Reduced interface state densities for remote microwave plasma silicon nitride

The interface state density and fixed charge density of films of a-Si3N4:H deposited on silicon substrates by remote microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition have been studied as a function of deposition and annealing temperature. Interface state densities (Dit as low as 9 × 1010 cm−2 eV−1 have been obtained for films deposited at 215 °C and annealed for 15 min at 500 °C. The films exhibited positive fixed charge levels (QN/q)> 1013 cm−2, increasing slightly with deposition temperature and decreasing slightly with annealing at temperatures from 500 to 700 °C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Auger depth profiling were used to study the impurities in the films and at the interface. Metal–insulator–silicon field effect transistors made with these films showed room temperature effective channel hole mobilities of 37 cm2 V−1 s−1.