Effect of synchrotron X-ray radiation on the channel hot-carrier reliability of reoxidized nitrided silicon dioxide

Channel hot-carrier-induced degradation was studied in reoxidized nitrided oxide n-channel MOSFETs which were exposed to 1-2-keV X-rays from a synchrotron source. It is found that transconductance degradation under high gate bias stress (Vg=1.3 V/sub d/) is enhanced by the X-ray exposure to a lesser degree in reoxidized nitrided oxide (RNO) devices than in conventional oxide devices. This indicates that radiation generates fewer electron traps in RNO than in a conventional oxide.<
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