• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.449-457
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• 2012

The program/erase (P/E) cyclic endurances including bias temperature instability (BTI) behaviors of Metal-$Al_2O_3$-Nitride-Oxide-Semiconductor (MANOS) memories are investigated in comparison with those of Semiconductor-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Semiconductor (SONOS) memories. In terms of BTI behaviors, the SONOS power-law exponent n is ~0.3 independent of the P/E cycle and the temperature in the case of programmed cell, and 0.36~0.66 sensitive to the temperature in case of erased cell. Physical mechanisms are observed with thermally activated $h^*$ diffusion-induced Si/$SiO_2$ interface trap ($N_{IT}$) curing and Poole-Frenkel emission of holes trapped in border trap in the bottom oxide ($N_{OT}$). In terms of the BTI behavior in MANOS memory cells, the power-law exponent is n=0.4~0.9 in the programmed cell and n=0.65~1.2 in the erased cell, which means that the power law is strong function of the number of P/E cycles, not of the temperature. Related mechanism is can be explained by the competition between the cycle-induced degradation of P/E efficiency and the temperature-controlled $h^*$ diffusion followed by $N_{IT}$ passivation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.122-122
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• 2008

Recently, Metal/Alumina/Silicon-Nitride/Silicon-Oxide/Silicon (MANOS) structures are one of the most attractive candidates to realize vertical scaling of high-density NAND flash memory [1]. However, as ANO layers are miniaturized, negative and positive bias temperature instability (NBTI/PBTI), such as the flat band voltage shift, ${\Delta}V_{FB}$, the interfacial trap density increase, ${\Delta}D_{it}$, the gate leakage current, ${\Delta}I_G$. and the retention characteristics, in MONOS capacitors, becomes an important issue in terms of reliability. It is well known that tunnel oxide degradation is a result of the oxide and interfacial traps generation during FN (Fowler-Nordheim) stress [2]. Because the bias temperature stress causes an increase of both interfacial-traps and fixed oxide charge could be a factor, witch can degrade device reliability during the program and erase operation. However, few studies on NBTI/PBTI have been conducted on improving the reliability of MONOS devices. In this work, we investigate the effect of post-annealing gas on bias temperature instability (BTI), such as the flat band voltage shift, ${\Delta}V_{FB}$, the interfacial trap density shift, ${\Delta}I_G$ retention characteristics, and the gate leakage current characteristics of MANOS capacitors. MANOS samples annealed at $950^{\circ}C$ for 30 s by a rapid thermal process were treated via additional annealing in a furnace, using annealing gases $N_2$ and $N_2-H_2$ (2 % hydrogen and 98 % nitrogen mixture gases) at $450^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. MANOS samples annealed in $N_2-H_2$ ambient had the lowest flat band voltage shift, ${\Delta}V_{FB}$ = 1.09/0.63 V at the program/erase state, and the good retention characteristics, 123/84 mV/decade at the program/erase state more than the sample annealed at $N_2$ ambient.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2009.08a
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• pp.147-147
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• 2009