Characterization of the composition and extension of
the SiO2/HfO2 interface in the model systems
Si-sub./SiO2 (7.5 nm)/FE:HfO2 (9.5 nm)/TiN (9
nm) for standard
impurity concentrations and annealing temperatures (Si 3.6%, 1000
°C; Al 5.5%, 850 °C) were carried out using X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy with high kinetic energies. In addition, the crystalline
properties of HfO2 were characterized by transmission electron
microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction depending on the
type of impurity. Formation of Hf
x
Si1–x
O2 at the SiO2/HfO2 interface was revealed, and the dependence of its
thickness d
silicate and stoichiometry X on the formation of the tetragonal phase P42/nmc of HfO2 was established.
It is shown that doping with aluminum followed by annealing prevents
the formation of a tetragonal phase and reduces both d
silicate and X by about 20% (with respect
to undoped HfO2 annealed at the same temperature), in contrast
to doping with Si followed by annealing, which practically does not
affect d
silicate and X. The results obtained are important for the problem of imbalance
in the voltage drop across the gate oxides stack in a ferroelectric
field-effect transistor and improvement of its endurance and retention
characteristics.