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Title: Reduction in interface state density of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor interfaces by InGaAs surface nitridation

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4755804· OSTI ID:22089475
; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656 (Japan)
  2. Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., 6 Kitahara, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-3294 (Japan)
  3. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568 (Japan)

We report the decrease in interface trap density (D{sub it}) in Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors by using electron cyclotron resonance plasma nitridation of the InGaAs surfaces. The impact of the nitridation process on the MOS interface properties is quantitatively examined. The plasma nitridation process is observed to form a nitrided layer at the InGaAs surface. The nitridation using microwave power (P{sub microwave}) of 250 W and nitridation time (t{sub nitridation}) of 420 s can form Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/InGaAs MOS interfaces with a minimum D{sub it} value of 2.0 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 11} cm{sup -2} eV{sup -1}. On the other hand, the nitridation process parameters such as P{sub microwave} and t{sub nitridation} are found to strongly alter D{sub it} (both decrease and increase are observed) and capacitance equivalent thickness (CET). It is found that the nitridation with higher P{sub microwave} and shorter t{sub nitridation} can reduce D{sub it} with less CET increase. Also, it is observed that as t{sub nitridation} increases, D{sub it} decreases first and increases later. It is revealed from XPS analyses that minimum D{sub it} can be determined by the balance between the saturation of nitridation and the progress of oxidation. As a result, it is found that the superior MOS interface formed by the nitridation is attributable to the existence of oxide-less InGaN/InGaAs interfaces.

OSTI ID:
22089475
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 112, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English