RF-magnetron sputtering deposition of ultra-thin Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films for non-volatile memory applications

F. Ambriz-Vargas, R. Nouar, G. Kolhatkar, A. Sarkissian, R. Thomas, C. Gomez-Yáñez, M. A. Gauthier, A. Ruediger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study reports on-axis sputter deposition of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 thin films on platinized silicon substrates (Pt/Al2O2/SiO2/Si) as well as boron doped silicon substrates (P-Si), using a table top RF-magnetron sputtering unit. Through optimization steps of deposition parameters, as revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, stoichiometric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films were obtained at low sputtering pressure of 5 mTorr and a power density ∼4W/cm2. Fine grained surface morphology for Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films and rms roughness comparable to the underlying Pt surface were observed by atomic force microscopy. The effect of synthesis temperature and film thickness on the ferroelectric properties was investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy. Ferroelectricity in a two unit cell-thick layer of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (t≈1nm) was observed. This result is of great interest for the fabrication of ferroelectric tunnel junction memories. Furthermore, current-voltage measurements confirm that resistive switching occurs in 7-nm thick Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 samples, suggesting another potential application as a resistive random access memory.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7000-7010
Number of pages11
JournalMaterials Today: Proceedings
Volume4
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Ferroelectric Tunnel Junction memory
  • Ferroelectric properties
  • On-axis sputter deposition
  • Piezoresponse Force Microscopy

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