Device quality MOS Gate insulators: Sputter deposition and low temperature processing

A series of n-channel, Al-gate MOS transistors were fabricated using reactively sputtered SiO2as the gate insulator. The SiO2was deposited at low temperatures and low RF powers, and during subsequent processing was not subjected to temperatures in excess of 465°C. Test results showed that for gate oxides deposited at 20 W, the measured breakdown strength was 3-4 MV/cm with interface trapped charge density of 4-8 × 10¹⁰cm^-2and that the resulting electron mobility of the transistor was 470 cm²/V.s. After annealing in nitrogen at 1000°C, the deposited oxides exhibited electrical properties which are very similar to those of thermally grown SiO2.