Microscopic Insights into Fatigue Mechanism in Wurtzite Ferroelectric Al$_{0.65}$Sc$_{0.35}$N: Oxygen Infiltration Enabled Grain Amorphization Spanning Boundary to Bulk

Abstract

For the first time, the fatigue behavior involving external oxygen in highly Sc-doped AlN ferroelectric film was observed using transmission electron microscope techniques. Despite increasing the Sc composition in AlScN film contributes to reducing the device operation voltage, the inherent affinity of Sc for oxygen introduces instability in device performance. In this study, oxygen incorporation at top electrode edges and grain boundaries accompanied with an increase in current leakage and the disappearance of ferroelectric properties, was observed in nanoscale after long-term field cycling. This observation indicates the emergence of non-ferroelectric and even amorphous states. This presented work revealed solid experimental evidence of an oxygen-involved fatigue mechanism, providing valuable insights into the physical nature of the ferroelectric properties of AlScN films.