Precise characterization of ultrathin nitride/oxide gate dielectrics by grazing x-ray reflectance and spectroscopic ellipsometry

ABSTRACTPrecise characterization of nitride/oxide gate structures becomes a challenging task due to the very thin thickness (<3-4nm), which will be needed in the next generation integrated circuits. Conventional techniques such as spectroscopic ellipsometry in the visible range becomes difficult to apply because of the great correlation between thickness and optical indices. To overcome this problem the following strategy is applied. First, grazing x-ray reflectance is used on all the samples to extract the different layer thicknesses using a simple model. Second, spectroscopi ellipsometry from deep UV 190nm to 850nm is applied and the results fitted with the structural models deduced from the x-ray results. In this conditions the nitrogen content of the films can be precisely determined. This kind of analysis has been made on a series of nitride/oxide gate structures with variable thicknesses and degree of nitridation. Regression results are discussed and compared to x-ray photoemission results obtained on the same samples.