Abstract
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices with reoxidized nitrided oxide(RONO) gate dielectric were fabricated, and nitrogen distribution and bonding species which contributing memory characteristics were analyzed. Also, memory characteristics of devices according to anneal temperatures were investigated. The devices were fabricated by 0.35$\mu\textrm{m}$ retrograde twin well CMOS processes. The processes could be simple by in-situ process of nitridation anneal and reoxidation. The nitrogen distribution and bonding state of gate dielectric were investigated by Dynamic Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry(D-SIMS), Time-of-Flight Secondary ton Mass Spectrometry(ToF-SIMS), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy(XPS). Nitrogen concentrations are proportional to nitridation anneal temperatures and the more time was required to form the same reoxidized layer thickness. ToF-SIMS results show that SiON species are detected at the initial oxide interface and Si$_2$NO species near the new Si-SiO$_2$ interface that formed after reoxidation. As the anneal temperatures increased, the device showed worse retention and degradation properties. These could be said that nitrogen concentration near initial interface is limited to a certain quantity, so excess nitrogen are redistributed near the Si-SiO$_2$ interface and contributed to electron trap generation.