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The effects of nitrogen profile and concentration on negative bias temperature instability of plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition HfO{sub x}N{sub y} prepared by in situ nitridation

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2978360· OSTI ID:21182641
;  [1]
  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja-Dong, Nam-Gu, Pohang 790-784 (Korea, Republic of)

We have prepared plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition HfO{sub x}N{sub y} thin films by in situ nitridation using nitrogen/oxygen mixture plasma and studied the effects of nitrogen contents and profiles on the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI). The nitrogen depth profiles and concentrations were controlled by changing the exposure sequences and the nitrogen to oxygen flow ratio, respectively. The best immunity to NBTI degradations was obtained for the nitrogen to oxygen ratio of 2:1 when nitrogen atoms are incorporated away from the high k/Si interface. We propose a dielectric degradation mechanism based on the reaction-diffusion model in which nitrogen plays a role of hydrogen generator at the interface and diffusion barrier in the bulk film.

OSTI ID:
21182641
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 104; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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