IP Library Granted Patent US 8,686,413
Granted Patent B2
US 8,686,413 · App. 12/894,911 · Granted Apr 1, 2014

Semiconductor device having oxide semiconductor transistor

Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki (Setagaya, JP); Kei Takahashi (Isehara, JP); Yoshiaki Ito (Sagamihara, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,686,413
App. No.
12/894,911
Granted
Apr 1, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is an object to provide a semiconductor device having a new productive semiconductor material and a new structure. The semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer over a substrate, a first insulating layer which covers the first conductive layer, an oxide semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer that overlaps with part of the first conductive layer and has a crystal region in a surface part, second and third conductive layers formed in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, an insulating layer which covers the oxide semiconductor layer and the second and third conductive layers, and a fourth conductive layer over the insulating layer that overlaps with part of the oxide semiconductor layer.

Claims (57)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first conductive layer over a substrate;

a first insulating layer over the first conductive layer;

an oxide semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer and overlapping with the first conductive layer, the oxide semiconductor layer including a channel region, wherein the first conductive layer is overlapped with the channel region;

a second conductive layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer;

a third conductive layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer;

a second insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer; and

a fourth conductive layer over the second insulating layer and overlapping with the channel region,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a first region and a second region,

wherein the first region is closer to the second insulating layer than the second region,

wherein the first region comprises a crystal, and a c-axis of the crystal is substantially perpendicular to the second insulating layer,

wherein the second region has a lower crystallinity than the first region, and

wherein all the metal elements included in the first region are included in the second region, and all the metal elements included in the second region are included in the first region.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein a region except a region comprising the crystal in the oxide semiconductor layer includes an amorphous structure.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the first region in the oxide semiconductor layer contains a crystal of In 2 Ga 2 ZnO 7 .

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer is electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer on an upper surface or a lower surface of the oxide semiconductor layer.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer contains an In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor material.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer function as one of a source electrode and a drain electrode and the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode, respectively.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the oxide semiconductor layer has a crystal region.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the second region includes an amorphous structure.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the crystal has a size of 20 nm or less.

10. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the fourth conductive layer functions as a gate electrode.

11. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first conductive layer over a substrate;

a first insulating layer over the first conductive layer;

an oxide semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer and overlapping with the first conductive layer, the oxide semiconductor layer including a channel region, wherein the first conductive layer is overlapped with the channel region;

a second conductive layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer;

a third conductive layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer;

a second insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer, and

a fourth conductive layer over the second insulating layer and overlapping with the channel region

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a first region and a second region,

wherein the first region comprises a crystal, and a c-axis of the crystal is substantially perpendicular to the second insulating layer,

wherein the second region has a lower crystallinity than the first region, and

wherein all the metal elements included in the first region are included in the second region, and all the metal elements included in the second region are included in the first region.

12. The semiconductor device according to claim 11 , wherein the second region in the oxide semiconductor layer contains a crystal of In 2 Ga 2 ZnO 7 .

13. The semiconductor device according to claim 11 , wherein one of the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer is electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer on an upper surface or a lower surface of the oxide semiconductor layer.

14. The semiconductor device according to claim 11 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer contains an In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor material.

15. The semiconductor device according to claim 11 , wherein the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer function as one of a source electrode and a drain electrode and the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode, respectively.

16. The semiconductor device according to claim 11 , wherein the second region includes an amorphous structure.

17. The semiconductor device according to claim 11 , wherein the crystal has a size of 20 nm or less.

18. The semiconductor device according to claim 11 , wherein the fourth conductive layer functions as a gate electrode.

19. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first gate electrode over a substrate;

a first insulating layer over the first gate electrode;

an oxide semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer and overlapping with the first gate electrode, the oxide semiconductor layer including indium, zinc and oxygen, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a channel formation region;

a second insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer; and

a second gate electrode over the second insulating layer and overlapping with the oxide semiconductor layer;

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a first region and a second region,

wherein the first region is closer to the second insulating layer than the second region,

wherein the first region comprises a crystal, and a c-axis of the crystal is substantially perpendicular to the second insulating layer,

wherein the second region has a lower crystallinity than the first region, and

wherein all the metal elements included in the first region are included in the second region, and all the metal elements included in the second region are included in the first region.

20. The semiconductor device according to claim 19 , wherein the first region in the oxide semiconductor layer contains a crystal of In 2 Ga 2 ZnO 7 .

21. The semiconductor device according to claim 19 , further comprising a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer on an upper surface or a lower surface of the oxide semiconductor layer.

22. The semiconductor device according to claim 19 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer contains an In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor material.

23. The semiconductor device according to claim 19 , wherein the second region includes an amorphous structure.

24. The semiconductor device according to claim 19 , wherein the crystal has a size of 20 nm or less.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2010
From: YAMAZAKI, SHUNPEI; TAKAHASHI, KEI; ITO, YOSHIAKI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 025072/0451 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-235604 · Oct 9, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110084263A1 · Apr 14, 2011