Monday, September 26, 2016

RASIRC® BRUTE® peroxide and hydrazine technology for leading edge memory and high performance logic

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) gas is an oxidant that improves passivation and nucleation density at semiconductor interfaces, potentially leading to reduced interfacial defect density. A new technology capable of generating and delivering stable anhydrous H2O2 gas has been developed by RASIRC. The method utilizes a substantially anhydrous H2O2 solution, a carrier gas and membrane pervaporator in order to deliver anhydrous H2O2. A broad range of high-k materials and interfaces that can be improved as well as enhanced transistor performance were shown at ALD2016 Ireland. 
H2O2 allows for unique process windows in ALD due to its oxidative potential, which lies between more commonly used water and ozone, and greater acidity relative to water [1]

RASIRC BRUTE H2O2 Apparatus (H2O2 + solvent) surrounds the Nafion membrane tubes. H2O2 passes through the membrane walls and is picked up by the carrier gas.

Growth of many different films has been showcased with BRUTE Peroxide and the related RASIRC product BRUTE Hydrazine. In presentations and posters at ALD2016 Ireland the RASIRC line of BRUTE Hydrazine and BRUTE Peroxide showed impressively many useful results by many different precursors. In total, four separate posters and presentations covered growth passivation of SiOx on SiGe, SiNx on SiGe, SiON on SiGe as well as  growing HfO2, ZrO2, TiO2, Al2O3 and  TaOx with the BRUTE line of new reactive chemistries.

Transistor channel passivation, Dan Alvarez presented results of growing SiNx and SiOxNx  on SiGe using BRUTE Hydrazine and BRUTE Peroxide [2]. These films were then further processed with HfO2 dielectric layer to grow MOSCAPs. These MOSCAPS had better performance than those processed with HF last and water vapor, where improved defect density and lower leakage characteristics were reported. In addition, the presentation by Dan Alvarez discussed how anhydrous hydrazine can be used to create a thin layer of silicon nitride that can act as a diffusion barrier or channel passivation layer prior to dielectric deposition in FinFets or MOSFETs. The study focused on <400 °C silicon nitride ALD process and showed how further oxidation using anhydrous peroxide provides good nucleation for High-k deposition.

A low Temperature Passivation on SiGe(110) via plasma free process by subsequent doses of anhydrous hydrazine and hexachlorodisilane can further increase the amount of SiNx on the surface. A final treatment with HOOH can prepare the surface for high-k deposition.

BRUTE Peroxide was reported to reduce HfO2 gate oxide EOT by reduction in the interface layer

Steve Consiglio from Tokyo Electron, presented data comparing growth of HfO2 and interface layer thickness control [3]. Utilizing 300 mm Si wafers with pre-formed chemical oxide, he evaluated an all in-situ method of chemical oxide removal (COR; Si-H termination) followed by H2O2(g) dosing prior to ALD growth of HfO2 using TEMAHf and H2O. The study reported faster growth rate with H2O2 than for O3. Most interestingly, the interface results were very exciting with interface layer regrowth in the 2-4 Ångstrom range, which corresponds to ½ to 1 monolayer of SiOx interface for improved EOT and this was definitely much thinner than the results reported using O3.
Aluminum oxide, Al2O3 ALD has been presented previously [4]. This time RASIRC had a poster on improved nucleation by using H2O2 as an oxidant in ALD of Al2O3 [5]. The poster explained the need for a novel oxidant that improves passivation and nucleation density at semiconductor interfaces. The study was performed on SiGe(110) surfaces and  provides a direct comparison of equal amounts of water, 30% H2O2/H2O, and anhydrous H2O2. A five-fold increase was found in nucleation density for H2O2 versus water, and a three-fold increase for H2O2 versus 30% H2O2/H2O. An additional comparison was made of H2O2 to H2O by deposition of Al2O3 on an Si-H surface. This comparison found denser nucleation and faster initiation for H2O2 treated surfaces.




In a direct comparison of TMA based ALD with water vs peroxide the coverages of O and Al are higher with peroxide and growth starts earlier.

Zirconium oxide, ZrO2  was presented in study by Intermolecular and RASIRC at ALD2016 Poster session [6]. By utilizing the Intermolecular Combinatorial ALD platform equipped with a RASIRC BRUTE H2O2 apparatus the study compared the performance of H2O2 against O3 in a zirconium oxide ALD using ZyALD Air Liquide industry standard Zr-precursor. By MIMCAP integration the differences in ZrOx unit film properties and electrical performance was shown. Similar unit film behavior (GPC, linearity, growth saturation, film crystallinity etc.) was observed between O3 and H2O2.


Oxidant dosing (left) show that 4% O3 yields saturated response, whereas H2O2 and 20% O3 display softer saturation. ZyALD dose (middle) for each oxidant system shows definite completion for 20% O3. All three investigated conditions show linear growth without growth inhibition (right).       


The MIMCAP study (above) concluded that ZrO2 produced with H2O2 matched the best performance of 4% O3. Therefore it is possible to avoid issues observed with high (20%) O3 concentration as showcased in the figure below. More importantly, H2O2 has the capability to produce thin node dielectric, which is needed for highly scaled DRAM nodes.

