High Temperature Reliability Investigations up to 350 °C of Gate Oxide Capacitors realized in a Silicon-on-Insulator CMOS-Technology

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (HITEN) ◽  
pp. 000116-000121
Author(s):  
K. Grella ◽  
S. Dreiner ◽  
H. Vogt ◽  
U. Paschen
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Gate Oxide ◽  
Oxide Thickness ◽  
Cmos Technology ◽  
Silicon On Insulator ◽  
Cmos Process ◽  
Oxide Breakdown ◽  
Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Single Poly Eeprom

Standard Bulk-CMOS-technology targets use-temperatures of not more than 175 °C. With Silicon-on-Insulator-technologies (SOI), digital and analog circuitry is possible up to 250 °C and even more, but performance and reliability are strongly affected at these high temperatures. One of the main critical factors is the gate oxide quality and its reliability. In this paper, we present a study of gate oxide capacitor time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) measurements at temperatures up to 350 °C. The experiments were carried out on gate oxide capacitor structures which were realized in the Fraunhofer 1.0 μm SOI-CMOS process. This technology is based on 200 mm wafers and features, among others, three layers of tungsten metallization with excellent reliability concerning electromigration, voltage independent capacitors, high resistance resistors, and single-poly-EEPROM cells. The gate oxide thickness is 40 nm. Using the data of the TDDB-measurements, the behavior of field and temperature acceleration parameters at temperatures up to 350 °C was evaluated. For a more detailed investigation, the current evolution in time was also studied. An analysis of the oxide breakdown conditions, in particular the field and temperature dependence of the charge to breakdown and the current just before breakdown, completes the study. The presented data provide important information about accelerated oxide reliability testing beyond 250 °C, and make it possible to quickly evaluate the reliability of high temperature CMOS-technologies at use-temperature.

Reliability Investigations up to 350°C of Gate Oxide Capacitors Realized in a Silicon-on-Insulator CMOS Technology

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 150-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Grella ◽  
S. Dreiner ◽  
H. Vogt ◽  
U. Paschen
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Gate Oxide ◽  
Oxide Thickness ◽  
Cmos Technology ◽  
Silicon On Insulator ◽  
Cmos Process ◽  
Leakage Currents ◽  
Oxide Breakdown ◽  
Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Operation Temperature

It is difficult to use standard bulk-CMOS-technology at temperatures higher than 175°C due to high pn-leakage currents. Silicon-on-insulator-technologies (SOI), on the other hand, are usable up to 250°C and even higher, because leakage currents can be reduced by two to three orders of magnitude. Nevertheless, performance and reliability of SOI devices are strongly affected at these high temperatures. One of the main critical factors is the gate oxide quality and its reliability. In this paper, we present a study of gate oxide capacitor time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) measurements at temperatures up to 350°C. The experiments were carried out on gate oxide capacitor structures realized in the Fraunhofer 1.0 μm SOI-CMOS process. The gate oxide thickness is 40 nm. Using the data of the TDDB measurements, the behavior of field and temperature acceleration parameters at temperatures up to 350°C was evaluated. For a more detailed investigation, the evolution of the current in time was also studied. An analysis of the oxide breakdown conditions, in particular the field and temperature dependence of the charge to breakdown and the current just before breakdown, completes the study. The presented data provide important information about accelerated oxide reliability testing beyond 250°C, and make it possible to quickly evaluate the reliability of high temperature CMOS technologies at operation temperature.

High Temperature Reliability Investigations of EEPROM Memory Cells Realised in Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) Technology

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (HITEN) ◽  
pp. 000221-000225 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Grella ◽  
H. Vogt ◽  
U. Paschen
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Oxide Thickness ◽  
Silicon On Insulator ◽  
Measurement Information ◽  
Cmos Process ◽  
High Temperature Electronics ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Single Poly Eeprom ◽  
Application Fields

Microelectronic manufacturing progresses not only towards further miniaturisation, but also application fields tend to become more and more diverse. Recently there has been an increasing demand for electronic devices and circuits that function in harsh environments such as high temperatures. Under these conditions, reliability aspects are highly critical and testing remains a great challenge. A versatile CMOS process based on 200 mm thin film Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) wafers is in production at Fraunhofer IMS. It features three layers of tungsten metallisation for optimum electromigration reliability, voltage independent capacitors, high resistance resistors and single-poly-EEPROM cells. Non-volatile memories such as EEPROMs are a key technology that enables flexible data storage, for example of calibration and measurement information. The reliability of these devices is especially crucial in high temperature applications since charge loss is drastically increased in this case. The behaviour of single-poly-EEPROM cells, produced in the process described before, was evaluated up to 450 °C. Data retention tests at temperatures ranging from 160 °C to 450 °C and write/erase cycling tests up to 400 °C were performed. The dependence of write/erase cycling on both temperature and tunnel oxide thickness was studied. These data provide an important foundation to extend the application of high temperature electronics to its maximum limits. The results show that EEPROM cells can be used for special applications even at temperatures higher than 250 °C.

