IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,252,697
Granted Patent B2
US 8,252,697 · App. 11/803,261 · Granted Aug 28, 2012

Zinc-tin oxide thin-film transistors

Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,252,697
App. No.
11/803,261
Granted
Aug 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of forming transparent zinc-tin oxide structures are described. Devices that include transparent zinc-tin oxide structures as at least one of a channel layer in a transistor or a transparent film disposed over an electrical device that is at a substrate.

Claims (31)

1. A process comprising:

forming a plurality of different chemically adhered monolayers, including a zinc containing monolayer and a tin containing monolayer, on a substrate; and

processing the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers, including heating the formed plurality of chemically adhered monolayers, to form a crystalline zinc-tin compound containing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) structure.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein processing includes alloying the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers on the substrate.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the TCO structure is formed epitaxially upon a semiconductor active section of the substrate.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the TCO structure is formed upon a dielectric section of the substrate.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein forming the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers includes disposing an organo-zinc monolayer against an organo-tin monolayer.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein forming the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers includes disposing a zinc halide monolayer against a tin halide monolayer.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein processing the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers includes forming a TCO film that abuts an electronic device disposed at the substrate.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein processing the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers includes forming a TCO film as a channel layer in a field-effect transistor.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein processing the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers includes:

forming a TCO film that abuts an electronic device disposed at the substrate; and

forming a TCO film as a channel layer in a field-effect transistor.

10. A process comprising:

forming one of a zinc-containing first monolayer or a tin-containing first monolayer on a substrate that is disposed in a tool;

purging the tool;

forming the other of the zinc-containing monolayer or the tin-containing monolayer on the first monolayer to form a plurality of chemically adhered monolayers; and

processing the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers to form a crystalline transparent zinc-tin oxide structure therefrom.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the zinc-containing monolayer is a zinc halide monolayer or the tin-containing monolayer is a tin halide monolayer.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the zinc-containing monolayer is an organo-zinc monolayer or the tin-containing monolayer is an organo-tin monolayer.

13. The process of claim 10 , further including abutting the transparent zinc-tin oxide structure against an electronic device disposed at the substrate.

14. The process of claim 10 , further including forming a gate stack above the transparent zinc-tin oxide structure, the process including:

forming a gate dielectric layer above and on the transparent zinc-tin oxide structure; and

forming a control gate film against the gate dielectric layer.

15. The process of claim 10 , further including:

abutting the transparent zinc-tin oxide structure against an electronic device; and

forming a gate stack above the transparent zinc-tin oxide structure, the gate stack forming process including:

forming a gate dielectric layer above and on the transparent zinc-tin oxide structure; and

forming a control gate film against the gate dielectric layer.

16. The process of claim 10 , wherein processing the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers to form a transparent zinc-tin oxide structure includes forming multiple alternating layers of zinc- and tin-containing monolayers.

17. The process of claim 10 , wherein processing the plurality of chemically adhered monolayers to form a transparent zinc-tin oxide structure includes heating the monolayers in the presence of an oxidizer.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2007
From: AHN, KIE Y.; FORBES, LEONARD
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 019446/0451 →
Continuity (1)
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