Influence of Atomic Layer Deposition Temperatures on TiO2/n-Si MOS Capacitor

This paper reports on the influence of deposition temperature on the structure, composition, and electrical properties of TiO 2 thin films deposited on n -type silicon (100) by plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (PA-ALD). TiO 2 layers ∼20 nm thick, deposited at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300°C, were investigated. Samples deposited at 200°C and 250°C had the most uniform coverage as determined by atomic force microscopy. The average carbon concentration throughout the oxide layer and at the TiO 2 /Si interface was lowest at 200°C. Metal oxide semiconductor capacitors (MOSCAPs) were fabricated, and profiled by capacitance-voltage techniques. The sample prepared at 200°C had negligible hysteresis (from a capacitance-voltage plot) and the lowest interface trap density (as extracted using the conductance method). Current-voltage measurements were carried out with top-to-bottom structures. At −2 V gate bias voltage, the smallest leakage current was 1.22 × 10 −5 A/cm 2 for the 100°C deposited sample.