STRUCTURAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF RF MAGNETRON SPUTTERED TANTALUM OXIDE FILMS

Abstract

RF magnetron sputtering technique was employed for deposition of tantalum oxide films on p-type silicon substrates by sputtering of pure tantalum oxide target in the presence of oxygen and argon gases at a temperature of 303 K. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the films annealed at 773 K were stoichiometric and polycrystalline respectively. The accumulation capacitance for the devices in a structure of Al/Ta2O5/p-Si has been decreased noticeably lower values for the devices annealed at high temperatures. Improved current–voltage characteristics were observed for all annealed devices with Poole–Frenkel conduction mechanism.