Novel gate-all-around polycrystalline silicon nanowire memory device with HfAlO charge-trapping layer

Gate-all-around (GAA) nanowire (NW) memory devices with a SiN- or Hf-based charge-trapping (CT) layer of the same thickness were studied in this work. The GAA NW devices were fabricated with planar thin-film transistors (TFTs) on the same substrate using a novel scheme without resorting to the use of advanced lithographic tools. Owing to their higher dielectric constant, the GAA NW devices with a HfO₂ or HfAlO CT layer show greatly enhanced programming/erasing (P/E) efficiency as compared with those with a SiN CT layer. Furthermore, the incorporation of Al into the Hf-based dielectric increases the thermal stability of the CT layer, improving retention and endurance characteristics.