Litcius/Paper detail

Enhanced electroresistance endurance of capped Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 ultrathin epitaxial tunnel barriers

Xiao Long, Huan Tan, Saúl Estandía, Jaume Gàzquez, F. Sánchez, Ignasi Fina, J. Fontcuberta

2022APL Materials15 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

Electroresistance in ultrathin Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) films is pivotal toward the implementation of hafnia-based ferroelectrics in electronics. Here, we show that the electroresistance yield and endurance of large capacitors (∼314 µm2) of epitaxial HZO films only 2.2 nm thick grown on SrTiO3 or GdScO3 can be improved using 1 nm SrTiO3 capping layers. It is argued that the main role of the capping layer is to minimize charge transport along grain boundaries, and, thus, a similar strategy can be explored in polycrystalline films.

Topics & Concepts

Materials scienceCrystalliteEpitaxyCapacitorLayer (electronics)OptoelectronicsElectronicsGrain boundaryComposite materialMetallurgyVoltageMicrostructureElectrical engineeringEngineeringFerroelectric and Negative Capacitance DevicesMXene and MAX Phase MaterialsSemiconductor materials and devices