Physical and electrical characteristics of a high-k Yb2O3 gate dielectric

High-k ytterbium oxide (Yb₂O₃) gate dielectrics were deposited on Si substrate by reactive sputtering. The structural features of these films after postdeposition annealing treatment were studied by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that the Yb₂O₃ gate dielectrics annealed at 700 °C exhibit a larger capacitance value, a lower frequency dispersion and a smaller hysteresis voltage in C-V curves compared with other annealing temperatures. They also show negligible charge trapping under high constant voltage stress. This phenomenon is mainly attributed to the decrease in the amorphous silica thickness.