Evaluation of Imprint and Multi‐Level Dynamics in Ferroelectric Capacitors

Abstract Fluorite‐structured ferroelectrics are one of the most promising material systems for emerging memory technologies. However, when integrated into electronic devices, these materials exhibit strong imprint effects that can lead to a failure during writing or retention operations. To improve...

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Main Authors: Sara Vecchi, Francesco Maria Puglisi, Pascal Appelt, Roberto Guido, Xuetao Wang, Stefan Slesazeck, Thomas Mikolajick, Suzanne Lancaster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-02-01
Series:Advanced Electronic Materials
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400204
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author Sara Vecchi
Francesco Maria Puglisi
Pascal Appelt
Roberto Guido
Xuetao Wang
Stefan Slesazeck
Thomas Mikolajick
Suzanne Lancaster
author_facet Sara Vecchi
Francesco Maria Puglisi
Pascal Appelt
Roberto Guido
Xuetao Wang
Stefan Slesazeck
Thomas Mikolajick
Suzanne Lancaster
author_sort Sara Vecchi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Fluorite‐structured ferroelectrics are one of the most promising material systems for emerging memory technologies. However, when integrated into electronic devices, these materials exhibit strong imprint effects that can lead to a failure during writing or retention operations. To improve the performance and reliability of these devices, it is cardinal to understand the physical mechanisms underlying the imprint during operation. In this work, the comparison of First‐Order Reversal Curves measurements with a new gradual switching experimental approach named “Unipolar Reversal Curves” is used to analyze both the fluid imprint and the time‐dependent imprint effects within a 10 nm‐thick Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 capacitor. Interestingly, the application of delay times (ranging from 100 µs up to 10 s) between the partial switching pulses of a Unipolar Reversal Curve sequence enables analysis of the connection between the two aforementioned imprint types. Based on these results, the study finally reports a unified physical interpretation of imprint in the context of a charge injection model, which explains both types of imprint and sheds light on the dynamics of multi‐level polarization switching in ferroelectrics.
format Article
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issn 2199-160X
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publisher Wiley-VCH
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series Advanced Electronic Materials
spelling doaj-art-c17ddde94940413f825c97b95e6ddaa42025-08-20T01:56:32ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Electronic Materials2199-160X2025-02-01112n/an/a10.1002/aelm.202400204Evaluation of Imprint and Multi‐Level Dynamics in Ferroelectric CapacitorsSara Vecchi0Francesco Maria Puglisi1Pascal Appelt2Roberto Guido3Xuetao Wang4Stefan Slesazeck5Thomas Mikolajick6Suzanne Lancaster7MDCO Italy – Applied Materials Via M. Ruini 74/L Reggio Emilia (RE) 42124 ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria “Enzo Ferrari” – Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia Via P. Vivarelli 10/1 Modena (MO) 41125 ItalyNaMLab gGmbH Nöthnitzer Str. 64a 01187 Dresden GermanyNaMLab gGmbH Nöthnitzer Str. 64a 01187 Dresden GermanyNaMLab gGmbH Nöthnitzer Str. 64a 01187 Dresden GermanyNaMLab gGmbH Nöthnitzer Str. 64a 01187 Dresden GermanyNaMLab gGmbH Nöthnitzer Str. 64a 01187 Dresden GermanyNaMLab gGmbH Nöthnitzer Str. 64a 01187 Dresden GermanyAbstract Fluorite‐structured ferroelectrics are one of the most promising material systems for emerging memory technologies. However, when integrated into electronic devices, these materials exhibit strong imprint effects that can lead to a failure during writing or retention operations. To improve the performance and reliability of these devices, it is cardinal to understand the physical mechanisms underlying the imprint during operation. In this work, the comparison of First‐Order Reversal Curves measurements with a new gradual switching experimental approach named “Unipolar Reversal Curves” is used to analyze both the fluid imprint and the time‐dependent imprint effects within a 10 nm‐thick Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 capacitor. Interestingly, the application of delay times (ranging from 100 µs up to 10 s) between the partial switching pulses of a Unipolar Reversal Curve sequence enables analysis of the connection between the two aforementioned imprint types. Based on these results, the study finally reports a unified physical interpretation of imprint in the context of a charge injection model, which explains both types of imprint and sheds light on the dynamics of multi‐level polarization switching in ferroelectrics.https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400204charge injectiondomain pinningferroelectric hafniaimprintmulti‐level switching
spellingShingle Sara Vecchi
Francesco Maria Puglisi
Pascal Appelt
Roberto Guido
Xuetao Wang
Stefan Slesazeck
Thomas Mikolajick
Suzanne Lancaster
Evaluation of Imprint and Multi‐Level Dynamics in Ferroelectric Capacitors
Advanced Electronic Materials
charge injection
domain pinning
ferroelectric hafnia
imprint
multi‐level switching
title Evaluation of Imprint and Multi‐Level Dynamics in Ferroelectric Capacitors
title_full Evaluation of Imprint and Multi‐Level Dynamics in Ferroelectric Capacitors
title_fullStr Evaluation of Imprint and Multi‐Level Dynamics in Ferroelectric Capacitors
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Imprint and Multi‐Level Dynamics in Ferroelectric Capacitors
title_short Evaluation of Imprint and Multi‐Level Dynamics in Ferroelectric Capacitors
title_sort evaluation of imprint and multi level dynamics in ferroelectric capacitors
topic charge injection
domain pinning
ferroelectric hafnia
imprint
multi‐level switching
url https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400204
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AT pascalappelt evaluationofimprintandmultileveldynamicsinferroelectriccapacitors
AT robertoguido evaluationofimprintandmultileveldynamicsinferroelectriccapacitors
AT xuetaowang evaluationofimprintandmultileveldynamicsinferroelectriccapacitors
AT stefanslesazeck evaluationofimprintandmultileveldynamicsinferroelectriccapacitors
AT thomasmikolajick evaluationofimprintandmultileveldynamicsinferroelectriccapacitors
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