The Journal of
the Korean Journal of Metals and Materials

The Journal of
the Korean Journal of Metals and Materials

Monthly
  • pISSN : 1738-8228
  • eISSN : 2288-8241

Editorial Office

Title Effect of Composition on Electrical Properties of Multifunctional Silicon Nitride Films Deposited at Temperatures below 200℃
Authors 금기수(Ki Su Keum); 황재담(Jae Dam Hwang); 김주연(Joo Youn Kim); 홍완식(Wan Shick Hong)
DOI https://doi.org/10.3365/KJMM.2012.50.4.331
Page pp.331-337
ISSN 1738-8228(ISSN), 2288-8241(eISSN)
Keywords silicon nitride; dielectric; photonic device; PE-CVD; Low temperature
Abstract Electrical properties as a function of composition in silicon nitride (SiNx) films grown at low temperatures (<200℃) were studied for applications to photonic devices and thin film transistors. Both siliconrich and nitrogen-rich compositions were successfully produced in final films by controlling the source gas mixing ratio, R=[(N2 or NH3)/SiH4], and the RF plasma power. Depending on the film composition, the dielectric and optical properties of SiNx films varied substantially. Both the resistivity and breakdown field strength showed the maximum value at the stoichiometric composition (N/Si=1.33), and degraded as the composition deviated to either side. The electrical properties degraded more rapidly when the composition shifted toward the silicon-rich side than toward the nitrogen-rich side. The composition shift from the siliconrich side to the nitrogen-rich side accompanied the shift in the photoluminescence characteristic peak to a shorter wavelength, indicating an increase in the band gap. As long as the film composition is close to the stoichiometry, the breakdown field strength and the bulk resistivity showed adequate values for use as a gate dielectric layer down to 150℃ of the process temperature.