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Post-stress/breakdown leakage mechanism in ultrathin high-κ (HfO2)x(SiO2)1-x/SiO2 gate stacks: A nanoscale conductive-Atomic Force Microscopy C-AFM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Hasan Javed Uppal ,
Vladimir Markevich ,
Stergios N Volkos ,
Athanasios Dimoulas ,
Bruce Hamilton  and
Anthony R Peaker
Hasan Javed Uppal
Affiliation:
Hasan.Uppal@postgrad.manchester.ac.ukHasan.Uppal@gmail.com, University of Manchester, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Microelectronics and Nanostructures (M&N) Research, Manchester, United Kingdom
Vladimir Markevich
Affiliation:
V.Markevich@manchester.ac.uk, University of Manchester, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Microelectronics and Nanostructures (M&N) Research, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Stergios N Volkos
Affiliation:
svolkos@mdm.infm.it, MBE Institute of Materials Science, NCSR DEMOKRITOS, Athens, Greece
Athanasios Dimoulas
Affiliation:
dimoulas@ims.demokritos.gr, MBE Institute of Materials Science, NCSR DEMOKRITOS, Athens, Greece
Bruce Hamilton
Affiliation:
bruce.hamilton@manchester.ac.uk, University of Manchester, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Microelectronics and Nanostructures (M&N) Research, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Anthony R Peaker
Affiliation:
peaker@manchester.ac.uk, University of Manchester, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Microelectronics and Nanostructures (M&N) Research, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
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Abstract

Conductive atomic force microscopy (C–AFM) in ultra high vacuum (UHV) has been used to characterize charge trapping in ultrathin as–deposited oxide films of 2–4 nm (HfO2)x(SiO2)1-x/SiO2 multilayer gate stacks. Pre– and post–stress/breakdown (BD) dielectric degradation is analyzed on a nanoscale. A systematic observation probes stress induced trap generation facilitating physical stack BD. Degradation is considered in terms of the pronounced localized leakage contribution through the high–κ and interlayer SiOx. Simultaneous nanoscale current–voltage (I-V) characteristics and C–AFM imaging illlutrates charge trapping/decay from the native or stress induced traps with intrinsic charge lateral propagation. A post–stress/BD constant voltage imaging shows effects of stress bias polarity on the BD induced topography and trap assisted nano–current variations. Physical attributes of deformed artifacts relate strongly to the polarity of electron injection (gate or substrate) so discriminating the trap generation in high–κ and interlayer SiOx revealing non–homogeneous (dynamic) nature of leakage.

Keywords

nanoscaledielectricdefects
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1108: Symposium A – Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices , 2008 , 1108-A10-06
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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References

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