IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,424,368
Granted Patent B2
US 11,424,368 · App. 16/983,143 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor

Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
H01L29/7869H01L29/24H01L29/786H01L29/7832H01L29/78696
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,424,368
App. No.
16/983,143
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transistor having high field-effect mobility is provided. In order that an oxide semiconductor layer through which carriers flow is not in contact with a gate insulating film, a buried channel structure in which the oxide semiconductor layer through which carriers flow is separated from the gate insulating film is employed. Specifically, an oxide semiconductor layer having high conductivity is provided between two oxide semiconductor layers. Further, an impurity element is added to the oxide semiconductor layer in a self-aligned manner so that the resistance of a region in contact with an electrode layer is reduced. Further, the oxide semiconductor layer in contact with the gate insulating layer has a larger thickness than the oxide semiconductor layer having high conductivity.

Claims (55)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first insulating layer;

a conductive layer over the first insulating layer;

a second insulating layer over the conductive layer;

a first oxide semiconductor layer comprising indium;

a second oxide semiconductor layer comprising indium, gallium, and zinc over the first oxide semiconductor layer;

a third oxide semiconductor layer comprising indium over the second oxide semiconductor layer;

a first electrode over the third oxide semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third oxide semiconductor layer;

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

a fourth insulating layer over the third insulating layer,

wherein a content of indium in the second oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a content of indium in the first oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein the content of indium in the second oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a content of indium in the third oxide semiconductor layer.

2. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first insulating layer;

a conductive layer over the first insulating layer;

a second insulating layer over the conductive layer;

a first oxide semiconductor layer comprising indium;

a second oxide semiconductor layer comprising indium, gallium, and zinc over the first oxide semiconductor layer;

a third oxide semiconductor layer comprising indium over the second oxide semiconductor layer;

a first electrode over the third oxide semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third oxide semiconductor layer;

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

a fourth insulating layer over the third insulating layer,

wherein a content of indium in the second oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a content of gallium in the second oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein the content of indium in the second oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a content of zinc in the second oxide semiconductor layer.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second oxide semiconductor layer has higher conductivity than the third oxide semiconductor layer and the first oxide semiconductor layer.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the second oxide semiconductor layer has higher conductivity than the third oxide semiconductor layer and the first oxide semiconductor layer.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a side surface of the first oxide semiconductor layer is tapered, and

wherein a side surface of the second oxide semiconductor layer is tapered.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 ,

wherein a side surface of the first oxide semiconductor layer is tapered, and

wherein a side surface of the second oxide semiconductor layer is tapered.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the first oxide semiconductor layer has a larger thickness than the second oxide semiconductor layer and the third oxide semiconductor layer.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , wherein the first oxide semiconductor layer has a larger thickness than the second oxide semiconductor layer and the third oxide semiconductor layer.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first electrode is in contact with a side surface of the second insulating layer, and

wherein the second electrode is in contact with a side surface of the second insulating layer.

10. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the first electrode is in contact with a side surface of the second insulating layer, and

wherein the second electrode is in contact with a side surface of the second insulating layer.

11. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , further comprising a gate electrode over the fourth insulating layer.

12. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , further comprising a gate electrode over the fourth insulating layer.

13. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the third insulating layer comprises silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, or aluminum oxide.

14. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , wherein the third insulating layer comprises silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, or aluminum oxide.

15. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the fourth insulating layer comprises silicon nitride or silicon nitride oxide.

16. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , wherein the fourth insulating layer comprises silicon nitride or silicon nitride oxide.

17. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the second insulating layer comprises silicon oxide, gallium oxide, hafnium oxide, or aluminum oxide.

18. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , wherein the second insulating layer comprises silicon oxide, gallium oxide, hafnium oxide, or aluminum oxide.

19. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the content of indium in the second oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a content of indium in the first oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein the content of indium in the second oxide semiconductor layer is higher than a content of indium in the third oxide semiconductor layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2020
From: YAMAZAKI, SHUNPEI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053383/0505 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP JP2012-136438 · Jun 15, 2012 · national
JP JP2012-141373 · Jun 22, 2012 · national
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16683349 · Nov 14, 2019
Continuation 16039531 · Jul 19, 2018
Continuation 15244104 · Aug 23, 2016
Continuation 14873279 · Oct 2, 2015
Continuation 13916167 · Jun 12, 2013
Related Publication 20210050452A1 · Feb 18, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,363,953