Demonstration of HfO2-Based Gate Dielectric With Low Interface State Density and Sub-nm EOT on Ge by Incorporating Ti Into Interfacial Layer

Abstract

HfO2-based gate stacks with titanium (Ti) incorporated into a GeOx interfacial layer (IL) were fabricated on p-Ge substrates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results, incorporating Ti, can efficiently suppress the GeO volatilization. This contributed to achievement of an equivalent oxide thickness of approximately 0.8 nm, a low interface states density D-it of approximately 2.5 x 10(11) eV(-1)cm(-2), and a smaller D-it increment of approximately 1 x 10(11) eV(-1)cm(-2) after constant negative voltage stress at a field of 8 MV/cm. Therefore, Ti is appropriate for improving the quality of GeOx through high temperature annealing.