Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 February 2011
Scaled HfAlxOy/SiO2 stacks down to 1.5 nm EOT have been achieved. Although the addition of Al to the HfO2 matrix can be beneficial, it is observed that the benefit of using a Hf-aluminate is compromised if the film has a high Al-content. This is observed in terms of a dielectric constant close to that of pure Al2O3 (∼ 9) and a large amount of negative fixed charge in the film (∼ 1012 cm-2). Using oxygen post deposition anneals we have been able to reduce flatband voltage shifts associated with fixed charge as well as CV hysteresis. In terms of scaling, the benefit of using a high-k material is compromised if a SiO2 layer is also present in the gate stack. Therefore, it is necessary to perform an O2 PDA at moderate temperatures or in low O2 partial pressures in order to control the thickness of the interfacial oxide layer.