Abstract
The Transmission Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of SiOx charge storage layer with the richest silicon content showed an assignment at peaks around 2000~2300 cm-1. It indicated that the existence of many silicon phases and defect sources in the matrix of the SiOx films. The total hysteresis width is the sum of the flat band voltage shift (${\Delta}VFB$) due to electron and hole charging. At the range voltage sweep of ${\pm}15V$, the ${\Delta}VFB$ values increase of 0.57 V, 1.71 V, and 13.56 V with 1/2, 2/1, and 6/1 samples, respectively. When we increase the gas ratio of SiH4/N2O, a lot of defects appeared in charge storage layer, more electrons and holes are charged and the memory window also increases. The best retention are obtained at sample with the ratio SiH4/N2O=6/1 with 82.31% (3.49V) after 103s and 70.75% after 10 years. The high charge storage in 6/1 device could arise from the large amount of silicon phases and defect sources in the storage material with SiOx material. Therefore, in the programming/erasing (P/E) process, the Si-rich SiOx charge-trapping layer with SiH4/N2O gas flow ratio=6/1 easily grasps electrons and holds them, and hence, increases the P/E speed and the memory window. This is very useful for a trapping layer, especially in the low-voltage operation of non-volatile memory devices.
