We report epitaxial growth of TiN films having low resistivity on (100) silicon substrates using pulsed laser deposition method. The TiN films were characterized using x-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering, four-point-probe ac resistivity, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques and epitaxial relationship was found to be 〈100〉 TiN ∥ 〈100〉 Si. TiN films showed 10%–20% channeling yield. In the plane, four unit cells of TiN match with three unit cells of silicon with less than 4.0% misfit. This domain matching epitaxy provides a new mechanism of epitaxial growth in systems with large lattice misfits. Four-point-probe measurements show characteristic metallic behavior of these films as a function of temperature with a typical resistivity of about 15 μΩ cm at room temperature. Implications of low-resistivity epitaxial TiN in silicon device fabrication are discussed.
Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 (PZT) thin film capacitors have been fabricated with four electrode combinations: Pt/PZT/Pt/SiO2Si, RuO2/PZT/Pt/SiO2/Si, RuO2/PZT/RuO2/SiO2/Si, and Pt/PZT/RuO2/SiO2/Si. It is shown that polarization fatigue is determined largely by the electrode type (Pt vs RuO2), and microstructure has only a second-order effect on fatigue. If either the top or bottom electrode is platinum, significant polarization fatigue occurs. Fatigue-free capacitors are obtained only when both electrodes are RuO2. In contrast, the bottom electrode is found to have a major effect on the leakage characteristics of the PZT capacitors, presumably via microstructural modifications. Capacitors with bottom RuO2 electrodes show high leakage currents (J = 10−3-10−5 A/cm2 at 1 V) irrespective of the top electrode material. Capacitors with Pt bottom electrodes have much lower leakage currents (J = 10−8 A/cm2 at 1 V) irrespective of the top electrode material. At low voltage, the I-V curves show ohmic behavior and negligible polarity dependence for all capacitor types. At higher voltages, the leakage current is probably Schottky emission controlled for the capacitors with Pt bottom electrodes.
Ferroelectric lead zirconium titanate [Pb (ZrxTi1−x)O3] (PZT) thin films have been synthesized by using an automated laser ablation deposition technique with a capability for layer-by-layer or simultaneous deposition of elemental film constituents. The technique is suitable for producing multicomponent and/or multilayered thin films with controlled stoichiometry, such as high-temperature superconductor, ferroelectric, and electro-optic thin films. PZT films were synthesized on MgO (100) by either sequential deposition of layers of ZrO2, TiO2, and PbO, produced by laser ablation of ZrO2, TiO2, and PbO targets, or by simultaneous deposition of all species from ablation of stoichiometric or PbO-rich PZT targets. Films were deposited at 200 °C and subsequently annealed at 600 °C for different periods of time. The orientation, microstructure, surface topography, and composition of the films were characterized by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, respectively. As-deposited layer films consists of highly oriented (001) PbO layers, from which highly oriented (110) PZT films are produced after postdeposition annealing. On the other hand, laser ablation of bulk PZT targets yields amorphous as-deposited films, which evolve into highly oriented (100) PZT films after postdeposition annealing. Preliminary electrical characterization of the PZT films included polarization hysteresis, fatigue, conductivity (ac and dc), and capacitance versus voltage measurements. From the initial electrical measurements, it appears that the remnant polarization of the layered PZT films is similar to that of the films produced by laser ablation of bulk PZT targets.
Both direct current ( d x . ) and alternating current (a.c.) conductivity measurements were undertaken on lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films synthesized by laser ablation deposition. Direct current ( I ) displayed an initial time dependence of the form I x t -v (7 x 0.5-1.0). The possible reasons for this time dependence are discussed. At lower temperatures, the a x . electrical conductivity shows a frequency dependence of the form u 1 w" which is explained as electrical charge hopping. At higher temperatures. the d.c. component of electrical conductivity becomes dominant, and is accompanied by a strong low frequency dispersion of the dielectric constant. The results are compared to published data on conductivity in SrTiO,. and discussed in terms of the latest theories for dielectric response of materials.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.