H₂ Plasma and PMA Effects on PEALD-Al₂O₃ Films with Different O₂ Plasma Exposure Times for CIS Passivation Layers

In this study, the electrical properties of Al2O3 film were analyzed and optimized to improve the properties of the passivation layer of CMOS image sensors (CISs). During Al2O3 deposition processing, the O2 plasma exposure time was adjusted, and H2 plasma treatment as well as post-metallization annealing (PMA) were performed as posttreatments. The flat-band voltage (Vfb) was significantly shifted (ΔVfb = 2.54 V) in the case of the Al2O3 film with a shorter O2 plasma exposure time; however, with a longer O2 plasma exposure time, Vfb was slightly shifted (ΔVfb = 0.61 V) owing to the reduction in the carbon impurity content. Additionally, the as-deposited Al2O3 sample with a shorter O2 plasma exposure time had a larger number of interface traps (interface trap density, Dit = 8.98 × 1013 eV−1·cm−2). However, Dit was reduced to 1.12 × 1012 eV−1·cm−2 by increasing the O2 plasma exposure time and further reduced after PMA. Consequently, we fabricated an Al2O3 film suitable for application as a CIS passivation layer with a reduced number of interface traps. However, the Al2O3 film with increased O2 plasma exposure time deteriorated owing to plasma damage after H2 plasma treatment, which is a method of reducing carbon impurity content. This deterioration was validated using the C–V hump and breakdown characteristics