I–V Characteristics and Electrical Reliability of Metal–Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–Metal Capacitors as a Function of Nitrogen Bonding Composition

In this study, we analyzed the electrical characteristics of metal–insulator–metal (MIM) capacitors fabricated with reference to insulator (Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>) thickness and deposition condition. Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub> thicknesses of 650...

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Main Authors: Tae-Min Choi, Eun-Su Jung, Jin-Uk Yoo, Hwa-Rim Lee, Songhun Yoon, Sung-Gyu Pyo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Micromachines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/6/615
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author Tae-Min Choi
Eun-Su Jung
Jin-Uk Yoo
Hwa-Rim Lee
Songhun Yoon
Sung-Gyu Pyo
author_facet Tae-Min Choi
Eun-Su Jung
Jin-Uk Yoo
Hwa-Rim Lee
Songhun Yoon
Sung-Gyu Pyo
author_sort Tae-Min Choi
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we analyzed the electrical characteristics of metal–insulator–metal (MIM) capacitors fabricated with reference to insulator (Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>) thickness and deposition condition. Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub> thicknesses of 650 Å, 500 Å, and 400 Å were used with four different conditions designated as MIM (N content 1.49), NEWMIM (N content 28.1), DAMANIT (N content 1.43), and NIT (N content 0.30), deposited by controlling gas flow and RF power as a function of N content. Capacitor characteristics were evaluated mainly in terms of the relationship between leakage current and breakdown voltage (BV). Current–voltage (I–V) characterizations revealed that a higher N–H/Si–H ratio effectively suppressed trap-assisted leakage conduction and enhanced dielectric robustness under high-field stress. Among the tested conditions, the NEWMIM process demonstrated the most favorable electrical performance with highest N contents. The MIM and NEWMIM conditions proved most effective among the evaluated processes, achieving sufficient BV values (>20 V) for reliable MIM capacitor operation and proposing a process optimization framework for integrating medium-density Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–based MIM capacitors (2 fF/µm<sup>2</sup>) with sufficiently high BV values in the future.
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spelling doaj-art-19a4065c993845f1ab922b86cbb3ec932025-08-20T02:21:07ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-05-0116661510.3390/mi16060615I–V Characteristics and Electrical Reliability of Metal–Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–Metal Capacitors as a Function of Nitrogen Bonding CompositionTae-Min Choi0Eun-Su Jung1Jin-Uk Yoo2Hwa-Rim Lee3Songhun Yoon4Sung-Gyu Pyo5School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaIn this study, we analyzed the electrical characteristics of metal–insulator–metal (MIM) capacitors fabricated with reference to insulator (Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>) thickness and deposition condition. Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub> thicknesses of 650 Å, 500 Å, and 400 Å were used with four different conditions designated as MIM (N content 1.49), NEWMIM (N content 28.1), DAMANIT (N content 1.43), and NIT (N content 0.30), deposited by controlling gas flow and RF power as a function of N content. Capacitor characteristics were evaluated mainly in terms of the relationship between leakage current and breakdown voltage (BV). Current–voltage (I–V) characterizations revealed that a higher N–H/Si–H ratio effectively suppressed trap-assisted leakage conduction and enhanced dielectric robustness under high-field stress. Among the tested conditions, the NEWMIM process demonstrated the most favorable electrical performance with highest N contents. The MIM and NEWMIM conditions proved most effective among the evaluated processes, achieving sufficient BV values (>20 V) for reliable MIM capacitor operation and proposing a process optimization framework for integrating medium-density Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–based MIM capacitors (2 fF/µm<sup>2</sup>) with sufficiently high BV values in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/6/615MIMcapacitorsmetal–insulator–metalelectrical performanceSi<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>leakage current density
spellingShingle Tae-Min Choi
Eun-Su Jung
Jin-Uk Yoo
Hwa-Rim Lee
Songhun Yoon
Sung-Gyu Pyo
I–V Characteristics and Electrical Reliability of Metal–Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–Metal Capacitors as a Function of Nitrogen Bonding Composition
Micromachines
MIM
capacitors
metal–insulator–metal
electrical performance
Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>
leakage current density
title I–V Characteristics and Electrical Reliability of Metal–Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–Metal Capacitors as a Function of Nitrogen Bonding Composition
title_full I–V Characteristics and Electrical Reliability of Metal–Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–Metal Capacitors as a Function of Nitrogen Bonding Composition
title_fullStr I–V Characteristics and Electrical Reliability of Metal–Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–Metal Capacitors as a Function of Nitrogen Bonding Composition
title_full_unstemmed I–V Characteristics and Electrical Reliability of Metal–Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–Metal Capacitors as a Function of Nitrogen Bonding Composition
title_short I–V Characteristics and Electrical Reliability of Metal–Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>–Metal Capacitors as a Function of Nitrogen Bonding Composition
title_sort i v characteristics and electrical reliability of metal si sub x sub n sub y sub metal capacitors as a function of nitrogen bonding composition
topic MIM
capacitors
metal–insulator–metal
electrical performance
Si<sub>x</sub>N<sub>y</sub>
leakage current density
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/6/615
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