Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The effect of electric arc plasma jet treatment (APJT) on MOS structure reliability has been investigated. Si/SiO2/Si*/Al structures have been studied using the technique of constant current charge to breakdown before and after APJT. The study showed that APJT can improve MOS structure reliability: constant current charge to breakdown Qbd increased to more than 5 C·cm-2 and breakdown field Ebd increased to more than 20 MV/cm. This result was attributed to a structural modification of SiO2 and its interfaces as a result of APJT. Evidence for these structural changes is the appearance of additional SiO2 IR absorption peak which was observed by us.