• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2018

$TaN_x$ film is grown by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) using t-butylimido tris(dimethylamido) tantalum as a metalorganic source with various reactive gas species, such as $N_2+H_2$ mixed gas, $NH_3$, and $H_2$. Although the pulse sequence and duration are the same, aspects of the film growth rate, microstructure, crystallinity, and electrical resistivity are quite different according to the reactive gas. Crystallized and relatively conductive film with a higher growth rate is acquired using $NH_3$ as a reactive gas while amorphous and resistive film with a lower growth rate is achieved using $N_2+H_2$ mixed gas. To examine the relationship between the chemical properties and resistivity of the film, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is conducted on the ALD-grown $TaN_x$ film with $N_2+H_2$ mixed gas, $NH_3$, and $H_2$. For a comparison, reactive sputter-grown $TaN_x$ film with $N_2$ is also studied. The results reveal that ALD-grown $TaN_x$ films with $NH_3$ and $H_2$ include a metallic Ta-N bond, which results in the film's higher conductivity. Meanwhile, ALD-grown $TaN_x$ film with a $N_2+H_2$ mixed gas or sputtergrown $TaN_x$ film with $N_2$ gas mainly contains a semiconducting $Ta_3N_5$ bond. Such a different portion of Ta-N and $Ta_3N_5$ bond determins the resistivity of the film. Reaction mechanisms are considered by means of the chemistry of the Ta precursor and reactive gas species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11b
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• pp.537-540
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• 2001

This paper presents the characteristics of Ta-N thin-film for high precision resistors, which were deposited on Si substrate by DC reactive magnetron sputtering in an argon-nitrogen atmosphere(Ar-(4~16 %)$N_2$). Structural properties studied using X-ray diffraction(XRD) indicate the presence of TaN, $Ta_3N_5$ or a mixture of Ta-N phases in the films depending on the amount of nitrogen in the sputtering gas. The chemical composition are investigated by auger electro spectroscopy(AES). The optimized conditions of Ta-N thin-film resistors were deposited in 4 % $N_2$ gas flow ratio. Under optimum conditions, the Ta-N thin-film resistors are obtained a high resistivity, $\rho=305.7{\mu}{\Omega}cm$, a low temperature coefficient of resistance, TCR=-36 $ppm/^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 1994

본 연구에서는 DC magnetron 스퍼터링법을 이용하여 고정밀, 고저항 저항체 박막으로 TaNx film을 제조하였을 때 형성될 수 있는 화합물 중 TaN0.1, TaN0.8과 TaN 박막의 Rs와 TCR특성을 평가하 고 film층의 우선방향성을 XRD를 이용하여 판명한 뒤 저항체의 Rs와 TCR에 미치는 영향을 조사하였 다. TaN0.1 박막이 35$\Omega$/$\square$의 면저항값과 안정된 TCR값을 나타내는 것을 알수 있었다. 두께50~200nm 의 TaN0.1과 Alumina 기판 사이에 정(+)의 TCR을 갖는 약 50nm의 Cr층을 증착하였을 때 Rs는 180$\Omega$/ $\square$ 과 TCR는 20ppm/$^{\circ}C$인 적층박막을 제조할 수 있었다. TaN0.1, TaN0.8 과 TaN 시편에서 화합물 형성 에 따른 Ta의 결합에너지를 ESCA를 이용하여 조사하였다. 이상의 연구결과로부터 TaN0.1 film이 TaNfilm 보다 고정밀, 고저항 박막 저항체 제조에 있어 우수한 전기저항 특성을 가지며 Cr 중간층 형성 으로 TCR이 $\pm$ppm/$^{\circ}C$정도로 안정된 고정밀 다층 저항체 박막을 형성할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.253-260
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• 1994

Ta-N films were reactively sputter deposited by dc magnetron sputtering from a Ta target with a various Ar-N, gas ratio. Electrical resistivity of pure Ta film was 150$\mu$$\Omega$cm and decreased initially with nitrogen addition, and then increased to a value of 220$\mu$$\Omega$-cm~260$\mu$$\Omega$-cm at 9%~23% nitrogen partial flow. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry(RBS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) analysis show that nitrogen content in the film is increased with the nitrogen partial flow. The film contains 58at.% nitrogen at 36% nitrogen partial flow. Both the phase and the microstructure of the as-deposisted films were investigated by x-ray diffractometry(XRD) adn transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at various nitrogen content. The phase of pure Ta film is identified as $\beta$-Ta with a 200$\AA$~300$\AA$ grain size. The phase of Ta film is changed to bcc-Ta as small amount of nitrogen is added. Crystalline Ta2N film was deposited at 24at.% nitrogen content. Amorphous phase is formed over a range of nitrogen content from about 33at.% to 35at.% while crystalline fcc-TaN is observed to form at 39at.%~48at.% nitrogen content.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.537-540
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• 2001

