Photoinduced charge-trapping phenomena in metal/high-k gate stack structures studied by synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy

Abstract

We have demonstrated photoinduced charge-trapping phenomena in metal/high-k gate stack structures using time-dependent photoemission spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation. Pt metal gate electrode with a large work function releases trapped negative charges near the surface of the HfSiON film while TiN metal gate electrode with a lower work function keeps negative charges in the HfSiON film. The release of negative trapped charges reveals a possibility of positive charge trapping at the interface in the HfSiON film. The location of energy level for negative charges is concluded to be between Pt and TiN Fermi-level in the band gap of the HfSiON film.