Abstract
Hafnium oxide thin films for gate dielectric were deposited at $300^{\circ}C$ on p-type Si (100) substrates by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and annealed in $O_2$ and $N_2$ ambient at various temperatures. The effect of hydrogen treatment in 4% $H_2$ at $350^{\circ}C$ for 30 min on the electrical properties of $HfO_2$for gate dielectric was investigated. The flat-band voltage shifts of $HfO_2$capacitors annealed in $O_2$ambient are larger than those in $N_2$ambient because samples annealed in high oxygen partial pressure produces the effective negative charges in films. The oxygen loss in $HfO_2$films was expected in forming gas annealed samples and decreased the excessive oxygen contents in films as-deposited and annealed in $O_2$ or $N_2$ambient. The CET of films after hydrogen forming gas anneal almost did not vary compared with that before hydrogen gas anneal. Hysteresis of $HfO_2$films abruptly decreased by hydrogen forming gas anneal because hysteresis in C-V characteristics depends on the bulk effect rather than $HfO_2$/Si interface. The lower trap densities of films annealed in $O_2$ambient than those in $N_2$were due to the composition of interfacial layer becoming closer to $SiO_2$with increasing oxygen partial pressure. Hydrogen forming gas anneal at $350^{\circ}C$ for samples annealed at various temperatures in $O_2$and $N_2$ambient plays critical role in decreasing interface trap densities at the Si/$SiO_2$ interface. However, effect of forming gas anneal was almost disappeared for samples annealed at high temperature (about $800^{\circ}C$) in $O_2$ or $N_2$ambient.
