Abstract
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices with reoxidized nitrided oxide(RONO) gate dielectrics were fabricated, and nitrogen distribution and bonding species which contribute to memory characteristics were analyzed. Also, memory characteristics of devices depending on the anneal temperatures were investigated. The devices were fabricated by retrograde twin well CMOS processes with $0.35\mu m$ design rule. The processes could be simple by in-situ process in growing dielectric. The nitrogen distribution and bonding states of gate dielectrics were investigated by Dynamic Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry(D-SIMS), Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry(ToF-SIMS), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy(XPS). As the nitridation temperature increased, nitrogen concentration increased linearly, and more time was required to form the same reoxidized layer thickness. ToF-SIMS results showed that SiON species were detected at the initial oxide interface which had formed after NO annealing and $Si_2NO$ species within the reoxidized layer formed after reoxidation. As the anneal temperatures increased, the device showed worse retention and degradation properties. It could be said that nitrogen concentration near initial interface is limited to a certain quantity, so the excess nitrogen is redistributed within reoxidized layer and contribute to electron trap generation.