Characteristics of polysilicon oxides combining N2O nitridation and CMP processes

Abstract

This paper present a high-quality polysilicon oxide combining N2O nitridation and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) processes. Experimental results indicate that polyoxide grown on the CMP sample exhibits a lower leakage current, higher dielectric breakdown field, higher electron barrier height, less electron trapping rate, higher charge-to-breakdown (Q(bd)), and lower density of trapping charge than those of non-CMP samples. In addition, the CMP process enhances nitrogen incorporation at the interface by the N2O nitridation, ultimately improving the polyoxide quality, Moreover, the CMP process smooths the surface of polysilicon and this planar surface reduces the out-diffusion of the phosphorous during thermal oxidation.