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Effect of Nitrogen on Band Alignment in HfSiON Gate Dielectrics

Journal Article · · Appl. Phys. Lett.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2135390· OSTI ID:913674

Nitridation of HfSiO films improves certain physical and electrical properties-when using gate stack layers-such as their crystallization temperature and their resistance to interdiffusion. We have studied the band alignment of HfSiO and HfSiON films by soft x-ray photoemission, oxygen K-edge x-ray absorption, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Nitridation of HfSiO reduced the band gap by 1.50 eV{+-}0.05 eV, and the valence- and conduction-band offsets by 1.2 eV{+-}0.1 eV and 0.33 eV{+-}0.05 eV, respectively. Although the band-gap reduction should lead to increased leakage, the barrier heights are still sufficient for proposed near-future complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor applications.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) National Synchrotron Light Source
Sponsoring Organization:
Doe - Office Of Science
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
913674
Report Number(s):
BNL--78242-2007-JA
Journal Information:
Appl. Phys. Lett., Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett. Vol. 87; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English