Nucleation, crystallisation and phase segregation in HfO2 and HfSiO

Hafnia and hafnium silicate thin films and bulk powders were analysed using thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope techniques to improve understanding of the crystallisation mechanism of the dielectric material. It was found that thin films exhibit instability under device processing conditions. Starting precursors greatly affect the crystallisation pathway in the bulk materials. By studying these phenomena a better understanding of the chemistry involved during crystallisation can be gained