Stability of ZrO 2 layers on Si (001) during high-temperature anneals under reduced oxygen partial pressures

Susanne Stemmer, Zhiqiang Chen, Ralf Keding, Jon Paul Maria, Dwi Wicaksana, Angus I. Kingon

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47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electron energy-loss spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate ZrO 2 layers grown by electron-beam evaporation in a molecular-beam epitaxy system. ZrO 2/Si layers were investigated before and after uncapped annealing at 1000°C under different oxygen partial pressures. The thickness of a SiO 2-like, low-dielectric constant layer at the silicon interface was found to depend on the oxygen partial pressure during annealing. At oxygen partial pressures of about 10 -4torr the interfacial silicon oxide thickness increased through oxygen diffusion through the ZrO 2 layer and silicon consumption at the interface. At oxygen partial pressures in the range of approximately 10 -5torr, only a thin (1 nm) interfacial silicon oxide layer was present, as required for low-equivalent oxide thicknesses of gate stacks incorporating alternative oxides. Further reduction of the oxygen partial pressures (about 10 -7torr) during annealing resulted in zirconium silicide formation at the interface. ZrO 2 films annealed at the optimal partial pressure for a thin interfacial oxide were found to crystallize and contain no silicon. High-resolution analytical capabilities afforded by scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques proved essential in analyzing the stability of these ultrathin layers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)82-86
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume92
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2002

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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