Near-field microwave microscopy of high-κ oxides grown on graphene with an organic seeding layer

Near-field scanning microwave microscopy (SMM) is used for non-destructive nanoscale characterization of Al₂O₃ and HfO₂ films grown on epitaxial graphene on SiC by atomic layer deposition using a self-assembled perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride seeding layer. SMM allows imaging of buried inhomogeneities in the dielectric layer with a spatial resolution close to 100 nm. The results indicate that, while topographic features on the substrate surface cannot be eliminated as possible sites of defect nucleation, the use of a vertically heterogeneous Al₂O₃/HfO₂ stack suppresses formation of large outgrowth defects in the oxide film, ultimately improving lateral uniformity of the dielectric film.