Relation between Defects on 4H-SiC Epitaxial Surface and Gate Oxide Reliability

2013 ◽  
Vol 740-742 ◽  
pp. 745-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sameshima ◽  
Osamu Ishiyama ◽  
Atsushi Shimozato ◽  
K. Tamura ◽  
H. Oshima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Gate Oxide ◽  
Oxide Thickness ◽  
Wafer Surface ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mos Capacitors ◽  
Oxide Breakdown ◽  
Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Oxide Reliability ◽  
Breakdown Region

Time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) measurement of MOS capacitors on an n-type 4 ° off-axis 4H-SiC(0001) wafer free from step-bunching showed specific breakdown in the Weibull distribution plots. By observing the as-grown SiC-epi wafer surface, two kinds of epitaxial surface defect, Trapezoid-shape and Bar-shape defects, were confirmed with confocal microscope. Charge to breakdown (Qbd) of MOS capacitors including an upstream line of these defects is almost the same value as that of a Wear-out breakdown region. On the other hand, the gate oxide breakdown of MOS capacitors occurred at a downstream line. It has revealed that specific part of these defects causes degradation of oxide reliability. Cross-sectional TEM images of MOS structure show that gate oxide thickness of MOS capacitor is non-uniform on the downstream line. Moreover, AFM observation of as-grown and oxidized SiC-epitaxial surfaces indicated that surface roughness of downstream line becomes 3-4 times larger than the as-grown one by oxidation process.

High Temperature Characterization up to 450 °C of MOSFETs and basic circuits realized in a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) CMOS-Technology

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 (HITEC) ◽  
pp. 000227-000232
Author(s):  
K. Grella ◽  
S. Dreiner ◽  
A. Schmidt ◽  
W. Heiermann ◽  
H. Kappert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Output Voltage ◽  
Cmos Technology ◽  
Silicon On Insulator ◽  
Ring Oscillator ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Cmos Process ◽  
Ring Oscillators ◽  
Circuit Function ◽  
Soi Cmos

Standard Bulk-CMOS-technology targets use-temperatures of not more than 175 °C. Silicon-on-Insulator-technologies are commonly used up to 250 °C. In this work we evaluate the limit for electronic circuit function realized in thin film SOI-technologies for even higher temperatures. At Fraunhofer IMS a versatile 1.0 μm SOI-CMOS process based on 200 mm wafers is available. It features three layers of tungsten metalization with excellent reliability concerning electromigration, voltage independent capacitors, various resistors, and single-poly-EEPROMs. We present a study of the temperature dependence of MOSFETs and basic circuits produced in this process. The electrical characteristics of NMOSFET- and PMOSFET-transistors were studied up to 450 °C. In a second step we investigated the functionality of ring oscillators, representing digital circuits, and bandgap references as examples of simple analog components. The frequency and the current consumption of ring oscillators and the output voltage of bandgap references were also characterized up to 450 °C. We found that the ring oscillator still functions at this high temperature with a frequency of about one third of the value at room temperature. The output voltage of the bandgap reference is in the specified range up to 250 °C. The deviations above this temperature are analyzed and measures to improve the circuit are discussed. The acquired data provide an important foundation to extend the application of CMOS-technology to its real maximum temperature limits.

High Temperature Characterization up to 450°C of MOSFETs and Basic Circuits Realized in a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) CMOS Technology

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Grella ◽  
S. Dreiner ◽  
A. Schmidt ◽  
W. Heiermann ◽  
H. Kappert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Band Gap ◽  
Output Voltage ◽  
Cmos Technology ◽  
Digital Circuit ◽  
Silicon On Insulator ◽  
Ring Oscillator ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Cmos Process ◽  
Soi Cmos

