IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,642,412
Granted Patent B2
US 8,642,412 · App. 12/906,175 · Granted Feb 4, 2014

Method for manufacturing an oxide-based semiconductor thin film transistor (TFT) including out diffusing hydrogen or moisture from the oxide semiconductor layer into an adjacent insulating layer which contains a halogen element

Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki (Setagaya, JP); Kunihiko Suzuki (Atsugi, JP); Masahiro Takahashi (Atsugi, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,642,412
App. No.
12/906,175
Granted
Feb 4, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object is to provide a semiconductor device with stable electric characteristics in which an oxide semiconductor is used. An impurity such as hydrogen or moisture (e.g., a hydrogen atom or a compound containing a hydrogen atom such as H 2 O) is eliminated from an oxide semiconductor layer with use of a halogen element typified by fluorine or chlorine, so that the impurity concentration in the oxide semiconductor layer is reduced. A gate insulating layer and/or an insulating layer provided in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer can be formed to contain a halogen element. In addition, a halogen element may be attached to the oxide semiconductor layer through plasma treatment under an atmosphere of a gas containing a halogen element.

Claims (41)

1. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:

forming a gate electrode layer over a substrate;

forming a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer;

introducing the substrate into a first treatment chamber;

introducing a sputtering gas into the first treatment chamber;

forming an oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer;

forming a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the oxide semiconductor layer;

introducing the substrate into a second treatment chamber;

introducing a sputtering gas containing oxygen and a halogen element into the second treatment chamber;

forming an insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, the insulating layer containing the halogen element; and

heating the substrate to diffuse hydrogen or moisture included in the oxide semiconductor layer into the insulating layer.

2. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein remaining moisture is evacuated from the first treatment chamber and the second treatment chamber with use of a cryopump.

3. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein fluorine or chlorine is used as the halogen element.

4. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:

forming a gate electrode layer over a substrate;

forming a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer;

introducing the substrate into a first treatment chamber;

introducing a sputtering gas into the first treatment chamber;

forming an oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer;

forming a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the oxide semiconductor layer;

performing plasma treatment on the oxide semiconductor layer under an atmosphere of a gas containing a halogen element;

introducing the substrate into a second treatment chamber;

introducing a sputtering gas containing oxygen into the second treatment chamber;

forming an insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer; and

heating the substrate to diffuse hydrogen or moisture included in the oxide semiconductor layer into the insulating layer.

5. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 4 , wherein remaining moisture is evacuated from the first treatment chamber and the second treatment chamber with use of a cryopump.

6. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 4 , wherein fluorine or chlorine is used as the halogen element.

7. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:

forming a gate electrode layer over a substrate;

introducing the substrate into a first treatment chamber, wherein a halogen element is contained in the first treatment chamber with use of a gas containing the halogen element;

forming a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer, the gate insulating layer containing the halogen element;

introducing the substrate into a second treatment chamber;

introducing a sputtering gas into the second treatment chamber;

forming an oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer;

forming a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the oxide semiconductor layer;

introducing the substrate into a third treatment chamber;

introducing a sputtering gas containing oxygen into the third treatment chamber;

forming an insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer; and

heating the substrate to diffuse hydrogen or moisture included in the oxide semiconductor layer into the gate insulating layer.

8. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 7 , wherein remaining moisture is evacuated from the first treatment chamber, the second treatment chamber, and the third treatment chamber with use of a cryopump.

9. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 7 , wherein fluorine or chlorine is used as the halogen element.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2010
From: YAMAZAKI, SHUNPEI; SUZUKI, KUNIHIKO; TAKAHASHI, MASAHIRO
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 025149/0357 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-242777 · Oct 21, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110089416A1 · Apr 21, 2011