Sulfur-induced PtSi:C/Si:C Schottky barrier height lowering for realizing N-channel FinFETs with reduced external resistance

Abstract

In this letter, sulfur (S) segregation was exploited to attain a record-low electron barrier height ΦB N) of 110 meV for platinum-based silicide contacts. Sulfur-incorporated PtSi:C/Si:C contacts were also demonstrated in strained FinFETs with Si:C source/drain stressors. Incorporation of sulfur at the PtSi:C/Si:C interface in the source/drain regions of FinFETs provides a 51% improvement in external resistances and a 45% enhancement in drive current as compared to devices without S segregation. The remarkable reduction in ΦB N is explained using charge transfer and dipole formation at the silicide/semiconductor interface with S segregation. © 2009 IEEE.