This paper presents the characteristics of Ta-N thin-(ibm for high precision resistors, which were deposited oni substrate by DC reactive magnetorn sputtering in an argon-nitrogen atmosphere(Ar-(4∼16%)N$_2$). Sturcutural properties sutided using X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicate the presence of TaN, Ta$_3$N$\sub$5/ or a mixture of Ta-N phases in the films depending on the amount of nitrogen in the sputtering gas. The chemical composition are investigated by auger electro spectroscopy(AES). The optimized conditions of Ta-N thin-film resistors were deposited in 4 % N$_2$ gas flow ratio. Under optimum conditions, the Ta-N thin-film resistors are obtained a high resistivity, $\rho$=305.7 ${\mu}$Ωcm, a low temperature coefficient of resistance, TCR=-36 ppm/$^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.07a
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• pp.1014-1017
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• 2001

In recent years, The tantalum nitride(TaN) thin-film has been developed for the electronic resistor and capacitor. In this papers, The effect of thermal annealing in the temperature range of 300∼700$^{\circ}C$ on the sheet resistor properties and microistructure of tantalum nitride(TaN) thin-film deposited by RF sputtering was studied. XRD(X-ray diffractometer) and AFM were used to observe electrical properties and microstructrue of the TaN film and sheet resistance. The TCR properties of the TaN films were discussed in terms of annealing temperature, ratio of nitrogen, crystallization and thin films surface morphology due to annealing temperature. The leakage current of the TaN thin film annealed 400 $^{\circ}C$ was stabilized in the study. How its was found that the sheet resistance in the polycrystalline TaN thin film decreased with increasing the annealing temperature above 600 $^{\circ}C$ after sudden peak upen 400 $^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.435-438
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• 2004

MOCVD is one of the major deposition techniques for Cu thin films and Ta-Si-N is one of promising barrier metal candidates for Cu with high thermal stability. Effects of hydrogen plasma pretreatment of the underlying Ta-Si-N film surface on the Cu nucleation in Cu MOCVD were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron emission spectrometry analyses. Cu nucleation in MOCVD is enhanced as the rf-power and the plasma exposure time are increased in the hydrogen plasma pretreatment. The optimal plasma treatment process condition is the rf-power of 40 Wand the plasma exposure time of 2 min. The hydrogen gas flow rate in the hydrogen plasma pretreatment process does not affect Cu nucleation much. The mechanism through which Cu nucleation is enhanced by the hydrogen plasma pretreatment of the Ta-Si-N film surface is that the nitrogen and oxygen atoms at the Ta-Si-N film surface are effectively removed by the plasma treatment. Consequently the chemical composition was changed from Ta-Si-N(O) into Ta-Si at the Ta-Si-N film surface, which is favorable for Cu nucleation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.05b
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• pp.82-85
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• 2002

In recent years, the tantalum nitride(TaN) thin-film has been developed for the electronic resistor and capacitor. In this papers, this study presents the surface profile and sheet-resistance property relationship of reactive-sputtered TaN thin film resistor processed by buffer of Ti and Cr on alumina substrate. The TCR properties of the TaN films were discussed in terms of reactive gas ratio, ratio of nitrogen, crystallization and thin films surface morphology due to annealing temperature. It is clear that the TaN thin-films resistor electrical properties are low TCR related with it's buffer layer condition. Ti buffer layer thin film resistor having a good thermal stability and lower TCR properties then Cr buffer expected for the application to the dielectric material of passive component.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.7.1-7.10
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• 2020

Tantalum nitride (TaN_x) thin films were grown utilizing an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) assisted direct current (DC) sputtering, and 20-100% improved microhardness values were obtained. The detailed microstructural changes of the TaN_x films were characterized utilizing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as a function of nitrogen gas fraction and ICP power. As nitrogen gas fraction increases from 0.05 to 0.15, the TaN_x phase evolves from body-centered-cubic (b.c.c.) TaN_0.1, to face-centered-cubic (f.c.c.) δ-TaN, to hexagonal-close-packing (h.c.p.) ε-TaN phase. By increasing ICP power from 100 W to 400 W, the f.c.c. δ- TaN phase becomes the main phase in all nitrogen fractions investigated. The higher ICP power enhances the mobility of Ta and N ions, which stabilizes the δ-TaN phase like a high-temperature regime and removes the micro-voids between the columnar grains in the TaN_x film. The dense δ-TaN structure with reduced columnar grains and micro-voids increases the strength of the TaN_x film.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.251-255
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• 2009

In this study, the plasma etching of the TaN thin film with $O_2/BCl_3$/Ar gas chemistries was investigated. The equipment for the etching was an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system. The etch rate of the TaN thin film and the selectivity of TaN to $SiO_2$ and PR was studied as a function of the process parameters, including the amount of $O_2$ added, an RF power, a DC-bias voltage and the process pressure. When the gas mixing ratio was $O_2$(3 sccm)/$BCl_3$(6 sccm)/Ar(14 sccm), with the other conditions fixed, the highest etch rate was obtained. As the RF power and the dc-bias voltage were increased, the etch rate of the TaN thin film was increased. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the chemical states of the surface of the TaN thin film.