Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof

1. A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel, the method comprising:

forming a thin film transistor including a gate electrode, a drain electrode, a source electrode and a semiconductor on a substrate;

forming a first passivation layer on the drain and the source electrodes;

forming a transparent conductive layer on the first passivation layer;

etching the transparent conductive layer using a photoresist as an etch mask to expose a portion of the first passivation layer and to form a pixel electrode connected the drain electrode;

ashing the first passivation layer and the photoresist, wherein the ashing the first passivation layer forms a step on the passivation layer, and wherein the step does not overlap the pixel electrode; and

removing the photoresist.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ashing of the first passivation layer and the photoresist is performed until the exposed surface of the first passivation layer from the pixel electrode is lower than the surface of the first passivation layer under the pixel electrode.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first passivation layer includes an organic material.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

forming an ohmic contact layer between the semiconductor and the source and the drain electrodes.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the formation of the source and the drain electrode, the ohmic contact layer, and the semiconductor comprises:

depositing an intrinsic silicon layer and an extrinsic silicon layer;

etching the intrinsic silicon layer and the extrinsic silicon layer to form the semiconductor and the extrinsic semiconductor;

forming a conductor layer;

etching the conductor layer to form the source and the drain electrodes; and

etching the extrinsic semiconductor exposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode to form the ohmic contact layer.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the formation of the data line and the drain electrode, the ohmic contact layer, and the semiconductor comprises:

depositing an intrinsic silicon layer and an extrinsic silicon layer;

forming a conductor layer on the extrinsic silicon layer;

etching the intrinsic silicon layer and the extrinsic silicon layer to form the semiconductor and the extrinsic semiconductor;

etching the conductor layer to form the source and the drain electrodes; and

etching the extrinsic semiconductor exposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode to form the ohmic contact layer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formation of the thin film transistor further includes a formation of a second passivation layer.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second passivation layer includes an inorganic material.

9. A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel, the method comprising:

forming a semiconductor including extrinsic regions and intrinsic regions;

forming a gate insulating layer covering the semiconductor;

forming a gate line overlapping the intrinsic regions of the semiconductor;

forming an interlayer insulating layer covering the gate line and the gate insulating layer;

forming a data line and a drain electrode respectively connected to the extrinsic regions of the semiconductor;

forming a passivation layer covering the data line and the drain electrode;

forming a transparent conductive layer on the passivation layer;

etching the transparent conductive layer using a photoresist as an etch mask to expose a portion of the passivation layer and to form a pixel electrode connected the drain electrode;

ashing the passivation layer and the photoresist, wherein the ashing the first passivation layer forms a step on the passivation layer, and wherein the step does not overlap the pixel electrode; and

removing the photoresist.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ashing of the passivation layer and the photoresist is performed until the exposed surface of the passivation layer from the pixel electrode is lower than the surface of the passivation layer under the pixel electrode.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the passivation layer includes an organic material.