Standard bulk CMOS technology targets operating temperatures of not more than 175°C. Silicon-on-insulator technologies are commonly used up to 250°C. In this work, we evaluate the limit for electronic circuit function realized in thin film SOI technologies for even higher temperatures. At Fraunhofer IMS, a versatile 1.0 μm SOI-CMOS process based on 200 mm wafers is available. It features three layers of tungsten metallization with excellent reliability concerning electromigration, as well as voltage-independent capacitors, various resistors, and single-poly-EEPROMs. We present a study of the temperature dependence of MOSFETs and basic circuits produced in this process. The electrical characteristics of an NMOSFET transistor and a PMOSFET transistor are studied up to 450°C. In a second step, we investigate the functionality of a ring oscillator (representing a digital circuit) and a band gap reference as an example of a simple analog component. The frequency and the current consumption of the ring oscillator, as well as the output voltage and the current of the band gap reference, are characterized up to 450°C. We find that the ring oscillator still oscillates at this high temperature with a frequency of about one third of the value at room temperature. The output voltage of the band gap reference is in the specified range (change < 3%) up to 250°C. The deviations above this temperature are analyzed and measures to improve the circuit are discussed. The acquired data provide an important foundation to extend the application of CMOS technology to its real maximum temperature limits.

SiC MOSFET Reliability Update

2012 ◽  
Vol 717-720 ◽  
pp. 1073-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mrinal K. Das ◽  
Sarah K. Haney ◽  
Jim Richmond ◽  
Anthony Olmedo ◽  
Q. Jon Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Gate Oxide ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Gate Bias ◽  
Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Mos Devices ◽  
Oxide Reliability ◽  
Made In

Significant advancement has been made in the gate oxide reliability of SiC MOS devices to enable the commercial release of Cree’s Z-FET™ product. This paper discusses the key reliability results from Time-Dependent-Dielectric-Breakdown (TDDB) and High Temperature Gate Bias (HTGB) measurements that indicate that the SiC MOSFETs can demonstrate excellent lifetime and stable operation in the field.

A New Failure Analysis Flow of Gate Oxide Integrity Failure in Wafer Fabrication

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Younan ◽  
Chu Susan ◽  
Gui Dong ◽  
Mo Zhiqiang ◽  
Xing Zhenxiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Gate Dielectric ◽  
Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Gate Oxide ◽  
Oxide Thickness ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Wafer Fabrication ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Gate Oxide Integrity

Abstract As device feature size continues to shrink, the reducing gate oxide thickness puts more stringent requirements on gate dielectric quality in terms of defect density and contamination concentration. As a result, analyzing gate oxide integrity and dielectric breakdown failures during wafer fabrication becomes more difficult. Using a traditional FA flow and methods some defects were observed after electrical fault isolation using emission microscopic tools such as EMMI and TIVA. Even with some success with conventional FA the root cause was unclear. In this paper, we will propose an analysis flow for GOI failures to improve FA’s success rate. In this new proposed flow both a chemical method, Wright Etch, and SIMS analysis techniques are employed to identify root cause of the GOI failures after EFA fault isolation. In general, the shape of the defect might provide information as to the root cause of the GOI failure, whether related to PID or contamination. However, Wright Etch results are inadequate to answer the questions of whether the failure is caused by contamination or not. If there is a contaminate another technique is required to determine what the contaminant is and where it comes from. If the failure is confirmed to be due to contamination, SIMS is used to further determine the contamination source at the ppm-ppb level. In this paper, a real case of GOI failure will be discussed and presented. Using the new failure analysis flow, the root cause was identified to be iron contamination introduced from a worn out part made of stainless steel.

Reliability of Metal Gate / High-k devices and its impact on CMOS technology scaling

MRS Advances ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (52) ◽  
pp. 2973-2982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Kerber
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Cmos Technology ◽  
Gate Stack ◽  
Leakage Currents ◽  
Technology Scaling ◽  
Device Scaling ◽  
Novel Device ◽  
Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown ◽  
Bias Temperature Instability ◽  
High K

ABSTRACTMG/HK was introduced into CMOS technology and enabled scaling beyond the 45/32nm technology node. The change in gate stack from poly-Si/SiON to MG/HK introduced new reliability challenges like the positive bias temperature instability (PBTI) and stress induced leakage currents (SILC) in nFET devices which prompted thorough investigation to provide fundamental understanding of these degradation mechanisms and are nowadays well understood. The shift to a dual-layer gate stack also had a profound impact on the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) introducing a strong polarity dependence in the model parameter. As device scaling continues, stochastic modeling of variability, both at time zero and post stress due to BTI, becomes critical especially for SRAM circuit aging. As we migrate towards novel device architectures like bulk FinFET, SOI FinFETs, FDSOI and gate-all-around devices, impact of self-heating needs to be accounted for in reliability testing.In this paper we summarize the fundamentals of MG/HK reliability and discuss the reliability and characterization challenges related to the scaling of future CMOS technologies.

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