2010 · 13 citations · 0 references
EngineeringElectrical EngineeringMaterials ScienceMicroelectronicsSemiconductor DevicesSemiconductor MaterialsCmos Circuit DesignIntegrated Circuit DesignMetal OxidesMetal-oxide-semiconductor Field-effect TransistorsOxide SemiconductorsSemiconductor Device MaterialsGate Oxide InterfacesGate Oxide Thickness EffectsGate OxidesMetal Gate ElectrodesMetal GatesOxidizing AtmosphereOxygen Concentration EffectsResistivity
In this contribution, NMOS and PMOS band edge effective work function (EWF) and correspondingly low Vt are demonstrated using standard fab materials and processes in a gate-last scheme. For NMOS, the use of an Al cladding layer results in Vt = 0.08 V consistent with NMOS EWF = 4.15 eV. Migration of the Al cladding into the TiN and a relatively low oxygen concentration near the TiN/HfO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> interface are responsible for the low EWF. For PMOS, employing a W cladding layer along with a post-TiN anneal in an oxidizing ambient results in elevated oxygen concentration near the TiN/HfO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> interface and Vt = −0.20 V consistent with a PMOS EWF =5.05 eV. First-principles calculations indicate N atoms displaced from the TiN during the oxidizing anneal form dipoles at the TiN/HfO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> interface that play a critical role in determining the PMOS EWF.