Floating Gate Memory Based on Ferritin Nanodots with High-kGate Dielectrics

The memory characteristics of nanodot-type floating gate memory with high-k tunnel oxide were investigated by measuring the memory characteristics of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with biomineralized inorganic nanodots. Biomineralized iron bio nanodots (Fe-BNDs) accommodated in ferritin were utilized as a storage charge. High-density and monolayer Fe-BNDs were absorbed by high-k tunnel oxide, Fabricated MOS capacitors showed clear hysteresis in capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics. The observed hysteresis in C-V characteristics was occurred by charging and discharging to Fe-BNDs. A large memory window and good retention characteristic were obtained using high-k as tunnel oxide. This is caused by the difference in the charging mechanism to Fe-BND. This research confirmed that the combination of bio nanodot floating gate memory with high-k film is promising for next-generation memory devices. (C) 2009 The Japan Society of Applied Physics