• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.166-173
• /
• 2009

The reliability of hafnium oxide gate dielectrics incorporating lanthanum (La) is investigated. nMOSFETs with metal/La-doped high-k dielectric stack show lower $V_{th}$ and $I_{gate}$, which is attributed to the dipole formation at the high-k/$SiO_2$ interface. The reliability results well correlate with the dipole model. Due to lower trapping efficiency, the La-doping of the high-k gate stacks can provide better PBTI immunity, as well as lower charge trapping compared to the control HfSiO stacks. While the devices with La show better immunity to positive bias temperature instability (PBTI) under normal operating conditions, the threshold voltage shift (${\Delta}V_{th}$) at high field PBTI is significant. The results of a transconductance shift (${\Delta}G_m$) that traps are easily generated during high field stress because the La weakens atomic bonding in the interface layer.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 2001

The changes in the microstructures and $D0_3{\leftrightarrow}B2$ transition temperature were investigated for Fe-30at.%AI-5at.%Cr alloy with the ordered $D0_3$, structure when Ti, Hf and Zr were added respectively. The addition of Cr has no effect on the microstructure. However, as the amount of Ti addition increased, the grain size became smaller. Addition of Ti+Hf, Ti+Zr and Ti+Hf+Zr also showed the similar effect. When 20at.% of Ti was added, the second phase precipitates on the substrate. The addition of Cr, Hf and Zr alone has no effect on $D0_3{\leftrightarrow}B2$ transition temperature. However, as the amount of Ti addition increased by 5, 10, 15 and 20at.%, the transition temperatures showed 929, 930, 960 and $930^{\circ}C$ respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2014.02a
• /
• pp.303.2-303.2
• /
• 2014

The oxides of group IV transition metals such as titanium, zirconium, hafnium have many important current and future application, including protective coatings, sensors and dielectric layers in thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) devices. Recently, group IV transition metal oxide films have been intensively investigated as replacements for SiO2. Due to high permittivities (k~14-25) compared with SiO2 (k~3.9), large band-gaps, large band offsets and high thermodynamic stability on silicon. Herein, we report the synthesis of new group IV transition metal complexes as useful precursors to deposit their oxide thin films using chemical vapor deposition technique. The complexes were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Newly synthesised compounds show high volatility and thermal stability, so we are trying to deposit metal oxide thin films using the complexes by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2014.02a
• /
• pp.354.1-354.1
• /
• 2014

Hafnium nitride (HfN) 박막은 고온에서의 안정성과 낮은 비저항 그리고 산소확산에 대한 억제력을 가지고 있기 때문에 확산방지막으로 많은 연구가 진행 되고 있다. 현재까지 진행된 대부분의 연구는 HfN 박막의 전기적인 특성과 구조적인 특성에 대한 것이었고 다양한 연구 결과가 보고되었다. 하지만 기존의 연구들은 박막의 nano-electrotribology 특성에 대한 연구가 부족하여 박막 적층 공정시 요구되는 물성에 대한 연구가 절실하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 HfN 박막의 증착조건 및 열처리조건에 따른 nano-electrotribology 특성 변화를 확인하고자 하였다. HfN박막은 rf magnetron sputter를 이용하여 Si 기판위에 Hf target으로 질소 유량을 변화시키며 증착하였고 가열로에서 $600^{\circ}C$와 $800^{\circ}C$로 20분간 열처리를 실시하였다. 열처리한 박막과 as-deposited 상태의 박막을 nano-indenter를 통하여 나노기계 전기적인 특성을 분석하였다. nano-indenter는 박막에 인가된 stress와 탄성계수(elastic modulus), 표면경도(surface hardness)와 같은 특성을 직접적인 tip 접촉을 통하여 in-situ로 분석할 수 있는 장비이다. 실험결과 HfN박막을 $600^{\circ}C$로 열처리 한 경우 표면경도가 16.20에서 18.59 GPa로 증가하였다. 표면경도의 증가는 열처리 시 박막내에 compressive stress가 생성되었기 때문이라고 생각된다. 그러나 $800^{\circ}C$로 열처리 한 경우 표면경도가 16.93 GPa로 감소하였는데 이는 표면균열 발생으로 인한 stress relaxation 때문인 것으로 생각된다. 증착 시 주입되는 질소의 유량과 열처리 온도는 HfN박막의 기계적 안정성에 영향을 미치는 중요한 요소임을 본 실험을 통해 확인하였다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.151-164
• /
• 1989

