Charge trapping characteristics of atomic-layer-deposited HfO₂ films with Al₂O₃ as a blocking oxide for high-density non-volatile memory device applications

Charge trapping characteristics of high-relative permittivity (high-kappa) HfO2 films with Al2O3 as a blocking oxide in p-Si/SiO2/HfO2/Al2O3/metal memory structures have been investigated. All high-kappa films have been grown by atomic layer deposition. A transmission electron microscope image shows that the HfO2 film is polycrystalline, while the Al2O3 film is partially crystalline after a high temperature annealing treatment at 1000 degrees C for 10 s in N-2 ambient. A well-behaved counter-clockwise capacitance-voltage hysteresis has been observed for all memory capacitors. A large memory window of similar to 7.4 V and a high charge trapping density of similar to 1.1 x 10(13) cm(-2) have been observed for high-kappa HfO2 charge trapping memory capacitors. The memory window and charge trapping density can be increased with increasing thickness of the HfO2 film. The charge loss can be decreased using a thick trapping layer or thick tunnelling oxide. A high work function metal gate electrode shows low charge loss and large memory window after 10 years of retention. High-kappa HfO2 memory devices with high-kappa Al2O3 as a blocking oxide and a high work function metal gate can be used in future high-density non-volatile memory device applications.