IP Library Granted Patent US 8,785,925
Granted Patent B2
US 8,785,925 · App. 13/571,966 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Thin film device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,785,925
App. No.
13/571,966
Granted
Jul 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is such an issue with a TFT using an oxide semiconductor film that oxygen deficit is generated in a surface region of the oxide semiconductor film after performing plasma etching of a source-drain electrode, and the off-current becomes increased. Disclosed is the TFT which includes: a gate electrode on an insulating substrate as a substrate; a gate insulating film on the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film on the gate insulating film; and a source/drain electrode on the oxide semiconductor film. It is the characteristic of the TFT that a surface layer containing at least either fluorine or chlorine exists in a part of the oxide semiconductor film where the source/drain electrode is not superimposed.

Claims (35)

1. A thin film device, comprising a gate electrode on a substrate, a gate insulating film on the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film on the gate insulating film, and a source/drain electrode on the oxide semiconductor film, wherein

a surface layer contains a composition element of the oxide semiconductor film, a composition element of a part of the source/drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, and at least either fluorine or chlorine exist in a part of the oxide semiconductor film where the source/drain electrode is not superimposed.

2. A thin film device, comprising a gate electrode on a substrate, a gate insulating film on the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film on the gate insulating film, and a source/drain electrode on the oxide semiconductor film, wherein

a surface layer containing at least either fluorine or chlorine exists in a part of the oxide semiconductor film where the source/drain electrode is not superimposed, and

a mixed layer containing a mixture of the composition element of the oxide semiconductor film and the composition element of the part of the source/drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor film exists in an interface between the oxide semiconductor film and the source/drain electrode.

3. A thin film device, comprising a gate electrode on a substrate, a gate insulating film on the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film on the gate insulating film, and a source/drain electrode on the oxide semiconductor film, wherein

a surface layer containing at least either fluorine or chlorine exists in a part of the oxide semiconductor film where the source/drain electrode is not superimposed,

the thin film device further comprises a channel protection insulating film on the surface layer, and

the surface layer also exists in a part of the oxide semiconductor film where the source/drain electrode is superimposed.

4. The thin film device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein

a mixed layer constituted with a mixture of the composition element of the oxide semiconductor film, the composition element of the part of the source/drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, and at least either fluorine or chlorine exists in an interface between the oxide semiconductor film and the source/drain electrode.

5. A thin film device, comprising a gate electrode on a substrate, a gate insulating film on the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film on the gate insulating film, and a source/drain electrode on the oxide semiconductor film, wherein:

a mixed layer containing a mixture of a first composition element of the oxide semiconductor film and a second composition element of a part of the source/drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor film exists in an interface between the oxide semiconductor film and the source/drain electrode; and

a quantity of atoms of the first and second composition elements of the mixed layer changes from the source/drain electrode side towards the oxide semiconductor film side.

6. The thin film device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:

the surface layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, titanium, and at least either fluorine or chlorine; and

the mixed layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and titanium.

7. The thin film device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:

the surface layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and at least either fluorine or chlorine; and

the mixed layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, titanium, and at least either fluorine or chlorine.

8. The thin film device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:

the surface layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, molybdenum, and at least either fluorine or chlorine; and

the mixed layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and molybdenum.

9. The thin film device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:

the surface layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and at least either fluorine or chlorine; and

the mixed layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, molybdenum, and at least either fluorine or chlorine.

10. The thin film device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

the mixed layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and titanium; and

a quantity of atoms of titanium of the mixed layer decreases from the source/drain electrode side towards the oxide semiconductor film side, and a quantity of atoms of indium or zinc of the mixed layer increases from the source/drain electrode side towards the oxide semiconductor film side.

11. The thin film device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

the mixed layer contains indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and molybdenum; and

a quantity of atoms of molybdenum of the mixed layer decreases from the source/drain electrode side towards the oxide semiconductor film side, and a quantity of atoms of indium or zinc of the mixed layer increases from the source/drain electrode side towards the oxide semiconductor film side.

12. The thin film device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the oxide semiconductor film contains at least either indium or zinc.

13. The thin film device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a proportion of the number of atoms of fluorine or the number of atoms of chlorine of the surface layer is between 0.1% and 73%, inclusive.

14. The thin film device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the part of the source/drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor film contains at least titanium or molybdenum.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2025
From: TIANMA JAPAN, LTD. (FORMERLY NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.)
To: TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 072580/0599 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2012
From: TAKECHI, KAZUSHIGE
To: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 028896/0288 →