Ge N‐Channel Ferroelectric FET Memory With Al2O3/AlN Interfacial Layer by Microwave Annealing

Abstract While n‐FeFET memory devices have shown promising characteristics for data storage and neuromorphic computing, implementing such devices with a Ge channel, which is expected to be adopted in advanced technology nodes, has never been reported due to the challenges in achieving desirable Ge i...

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Main Authors: Sheng‐Yen Zheng, Wei‐Ning Kao, Yu‐Hsing Chen, Yung‐Hsien Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-06-01
Series:Advanced Electronic Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400841
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author Sheng‐Yen Zheng
Wei‐Ning Kao
Yu‐Hsing Chen
Yung‐Hsien Wu
author_facet Sheng‐Yen Zheng
Wei‐Ning Kao
Yu‐Hsing Chen
Yung‐Hsien Wu
author_sort Sheng‐Yen Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract While n‐FeFET memory devices have shown promising characteristics for data storage and neuromorphic computing, implementing such devices with a Ge channel, which is expected to be adopted in advanced technology nodes, has never been reported due to the challenges in achieving desirable Ge interface quality. In this work, ferroelectric HfZrOx (HZO) is integrated with a high‐k Al2O3/AlN interfacial layer (IL), along with microwave annealing (MWA), to implement Ge n‐FeFET memory devices, and their memory and reliability characteristics, as well as their potential for neuromorphic applications, are extensively explored. A large memory window (MW) of 2.5 V is achieved by applying ±5 V for 5 µs while 3 bits/cell (triple‐level cell) operation is demonstrated. By using a recovery scheme, excellent 1‐bit/cell (single‐level cell) characteristics up to 108 cycles are also obtained. The proposed IL and low thermal budget of MWA alleviate element diffusion and reduce oxygen vacancies, marking the first demonstration of Ge n‐FeFET memory devices controlled by dipoles. Furthermore, short‐term synaptic plasticity, such as excitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSC/IPSC), which are essential for neuromorphic computing is also achieved. These findings suggest that Ge n‐FeFET memory devices could pave the way for high‐density embedded memory applications and could further be integrated with existing Ge p‐FeFET memory devices to form Ge‐based FeCMOS, enabling more versatile circuit functionalities.
format Article
id doaj-art-73e888a9884444d08ddc19c04dc470a5
institution DOAJ
issn 2199-160X
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wiley-VCH
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series Advanced Electronic Materials
spelling doaj-art-73e888a9884444d08ddc19c04dc470a52025-08-20T03:21:30ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Electronic Materials2199-160X2025-06-01119n/an/a10.1002/aelm.202400841Ge N‐Channel Ferroelectric FET Memory With Al2O3/AlN Interfacial Layer by Microwave AnnealingSheng‐Yen Zheng0Wei‐Ning Kao1Yu‐Hsing Chen2Yung‐Hsien Wu3Department of Engineering and System Science National Tsing Hua University Hsinchu 30013 TaiwanDepartment of Engineering and System Science National Tsing Hua University Hsinchu 30013 TaiwanDepartment of Engineering and System Science National Tsing Hua University Hsinchu 30013 TaiwanDepartment of Engineering and System Science National Tsing Hua University Hsinchu 30013 TaiwanAbstract While n‐FeFET memory devices have shown promising characteristics for data storage and neuromorphic computing, implementing such devices with a Ge channel, which is expected to be adopted in advanced technology nodes, has never been reported due to the challenges in achieving desirable Ge interface quality. In this work, ferroelectric HfZrOx (HZO) is integrated with a high‐k Al2O3/AlN interfacial layer (IL), along with microwave annealing (MWA), to implement Ge n‐FeFET memory devices, and their memory and reliability characteristics, as well as their potential for neuromorphic applications, are extensively explored. A large memory window (MW) of 2.5 V is achieved by applying ±5 V for 5 µs while 3 bits/cell (triple‐level cell) operation is demonstrated. By using a recovery scheme, excellent 1‐bit/cell (single‐level cell) characteristics up to 108 cycles are also obtained. The proposed IL and low thermal budget of MWA alleviate element diffusion and reduce oxygen vacancies, marking the first demonstration of Ge n‐FeFET memory devices controlled by dipoles. Furthermore, short‐term synaptic plasticity, such as excitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSC/IPSC), which are essential for neuromorphic computing is also achieved. These findings suggest that Ge n‐FeFET memory devices could pave the way for high‐density embedded memory applications and could further be integrated with existing Ge p‐FeFET memory devices to form Ge‐based FeCMOS, enabling more versatile circuit functionalities.https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400841Al2O3/AlNelectron trappingenduranceexcitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSC/IPSC)ferroelectric FET (FeFET)germanium (Ge)
spellingShingle Sheng‐Yen Zheng
Wei‐Ning Kao
Yu‐Hsing Chen
Yung‐Hsien Wu
Ge N‐Channel Ferroelectric FET Memory With Al2O3/AlN Interfacial Layer by Microwave Annealing
Advanced Electronic Materials
Al2O3/AlN
electron trapping
endurance
excitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSC/IPSC)
ferroelectric FET (FeFET)
germanium (Ge)
title Ge N‐Channel Ferroelectric FET Memory With Al2O3/AlN Interfacial Layer by Microwave Annealing
title_full Ge N‐Channel Ferroelectric FET Memory With Al2O3/AlN Interfacial Layer by Microwave Annealing
title_fullStr Ge N‐Channel Ferroelectric FET Memory With Al2O3/AlN Interfacial Layer by Microwave Annealing
title_full_unstemmed Ge N‐Channel Ferroelectric FET Memory With Al2O3/AlN Interfacial Layer by Microwave Annealing
title_short Ge N‐Channel Ferroelectric FET Memory With Al2O3/AlN Interfacial Layer by Microwave Annealing
title_sort ge n channel ferroelectric fet memory with al2o3 aln interfacial layer by microwave annealing
topic Al2O3/AlN
electron trapping
endurance
excitatory/inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSC/IPSC)
ferroelectric FET (FeFET)
germanium (Ge)
url https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400841
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