Effect of hydrogen participation on the improvement in electrical characteristics of HfO2 gate dielectrics by post-deposition remote N2, N2/H2, and NH3 plasma treatments

Li Tien Huang, Ming Lun Chang, Jhih Jie Huang, Chin Lung Kuo, Hsin Chih Lin, Ming Han Liao*, Min Hung Lee, Miin Jang Chen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The structural and electrical characteristics of hafnium oxide (HfO2) gate dielectrics treated by a variety of post-deposition nitridation processes, including remote N2, N2/H2 and NH3 plasma, are presented by the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electrical measurements. The XPS measurement reveals that the nitrogen content in the HfO2 thin film treated by remote nitrogen and hydrogen plasma is higher than that treated only by remote nitrogen plasma, suggesting that the hydrogen has the capability to facilitate nitrogen dissociation. An ultra-thin interfacial layer (IL) thickness (∼0.3 nm), a high dielectric constant (20), an acceptable gate leakage current density (∼9 × 10-6 A cm-2), and a low capacitance equivalent thickness (1.9 nm) of the HfO2 gate dielectric were achieved by the post-deposition remote NH3 plasma nitridation treatment. However, an IL layer as thick as 1.5 nm was observed in the sample treated only by remote N2 plasma. The results indicate that the participation of hydrogen in the nitridation process is a promising way to improve the electrical properties of HfO2 gate dielectrics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number055103
JournalJournal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Volume46
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 Feb 6

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Acoustics and Ultrasonics
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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