Interface Characterization of the High-k Gate Dielectric Pr2O3
- Pr2O3 is currently under consideration as a potential alternative gate dielectric candidate for sub-0.1 µm Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. For all thin gate dielectrics, the interface with silicon plays a key role, and in most cases is a dominant factor in determining overall electrical properties. We studied the Pr2O3/Si(001) interface by a non-destructive depth profiling using synchrotron radiation photo-electron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Our results provide evidence that a chemical reactive interface exists consisting of a mixed Si-Pr oxide such as (Pr2O3)x(SiO2)1−x, typically in non-stoichiometric composition. There is no formation of neither an interfacial SiO2 nor interfacial silicide: all Si-Pr bonds are oxidized and all SiO4 units dissolve in the Pr oxide. Interfacial silicates like (Pr2O3)x(SiO2)1−x are promising high-k dielectric materials because they represent incremental modification of SiO2 films by Pr ions so that the interface characteristics can be similar to Si-SiO2 interfacePr2O3 is currently under consideration as a potential alternative gate dielectric candidate for sub-0.1 µm Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. For all thin gate dielectrics, the interface with silicon plays a key role, and in most cases is a dominant factor in determining overall electrical properties. We studied the Pr2O3/Si(001) interface by a non-destructive depth profiling using synchrotron radiation photo-electron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Our results provide evidence that a chemical reactive interface exists consisting of a mixed Si-Pr oxide such as (Pr2O3)x(SiO2)1−x, typically in non-stoichiometric composition. There is no formation of neither an interfacial SiO2 nor interfacial silicide: all Si-Pr bonds are oxidized and all SiO4 units dissolve in the Pr oxide. Interfacial silicates like (Pr2O3)x(SiO2)1−x are promising high-k dielectric materials because they represent incremental modification of SiO2 films by Pr ions so that the interface characteristics can be similar to Si-SiO2 interface properties. Under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, silicide formation is observed when the silicate film is heated above 800∘C. The praseodymium silicate system observed at the interface between Si(001) and Pr2O3 offers greater flexibility towards integration of Pr2O3 into future CMOS technologies.…
Author: | Hans-Joachim Müssig, Jarek Marek Dabrowski, Dieter SchmeißerORCiD |
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URL: | http://www.dpg-verhandlungen.de/year/2003/conference/dresden/part/hl/session/40/contribution/1?lang=de |
Title of the source (German): | Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft |
Publisher: | Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft |
Place of publication: | Bad Honnef |
Document Type: | Conference Proceeding |
Language: | English |
Year of publication: | 2003 |
Tag: | Pr2O3; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); ab inito calculations; depth profiling; high-k; silicate |
Series ; volume number: | Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft ; Reihe 6, Band 38 |
Faculty/Chair: | Fakultät 1 MINT - Mathematik, Informatik, Physik, Elektro- und Informationstechnik / FG Angewandte Physik und Halbleiterspektroskopie |