Cerium oxide nanocrystals for nonvolatile memory applications

Abstract

The characteristics of silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon-type memories embedded with cerium oxide nanocrystals were demonstrated. They were fabricated by depositing a thin CeO(2) film on the SiO(2) tunneling layer and subsequently rapid-thermal annealing process. The mean size and aerial density of the CeO(2) nanocrystals embedded in SiO(2) are estimated to be about 8-10 nm and (3-7)x10(11)/cm(-2) after a high-temperature annealing with different ambients on 900 degrees C. The program/erase behaviors and data retention characteristics were described to demonstrate its advantages for nonvolatile memory device applications. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.