E. Dentoni Litta

Bilayer insulator tunnel barriers for graphene-based vertical hot-electron transistors

Vertical graphene-based device concepts that rely on quantum mechanical tunneling are intensely being discussed in the literature for applications in electronics and optoelectronics. In this work, the carrier transport mechanisms in semiconductor-insulator-graphene (SIG) capacitors are investigated with respect to their suitability as electron emitters in vertical graphene base transistors (GBTs). Several dielectric materials as tunnel barriers are compared, including dielectric double layers. Using bilayer dielectrics, we experimentally demonstrate significant improvements in the electron injection current by promoting Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FNT) and step tunneling (ST) while suppressing defect mediated carrier transport. High injected tunneling current densities approaching 10(3) A cm(-2) (limited by series resistance), and excellent current-voltage nonlinearity and asymmetry are achieved using a 1 nm thick high quality dielectric, thulium silicate (TmSiO), as the first insulator layer, and titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a high electron affinity second layer insulator. We also confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach in a full GBT structure which shows dramatic improvement in the collector on-state current density with respect to the previously reported GBTs. The device design and the fabrication scheme have been selected with future CMOS process compatibility in mind. This work proposes a bilayer tunnel barrier approach as a promising candidate to be used in high performance vertical graphene-based tunneling devices.

In situ SiO x interfacial layer formation for scaled ALD high-k/metal gate stacks

This work addresses the issue of interfacial layer formation in scaled high-k/metal gate stacks: the possibility of growing a thin SiOx interfacial layer in situ in a commercial ALD reactor has been evaluated, employing ozone-based Si oxidation. Three techniques (O3, O3/H2O and Pulsed) have been developed to grow scaled sub-nm interfacial layers and have been integrated in MOS capacitors and MOSFETs. A comparison based on electrical characterization shows that the performance of the proposed in situ methods is comparable or superior to that of existing ex situ techniques; specifically, the O3 method can grow aggressively scaled interfacial layers (4-5 Å) while preserving the electrical quality of the stack.

Characterization of bonding surface and electrical insulation properties of inter layer dielectrics for 3D monolithic integration

We investigate the bonding and electrical insulation properties of oxide layers for use in 3D monolithic integration via direct wafer bonding. Low surface roughness layers deposited on 100 mm Si wafers by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 200 °C-350 °C, provide with adequate layer transfer bonding interfaces. Wafer scale IV measurements were performed to investigate the leakage current. We demonstrate that ALD oxide can function as a reliable bonding surface and also exhibit leakage current values below the nA range. Both properties are important pillars for a successful 3D monolithic integration.

Effective workfunction control in TmSiO/HfO2 high-k/metal gate stacks

Integration of high-k interfacial layers in CMOS technology has been proposed to overcome the scaling limitations of the SiOx/HfO2 dielectric stack. Candidate high-k interfacial layers have to be compatible with strict requirements in terms of EOT, inversion layer mobility, threshold voltage control and device reliability. We have previously demonstrated a CMOS-compatible process for integration of thulium silicate (TmSiO) as interfacial layer, providing advantages in terms of EOT and channel mobility. This work demonstrates the compatibility of the TmSiO/HfO2 stack with the threshold voltage control techniques commonly employed in gate-last and gate-first integration schemes, namely the use of a dual-metal process and the integration of dielectric capping layers. We show that the flatband voltage can be set from -1V to +0.5V by proper choice of gate metal, while a shift of 150-400 mV is achievable by means of integration of Al2O3 or La2O3 capping layers.

Atomic layer deposition-based interface engineering for high-k/metal gate stacks

This review will discuss the in-situ surface engineering of active channel surfaces prior to or during the ALD high-k/metal gate deposition process. We will show that by carefully choosing ALD in-situ pre-treatment methods and precursor chemistries relevant electrical properties for future high-k dielectrics can be improved. Different high-k dielectrics such as Hafnium-Oxide (HfO2), Aluminum-Oxide (Al2O3), Lanthanum-Lutetium-Oxide (LaLuO3) and Lanthanum-Oxide (La2O3) for CMOS-based device technology are investigated in combination with Silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge) substrates. Additionally, the use of ALD for deposition of a high-k dielectric gate stack on Graphene is discussed.

Characterization of thulium silicate interfacial layer for high-k/metal gate MOSFETs

The possibility of integrating thulium silicate as IL (interfacial layer) in scaled high-k/metal gate stacks is explored. Electrical properties of the silicate IL are investigated in MOS capacitor structures for the silicate formation temperature range 500-900 °C. Results are compared to lanthanum silicate. A CMOS-compatible process flow for silicate formation is demonstrated, providing EOT of the IL as low as 0.1-0.3 nm and interface state density at flatband below 2·1011 cm-2eV-1. The silicate IL is found to be compatible with both gate-last and gate-first process flows, with a maximum thermal budget of 1000 °C.

Step tunneling-enhanced hot-electron injection in vertical graphene base transistors

This paper presents promising current-voltage characteristics of semiconductor-insulator-graphene tunnel diodes as the hot-electron injection unit in graphene base transistors (GBTs). We propose that by using a bilayer tunnel barrier one can effectively suppress the defect mediated carrier transport while enhancing the hot-electron emission through Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FNT) and step tunneling (ST). A stack of TmSiO/TiO2 (1 nm/ 5.5 nm) is sandwiched between a highly doped Si substrate and a single layer graphene (SLG) as the electrodes. This tunnel diode exhibits high current with large nonlinearity suitable for the application in GBTs.

Atomic-layer deposited thulium oxide as a passivation layer on germanium

A comprehensive study of atomic-layer deposited thulium oxide (Tm2O3) on germanium has been conducted using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vacuum ultra-violet variable angle spectroscopic ...