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Mesoscopic Transport in Broken Down Ultrathin SiO2 Films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

E. Miranda ,
J. Suñe ,
R. Rodriguez ,
M. Nafria  and
X. Aymerich
E. Miranda
Affiliation:
Departament d'Enginyenra Electrònica., Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra (SPAIN). E-mail: Jordi.Sune@uab.es
J. Suñe
Affiliation:
Departament d'Enginyenra Electrònica., Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra (SPAIN). E-mail: Jordi.Sune@uab.es
R. Rodriguez
Affiliation:
Departament d'Enginyenra Electrònica., Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra (SPAIN). E-mail: Jordi.Sune@uab.es
M. Nafria
Affiliation:
Departament d'Enginyenra Electrònica., Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra (SPAIN). E-mail: Jordi.Sune@uab.es
X. Aymerich
Affiliation:
Departament d'Enginyenra Electrònica., Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra (SPAIN). E-mail: Jordi.Sune@uab.es
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Abstract

A common theoretical framework is presented to model the conduction characteristics of the two main dielectric breakdown modes in ultrathin SiO2 gate oxides, namely the soft and hard breakdown modes. The breakdown paths are considered to behave as mesoscopic quantum point contacts so that the conduction properties are controlled by energy funneling effects. An adiabatic approach to the modelling of these quantum point contacts is adopted to obtain an analytical approximation for the total transmission coefficient. In the limit of small breakdown spot areas, tunneling through a potential barrier associated with the lower electron transversal state at the narrowest part of the constriction explains the soft breakdown characteristics. For larger areas, such a barrier dissapears and conductance quantization is predicted. Experimental results are well explained by the model, including the conductance values after the hard breakdown and the oxide thickness independence of the current-voltage characteristic after the soft breakdown.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 592 , 1999 , 93
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

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References

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