IP Library Patent Application 12856926
Patent Application
App. No. 12/856,926

THIN FILM TRANSISTOR, METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME, ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODE DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/856,926
Abstract

A thin film transistor (TFT), a method of fabricating the same, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device having the same, and a method of fabricating the same. The TFT includes a substrate; a buffer layer disposed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed on the buffer layer; a gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer and corresponding to the semiconductor layer; and source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode, and electrically connected to the semiconductor layer. Here, the semiconductor layer includes a plurality of seed regions separated from each other by a distance of 50 μm or more.

Claims (68)

1 . A thin film transistor (TFT), comprising:

a substrate;

a buffer layer disposed on the substrate;

a semiconductor layer disposed on the buffer layer;

a gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layer;

a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer and corresponding to the semiconductor layer; and

source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode, and electrically connected to the semiconductor layer,

wherein the semiconductor layer includes a plurality of seed regions separated from each other by a distance of 50 μm or more.

2 . The TFT according to claim 1 , wherein each of the seed regions includes a plurality of metal silicides.

3 . The TFT according to claim 1 , wherein each of the seed regions has a size of about 2 to 10 μm.

4 . The TFT according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor layer includes one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd, Ag, Au, Al, Sn, Sb, Cu, Tr and Cd.

5 . A method of fabricating a TFT, comprising:

providing a substrate;

forming a buffer layer on the substrate;

forming an amorphous silicon layer on the buffer layer;

forming a capping layer on the amorphous silicon layer, the capping layer having one or more holes exposing the amorphous silicon layer;

treating the substrate with plasma;

providing a metal catalyst solution to the holes;

annealing the substrate to crystallize the amorphous silicon layer into a polycrystalline silicon layer;

removing the capping layer;

forming a semiconductor layer by crystallizing the polycrystalline silicon layer;

forming a gate insulating layer on the substrate;

forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer; and

forming source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode and connected to the semiconductor layer.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the plasma treatment is performed using nitrogen-based or ammonia-based plasma.

7 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising sintering and annealing the substrate after forming the metal catalyst solution.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the sintering is performed at about 30 to 45° C.

9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the annealing is performed at about 90 to 110° C.

10 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the metal catalyst solution includes one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd, Ag, Au, Al, Sn, Sb, Cu, Tr and Cd.

11 . An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, comprising:

a substrate;

a buffer layer disposed on the substrate;

a semiconductor layer disposed on the buffer layer;

a gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layer;

a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer and corresponding to the semiconductor layer;

source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode and electrically connected to the semiconductor layer;

an insulating layer disposed on the substrate; and

a first electrode electrically connected to one of the source and drain electrodes, an organic layer and a second electrode,

wherein the semiconductor layer includes a plurality of seed regions, separated from each other by a distance of 50 μm or more.

12 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein each of the seed regions includes a plurality of metal silicides.

13 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein each of the seed regions has a size of about 2 to 10 μm.

14 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein the semiconductor layer includes one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd, Ag, Au, Al, Sn, Sb, Cu, Tr and Cd.

15 . A method of fabricating an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display device, comprising:

providing a substrate;

forming a buffer layer on the substrate;

forming an amorphous silicon layer on the buffer layer;

forming a capping layer on the amorphous silicon layer, the capping layer having one or more holes exposing the amorphous silicon layer;

treating the substrate with plasma;

providing a metal catalyst solution to the holes;

annealing the substrate to crystallize the amorphous silicon layer into a polycrystalline silicon layer;

removing the capping layer;

forming a semiconductor layer by crystallizing the polycrystalline silicon layer;

forming a gate insulating layer on the substrate;

forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer;

forming source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode and connected to the semiconductor layer;

forming an insulating layer on an entire surface of the substrate; and

forming a first electrode electrically connected to one of the source and drain electrodes, an organic layer and a second electrode.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the plasma treatment is performed using nitrogen-based or ammonia-based plasma.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising, sintering and annealing the substrate after forming the metal catalyst solution.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the sintering is performed at about 30 to 45° C.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the annealing is performed at about 90 to 110° C.

20 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the metal catalyst solution includes one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd, Ag, Au, Al, Sn, Sb, Cu, Tr and Cd.

21 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein a diameter of each one of the holes, through which the amorphous silicon layer is exposed, is in a range between about 2 to 10 μm.

22 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein a diameter of each one of the holes, through which the amorphous silicon layer is exposed, is in a range between about 2 to 10 μm.

23 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the metal catalyst solution controls an amount of remaining metal catalysts on the one or more holes.

24 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein an areal density of the remaining metal catalysts is in a range between 10 11 to 10 15 atoms/cm 2 .

25 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the metal catalyst solution controls an amount of remaining metal catalysts on the one or more holes.

26 . The method according to claim 25 , wherein an areal density of the remaining metal catalysts is in a range between 10 11 to 10 15 atoms/cm 2 .

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Aug 29, 2012
From: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028868/0553 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2010
From: PARK, YONG-WOO
To: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 024851/0001 →