Process dependence of interface state generation due to irradiation and hot carrier stress in rapid thermally nitrided thin gate oxides

A study of the effects of nitridation time and temperature on the interface state generation in MOS devices with thin rapid thermally nitrided gate oxides is reported. A different process dependence was observed for interface state generation caused by X-ray irradiation and hot carrier stress. The discrepancy is explained using the structural changes at the interface during nitridation and some of the earlier defect generation models.