Effect of deposition methods on dielectric breakdown strength of PECVD low-k carbon doped silicon dioxide dielectric thin films

The effect of deposition methods on dielectric breakdown strength of PECVD low-k dielectric carbon doped silicon dioxide films is investigated. I-V measurements were performed using metal-insulator semiconductor structures for carbon doped silicon dioxide thin films with various thicknesses by single deposition station and six sequential deposition systems. I-t measurements are also performed for films with the thickness of 32 nm prepared using both deposition methods. Comparison studies have been carried out for the thickness dependence, temperature dependence, conduction mechanism and time dependence of dielectric breakdown for carbon doped silicon dioxide with single layer and six sub-layers. Results demonstrated that both films follow the newly obtained relationship between dielectric strength E-B and thickness d, i.e. E-B proportional to (d - d(c))(-n), but with a lower exponential factor it and a larger thickness limit d(c) for films with six sub-layers. It is also demonstrated that films with six sub-layers have a higher dielectric strength in all the thickness and temperature ranges, a thickness independent thermal behavior and a longer lifetime under constant voltage stressing. This indicates that by tuning the deposition methods smaller thickness with desired dielectric properties can be achieved. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.