IP Library Granted Patent US 8,492,862
Granted Patent B2
US 8,492,862 · App. 12/945,421 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Sputtering target and manufacturing method thereof, and transistor

Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki (Tokyo, JP); Toru Takayama (Kanagawa, JP); Keiji Sato (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,492,862
App. No.
12/945,421
Granted
Jul 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

One object is to provide a deposition technique for forming an oxide semiconductor film. By forming an oxide semiconductor film using a sputtering target including a sintered body of a metal oxide whose concentration of hydrogen contained is low, for example, lower than 1×10 16 atoms/cm 3 , the oxide semiconductor film contains a small amount of impurities such as a compound containing hydrogen typified by H 2 O or a hydrogen atom. In addition, this oxide semiconductor film is used as an active layer of a transistor.

Claims (45)

1. A sputtering target comprising:

a sintered body of at least one metal oxide selected from magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, gallium oxide, indium oxide, and tin oxide,

wherein the sintered body is subjected to a heat treatment after washing the sintered body, and

wherein a concentration of hydrogen atoms contained in the sintered body is lower than 1×10 16 atoms/cm 3 .

2. The sputtering target according to claim 1 , wherein the sintered body is a sintered body of indium oxide, gallium oxide, and zinc oxide.

3. The sputtering target according to claim 1 , further comprising a silicon oxide, wherein the silicon oxide is added to the sputtering target at 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % inclusive.

4. A transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor layer which is formed using a sputtering target,

wherein the sputtering target includes at least one metal oxide selected from magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, gallium oxide, indium oxide, and tin oxide,

wherein a concentration of hydrogen atoms contained in the oxide semiconductor layer is lower than 1×10 16 atoms/cm 3 .

5. The transistor according to claim 4 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is a mixed layer of indium oxide, gallium oxide, and zinc oxide.

6. The transistor according to claim 4 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a silicon oxide, wherein the silicon oxide is added to the sputtering target at 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % inclusive.

7. A transistor comprising:

an oxide semiconductor layer which is formed using a sputtering target;

a source electrode;

a drain electrode;

a gate electrode; and

a gate insulating film,

wherein the sputtering target includes at least one metal oxide selected from magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, gallium oxide, indium oxide, and tin oxide,

wherein a concentration of hydrogen atoms contained in the oxide semiconductor layer is lower than 1×10 16 atoms/cm 3 .

8. The transistor according to claim 7 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is a mixed layer of indium oxide, gallium oxide, and zinc oxide.

9. The transistor according to claim 7 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a silicon oxide, wherein the silicon oxide is added to the sputtering target at 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % inclusive.

10. The transistor according to claim 7 , wherein the gate insulating film is located over the gate electrode.

11. The transistor according to claim 7 ,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer includes a channel formation region, and

wherein a resistance of the channel formation region is higher than that of a region which is in the oxide semiconductor layer and is overlapped with the source electrode or the drain electrode.

12. The transistor according to claim 7 ,

wherein one of the source electrode and the drain electrode is located over the oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode is located below the oxide semiconductor layer.

13. A semiconductor device comprising:

a substrate;

a transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor layer which is formed using a sputtering target, the transistor being over the substrate; and

a wiring layer electrically connected to the transistor,

wherein the sputtering target includes at least one metal oxide selected from magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, gallium oxide, indium oxide, and tin oxide,

wherein a concentration of hydrogen atoms contained in the oxide semiconductor layer is lower than 1×10 16 atoms/cm 3 .

14. The semiconductor device according to claim 13 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is a mixed layer of indium oxide, gallium oxide, and zinc oxide.

15. The semiconductor device according to claim 13 , wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a silicon oxide, wherein the silicon oxide is added to the sputtering target at 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % inclusive.

16. The semiconductor device according to claim 13 , wherein the transistor further comprises a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a drain electrode, and a source electrode.

17. The semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein the gate insulating film is located over the gate electrode.

18. The semiconductor device according to claim 16 ,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer includes a channel formation region, and

wherein a resistance of the channel formation region is higher than that of a region which is in the oxide semiconductor layer and is overlapped with the source electrode or the drain electrode.

19. The semiconductor device according to claim 16 ,

wherein one of the source electrode and the drain electrode is located over the oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode is located below the oxide semiconductor layer.

20. The semiconductor device according to claim 19 , wherein a part of the oxide semiconductor layer is sandwiched between the wiring layer and the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2010
From: YAMAZAKI, SHUNPEI; TAKAYAMA, TORU; SATO, KEIJI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 025543/0845 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-260224 · Nov 13, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110114944A1 · May 19, 2011