@article{7337, author = {K. B. Jinesh and J. L. van Hemmen and M. C. M. van de Sanden and F. Roozeboom and J. H. Klootwijk and W. F. A. Besling and W. M. M. Kessels}, title = {Dielectric Properties of Thermal and Plasma-Assisted Atomic Layer Deposited Al2O3 Thin Films}, abstract = {A comparative electrical characterization study of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) deposited by thermal and plasma-assisted atomic layer depositions (ALDs) in a single reactor is presented. Capacitance and leakage current measurements show that the Al2O3 deposited by the plasma-assisted ALD shows excellent dielectric properties, such as better interfaces with silicon, lower oxide trap charges, higher tunnel barrier with aluminum electrode, and better dielectric permittivity (k = 8.8), than the thermal ALD Al2O3. Remarkably, the plasma-assisted ALD Al2O3 films exhibit more negative fixed oxide charge density than the thermal ALD Al2O3 layers. In addition, it is shown that plasma-assisted ALD Al2O3 exhibits negligible trap-assisted (Poole-Frenkel) conduction unlike the thermal ALD Al2O3 films, resulting in higher breakdown electric fields than the thermal ALD prepared films. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3517430] All rights reserved.}, year = {2011}, journal = {Journal of the Electrochemical Society}, volume = {158}, pages = {G21-G26}, isbn = {0013-4651}, doi = {10.1149/1.3517430}, language = {English}, }