Optical (left) and SEM (middle) images of MIMCAPs, post-annealing, with defects observed with 20% O3 and thin 5 nm ZrOx. As comparison blanket TiN film enhanced resistivity was observed (right) using 4 resp. 20% O3 concentrations, whereas H2O2 lays in-between. Results suggest that elevated TiN bottom electrode oxidation takes place with 20% O3 that leads to degassing during annealing.  However, the defect can be avoided with minimal reduction in growth rate, by using H2O2 as the oxidant.
Hafnium oxide, HfO2 by TDMAHf along TEMAHf was the first Hf-precursors in use at the introduction of High-k in the DRAM industry more than 10 years ago at the 90nm node. HfO2 ALD has also been investigated by Intermolecular using the H2O2/TDMAHf ALD process and in this study the MIMCAPs showed to match the best O3 performance like in the case of ZrO2 given in more detail above. In addition, Tokyo Electron presented work for HfO2 as summarized above.  
Titanium oxide, TiO2 low temperature (100 °C) TiOx ALD using H2O2 and TiMCTA (methylcyclopentadienyl tris(dimethylamino)titanium) as the metal precursor has successfully been grown as also reported by Intermolecular at ALD2016 Poster session [6].  
   
To summarize, RASIRC and their collaborations throughout the semiconductor insdustry and with leading research facilities have shown that many different films can be grown with BRUTE Peroxide and BRUTE Hydrazine and most importantly that BRUTE Peroxide can reduce EOT by reduction in the interface layer, yielding higher performing memory and logic devices.
References
[1] D. R. Lide, CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1996).
[2] Hydrogen peroxide gas for improved nucleation and initiation in ALD, Daniel Alvarez, Adam Hinckley, Pablo Macheno, Christopher Ramos, Jeffrey Spiegelman,
Anthony Muscat, Presentation at ALD 2016 Ireland.
[3] Anhydrous H2O2 for ALD HfO2 growth and interfacial layer thickness control, Steven Consiglio, Robert Clark, Takahiro Hakamata, Kandabara Tapily, Cory Wajda, Gert Leusink, Presentation at ALD2016 Ireland.
[4] Comparison of Water Vapor to Ozone for Growth ALD Films, J. Spiegelman, J. Sundqvist, EU PVSEC Proceedings 2011, page 1694 – 1698.
[5] Hydrogen peroxide gas for improved nucleation and initiation in ALD, Daniel Alvarez, Adam Hinckley, Pablo Macheno, Christopher Ramos, Jeffrey Spiegelman, Anthony Muscat, Poster ALD2016 Ireland.
[6] Comparison of hydrogen peroxide and ozone for use in zirconium oxide atomic layer deposition, Gregory  Nowling,  Stephen Weeks, Daniel Alvarez, Mark Leo, Jeff Spiegelman, Karl Littau, Poster ALD2016 Ireland.


Saturday, September 24, 2016

Arthur del Prado 1931-2016

(In brief, from www.asm.com) Arthur del Prado, ASMI's founder and former CEO, played a fundamental and founding role in the semiconductor industry. He globally is viewed as a legend within our industry and his legacy extends from Silicon Valley to Tokyo.

 Arthur del Prado (www.asm.com)

In 1996, ASM International was publicly-listed on the AEX in Amsterdam. Under Del Prado's leadership, it acquired Finnish company Microchemistry (1999) and Korean group Genitech (2004), cementing its position as market leader in atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Arthur del Prado died peacefully at his home on September 9, 2016. He is rightly recognized as the father of the European semiconductor equipment industry. Indeed, it is impossible to imagine today's industry without him.

Please find the amazing story about Arthur del Prado and ASM International here. ​​​​


Friday, September 23, 2016

Rumor: Apple 2017 iPhone may have Samsung's new Flexible OLED made by ALD

Here are some unconfirmed information that ALD will be used in the next generation Apple iPhone as of 2017.In addition, Korea IT News is claiming that both Samsung and LG have finalized the R&D phase of introducing ALD barrier technology for OLED and are now working closely with Korean ALD OEMs to go to production. Companies mentioned are Jusung Engineering, WONIK IPS, AP System, and TES.

With Apple reportedly shifting to iPhones with OLED displays starting in 2017, it will be interesting to see if Apple will be using Samsung's latest OLED technology that may be ready for the 2017 anniversary iPhone. According to a new OLED report, Samsung Display and LG Display are working to introduce ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) technology to flexible OLED thin-film encapsulation process. They both have worked closely with their equipment partners to get them up to speed. ALD technology will add an important component to OLED displays for smartphones that add protecting organic materials from oxygen and water that will increase the overall life of a display. Samsung in particular is reported to be "working fast to introduce ALD technology." 
LINK: http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2016/09/apples-2017-iphone-may-use-samsungs-new-flexible-oled-atomic-layer-deposition-technology.html

Checking the Korean ALD companies on the stockmarket give no hint or reaction that any of them are about to sign big deals.



Last 6 months performance for an index based on Korean companies with ALD Technology that may be used for OLED Encapsulation. Tes Co Ltd, Jusung Engineering Co., Ltd., EugeneTechnology Co Ltd and Wonik IPS Co Ltd. (Plotted using Google Finance)