December 9, 2021

Large enhancement of ferroelectric polarization in Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films by low plasma energy pulsed laser deposition

T. Song, R. Solanas, M. Qian, I. Fina,* F. Sánchez*

Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2021;  DOI: doi.org/10.1039/D1TC05387F

 

The ferroelectric phase of HfO2 is generally stabilized in polycrystalline films, which typically exhibit the highest polarization when deposited using low oxidizing conditions. In contrast, epitaxial film grown by pulsed laser deposition show low or suppressed polarization if low oxygen pressure is used. Epitaxial films are essential to better understand physical properties, and obtaining films that have intrinsic polarization is of great importance. In order to advance towards this objective, we have carried out a systematic study of the epitaxial growth of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 combining inert Ar gas with oxidizing O2 gas. This allows us controlling the oxidizing conditions (through O2 partial pressure) and the energy of the pulsed laser deposition plasma (through the total pressure of O2 and Ar). A pressure of Ar high enough to significantly reduce plasma energy and low enough O2 to reduce oxidation conditions is found to allow a large increase in ferroelectric polarization up to 32 μC/cm2, representing an increase of around 50% respect films grown by conventional pulsed laser deposition. This simple growth process, with high impact in the development of ferroelectric HfO2, can be also beneficial in the growth of thin films of other materials by pulsed laser deposition.

© MULFOX. All rights reserved.