Since in the KMRR the neutron spectrum is hardened in comparison with the conventional power reactors, and the absorber is in a tube-form which may contain the neutron multiplying media inside it, the reactor physics characteristics of the KMRR absorber are much different. The characteristics of the hafnium control absorber are studied under the several kinds of the environmental conditions. The environmental conditions include the inner materials inside the absorber shroud, the absorber thickness, the absorber burnout, and the fuel burnup. Investigated are nuclear characteristics such as the dependence of the spectral, regional, and isotopic contribution to the neutron absorption, and the dependence of the reactivity worth. Many important absorber characteristics are identified and presented from the analysis.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.366-371
• /
• 2015

In order to improve the mechanical properties of tungsten at room and elevated temperature, hafnium carbide (HfC) reinforced tungsten matrix composites were prepared using the spark plasma sintering technique. The effect of HfC content on the compressive strength and flexural strength of the tungsten composites was investigated. Mechanical properties of the composites were also measured at elevated temperatures and their trends, with varying reinforcement volume fraction, were studied. The effect of reinforcement fraction on the thermal properties of the composites was investigated. The thermal conductivity and diffusivity of the composites decreased with increasing temperature and reinforcement volume fraction. An inherently low thermal conductivity of the reinforcement as well as interfacial losses was responsible for lower values of thermal conductivity of the composites. Values of coefficient of thermal expansion of the composites were observed to increase with HfC volume fraction.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2013

The effects of interlayer formation and thermal treatment on the field-emission properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated. The CNTs were prepared on tungsten (W) micro-tip substrates using the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. The interlayers, such as aluminum (Al) and hafnium (Hf) were coated on the W-tips prior to CNT deposition and after the deposition of CNTs all the species were thermally treated at $700^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. The field-emission properties of CNTs were significantly improved by thermal treatment. The threshold electric field for igniting the electron emission was decreased and the emission current was increased. The Raman spectroscopy results indicated that this was attributed mainly to the enhancement of CNTs by thermal treatment. Also, the CNTs deposited on the interlayers showed the remarkably improved results in the long-term emission stability, especially when they were thermally treated. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement confirmed that this was resulted from the formation of the additional cohesive forces between the CNTs and the underlying interlayers.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.687-692
• /
• 2011

Hafnium oxide ($HfO_2$) was very advantageous for substitute material of gate on existing transistor. $HfO_2$ has been widely studied due to high contact with polysilicon and thermal stability and also, it is easily etched by using HF solution. In this study, $HfO_2$ and thermal oxide films were etched by wet etch method using chemical etchant. Etch rate of $HfO_2$ and thermal oxide was linearly increased with increasing concentration of HF and temperature but etch rate of $HfO_2$ was higher than thermal oxide due to $H^+$, $F^-$, and $HF_2^-$ ions at below 0.5% concentration of HF. And also, etch selectivity was improved by adding Hydrazine as additive.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2023

Hafnium nitride (HfN) thin films were fabricated by mid-frequency magnetron sputtering (mfMS) and direct current magnetron sputtering (dcMS) and their mechanical and structural properties were compared. In particular, changes in the HfN film properties were observed by changing the pulse frequency of mfMS between 5 kHz, 15 kHz, and 30 kHz. The crystalline structure, microstructure, 3D morphology, and mechanical properties of the HfN films were compared by x-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and nanoindentation tester, respectively. HfN film deposited by mfMS showed a smoother and denser microstructure as the frequency increased, whereas the film deposited by dcMS showed a rough and sloppy microstructure. A single δ-HfN phase was observed in the HfN film made by mfMS with a pulse frequency of 30 kHz, but mixed δ-HfN and HfN_0·4 phases were observed in the HfN film made by dcMS. The mechanical properties of HfN film made by mfMS were improved compared to film made by dcMS.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.393-398
• /
• 2023

Properties of hafnium nitride (HfN) coatings are affected by deposition conditions, most often by the sputtering technique. Appropriate use of different magnetron sputtering modes allows control of the structural development of the film, thereby enabling adjustment of its properties. This study compared properties of HfN coatings deposited by direct current magnetron sputtering (dcMS), mid-frequency direct current magnetron sputtering (mfMS), and inductively coupled plasma-assisted magnetron sputtering (ICPMS) systems. The microstructure, crystalline, and mechanical properties of these HfN coatings were investigated by field emission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and nanoindentation measurements. HfN coatings deposited using ICPMS showed smooth and highly dense microstructures, whereas those deposited by dcMS showed rough and columnar structures. Crystalline structures of HfN coatings deposited using ICPMS showed a single δ-HfN phase, whereas those deposited using dcMS and mfMS showed a mixed δ-HfN and HfN_0.4 phases. Their performance were increased in the order of dcMS < mfMS < ICPMS, with ICPMS achieving a value of 47.0 GPa, surpassing previously reported results.