Modulation of the work function of silicon gate electrode using thin TaN interlayers Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The impact of thin TaN layers (0.5-10 nm) on the effective work function of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si)/TaN stacks has been investigated. It is found that when the TaN layer is as thin as 0.5 nm, it can have a significant effect on the effective work function of poly-Si, and that n-type and p-type poly-Si behave differently. The observed results are explained by reactions between poly-Si and the TaN layer leading to the formation of Ta xSi yN z at the poly-Si-gate dielectric interface. Electrical tests show minimal poly-Si depletion with the TaN layers, and gate leakage current and fixed charges that are comparable to conventional poly-Si electrodes. The results show that these stacked electrodes can be useful for nearly n-type effective work functions (4.2-4.3 eV). 2005 American Institute of Physics.

published proceedings

  • Applied Physics Letters

author list (cited authors)

  • Alshareef, H. N., Wen, H. C., Harris, H. R., Choi, K., Luan, H. F., Lysaght, P., ... Ukride, V.

citation count

  • 6

complete list of authors

  • Alshareef, HN||Wen, HC||Harris, HR||Choi, K||Luan, HF||Lysaght, P||Majhi, P||Lee, BH||El-Bouanani, M||Ukride, V

publication date

  • August 2005