Dielectric degradation of Pt/SiO₂/Si structures during thermal annealing

Traditionally it was believed that platinum does not interact with silicon dioxide during thermal treatment in an N₂ ambient. In this work, however, dielectric degradation of the Pt/SiO₂/Si structure during thermal annealing was observed. The density of surface states at the SiO₂/Si interface increases and the dielectric strength of the oxide decreases after annealing at temperatures higher than 600°C. Ion implantation through the Pt/SiO₂ structure enhances the degradation. After removal of the Pt film, a second annealing can reduce the surface state density but the dielectric strength cannot be recovered. Although material analysis such as AES and SIMS shows no obvious differences between the fresh SiO₂ and the degraded SiO₂, electrical analyses indicate that thermal stress is responsible for the increase of the surface states while Pt dissolving in SiO₂ is responsible for teh decrease of the dielectric strength. Thus, the process sequence should be taken into consideration for practical application.