Understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon

We report ferroelectric switching at room temperature in sub-100 nm aluminum nitride thin films deposited using radio frequency magnetron sputtering in a metal–insulator–metal configuration. The film microstructures were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Ferroelectric characterist...

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Main Authors: Vamshi Kiran Gogi, Christopher Chae, Abhijeet Barua, Jinwoo Hwang, Rashmi Jha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-05-01
Series:APL Materials
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0246797
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author Vamshi Kiran Gogi
Christopher Chae
Abhijeet Barua
Jinwoo Hwang
Rashmi Jha
author_facet Vamshi Kiran Gogi
Christopher Chae
Abhijeet Barua
Jinwoo Hwang
Rashmi Jha
author_sort Vamshi Kiran Gogi
collection DOAJ
description We report ferroelectric switching at room temperature in sub-100 nm aluminum nitride thin films deposited using radio frequency magnetron sputtering in a metal–insulator–metal configuration. The film microstructures were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Ferroelectric characteristics have been investigated through dynamic hysteresis mode and positive-up-negative-down techniques that underscore contributions from leakage current showing the overestimated remnant polarization (Pr > 100 μC/cm2) values. True ferroelectric switching characterization shows a complete polarization reversal with a Pr of ∼90 μC/cm2. The interface trap density (Dit) at the AlN/Si interface in the metal–insulator–semiconductor configuration is estimated to be 6.91 × 1013 cm−2 eV−1 using conductance spectroscopy, indicating flatband voltage (∆Vfb) shifts dominated by charge trapping.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2166-532X
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher AIP Publishing LLC
record_format Article
series APL Materials
spelling doaj-art-fe2444de63b84b568ffd3e3cf0df50da2025-08-20T01:58:41ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Materials2166-532X2025-05-01135051122051122-710.1063/5.0246797Understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on siliconVamshi Kiran Gogi0Christopher Chae1Abhijeet Barua2Jinwoo Hwang3Rashmi Jha4Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USADepartment of Material Science and Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USAIntel Corporation, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124, USADepartment of Material Science and Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USAWe report ferroelectric switching at room temperature in sub-100 nm aluminum nitride thin films deposited using radio frequency magnetron sputtering in a metal–insulator–metal configuration. The film microstructures were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Ferroelectric characteristics have been investigated through dynamic hysteresis mode and positive-up-negative-down techniques that underscore contributions from leakage current showing the overestimated remnant polarization (Pr > 100 μC/cm2) values. True ferroelectric switching characterization shows a complete polarization reversal with a Pr of ∼90 μC/cm2. The interface trap density (Dit) at the AlN/Si interface in the metal–insulator–semiconductor configuration is estimated to be 6.91 × 1013 cm−2 eV−1 using conductance spectroscopy, indicating flatband voltage (∆Vfb) shifts dominated by charge trapping.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0246797
spellingShingle Vamshi Kiran Gogi
Christopher Chae
Abhijeet Barua
Jinwoo Hwang
Rashmi Jha
Understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon
APL Materials
title Understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon
title_full Understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon
title_fullStr Understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon
title_full_unstemmed Understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon
title_short Understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon
title_sort understanding ferroelectricity in sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0246797
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