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and Raman scattering spectroscopy, which all demonstrate the formation of NiSi on both n+/p and p+/n junctions. Comparing the raw binding energy spectra of Ni and Si for each silicide film, the similar spectra for Ni signals are revealed. But the Si signals with an obviously smaller intensity is found to be responsible for the apparent Ni rich silicide formation on As-doped n+/p junction. It indicates that As atoms in the silicide film can affect the sputtering yield of Ni and Si, while no noticeable effect is observed for B atoms. More As atoms than B atoms segregation into the silicide layer is indeed verified by secondary ion mass spectroscopy. And micro-Raman scattering spectroscopy further confirms that the degree of crystallinity for NiSi on n+/p junction is inferior to that on p+/n junction. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.