Conduction and electric field effect in ultra-thin TiN films

Using low pressure atomic layer deposition, ultra-thin continuous TiN films were prepared. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), resistivity and field effect properties of these films were investigated. With decreasing film thickness, a positive-to-negative transition of TCR and a steep increase of resistivity were observed. This is attributed to the metal-semimetal transition of the TiN films. We demonstrate appreciable field-induced current modulation up to 11% in a 0.65 nm TiN film. The field effect is remarkably independent of temperature. A polarity asymmetry of the current-voltage characteristics is found, attributed to the interplay between different types of the carriers.