Abstract
A 4 nm layer of ZrOx (targeted x-2) was deposited on an interfacial layer(IL) of native oxide (SiO, t∼1.2 nm) surface on 200 mm Si wafers by a manufacturable atomic layer chemical vapor deposition technique at 30$0^{\circ}C$. Some as-deposited layers were subjected to a post-deposition, rapid thermal annealing at $700^{\circ}C$ for 5 min in flowing oxygen at atmospheric pressure. The experimental x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy results showed that a multiphase and heterogeneous structure evolved, which we call the Zr-O/IL/Si stack. The as-deposited Zr-O layer was amorphous $ZrO_2$-rich Zr silicate containing about 15% by volume of embedded $ZrO_2$ nanocrystals, which transformed to a glass nanoceramic (with over 90% by volume of predominantly tetragonal-$ZrO_2$(t-$ZrO_2$) and monoclinic-$ZrO_2$(m-$ZrO_2$) nanocrystals) upon annealing. The formation of disordered amorphous regions within some of the nanocrystals, as well as crystalline regions with defects, probably gave rise to lattice strains and deformations. The interfacial layer (IL) was partitioned into an upper Si $o_2$-rich Zr silicate and the lower $SiO_{x}$. The latter was sub-toichiometric and the average oxidation state increased from Si0.86$^{＋}$ in $SiO_{0.43}$ (as-deposited) to Si1.32$^{＋}$ in $SiO_{0.66}$ (annealed). This high oxygen deficiency in $SiO_{x}$ indicative of the low mobility of oxidizing specie in the Zr-O layer. The stacks were characterized for their dielectric properties in the Pt/{Zr-O/IL}/Si metal oxide-semiconductor capacitor(MOSCAP) configuration. The measured equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) was not consistent with the calculated EOT using a bilayer model of $ZrO_2$ and $SiO_2$, and the capacitance in accumulation (and therefore, EOT and kZr-O) was frequency dispersive, trends well documented in literature. This behavior is qualitatively explained in terms of the multi-layer nanostructure and nanochemistry that evolves.ves.ves.