We demonstrate that the metallic capping layer has a strong impact on the effective work function (EWF) of the metal gate. Specifically, the EWF of atomic-layer-deposited (ALD)-TaN could be increased from 4.5to4.8eV with chemical-vapor-deposited-TiN capping, which is sufficient amount of work function modification for silicon on insulator based devices. A strong interdiffusion of Ti atoms into the ALD-TaN film is observed and correlated well with the changes in the EWF change. Ti capping experiments confirm that the Ti interdiffusion can actually modify the EWF of Ti/ALD-TaN stack.

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This study examined the interfacial reaction of plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposited TaCxNy films with underlying SiO2 and HfO2 layers, as well as their effective work functions (EWFs). The adoption of Ar∕H2 plasma as a reducing agent suppressed the interfacial reactions resulting in a lower electrical thickness. However, it increased the interface state density due to the massive Ar+ plasma damage on the dielectric films. The interfacial reactions were suppressed in TaCxNy on HfO2 compared with that on SiO2. The EWF of TaCxNy with the H2 plasma and Ar∕H2 plasma on HfO2 was ∼4.9–5.2 and ∼4.6eV, respectively.