IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,919,365
Granted Patent B2
US 7,919,365 · App. 11/702,211 · Granted Apr 5, 2011

Fabrication methods of a ZnO thin film structure and a ZnO thin film transistor, and a ZnO thin film structure and a ZnO thin film transistor

Assignee: Samsung Electronics 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 7,919,365
App. No.
11/702,211
Granted
Apr 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a method of fabricating a ZnO thin film structure and a ZnO thin film transistor (TFT), and a ZnO thin film structure and a ZnO thin film transistor. The method of fabricating a ZnO thin film structure may include forming a ZnO thin film on a substrate in an oxygen atmosphere, forming oxygen diffusion layers of a metal having an affinity for oxygen on the ZnO thin film and heating the ZnO thin film and the oxygen diffusion layers to diffuse oxygen of the ZnO thin film into the oxygen diffusion layers.

Claims (25)

1. A method of fabricating a zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film transistor (TFT) comprising:

forming a semiconductor channel including a ZnO thin film in an oxygen atmosphere;

forming conductive oxygen diffusion layers contacting opposite sides of the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers including indium tin oxide (ITO);

forming source and drain electrodes over the conductive oxygen diffusion layers; and

heating the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and the source and drain electrodes such that oxygen of the semiconductor channel diffuses into the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and a density of oxygen of the semiconductor channel is adjusted,

wherein the diffusion of oxygen into the conductive oxygen diffusion layers is controlled by adjusting at least one of temperature and duration of heating, and

the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and the source and drain electrodes are heated together at a temperature of less than about 350° C. and greater than about room temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive oxygen diffusion layers are formed after the ZnO thin film is formed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ZnO thin film is formed using a radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method.

4. A method of fabricating a zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film transistor (TFT) comprising:

forming a semiconductor channel including a ZnO thin film in an oxygen atmosphere;

forming conductive oxygen diffusion layers contacting opposite sides of the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers including indium tin oxide (ITO);

forming source and drain electrodes directly over the conductive oxygen diffusion layers; and

heating the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and the source and drain electrodes such that oxygen of the semiconductor channel diffuses into the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and a density of oxygen of the semiconductor channel is adjusted,

wherein the diffusion of oxygen into the conductive oxygen diffusion layers is controlled by adjusting at least one of temperature and duration of heating, and

the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and the source and drain electrodes are heated together at a temperature of less than about 350° C. and greater than about room temperature.

5. A method of fabricating a zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film transistor (TFT) comprising:

forming a semiconductor channel including a ZnO thin film in an oxygen atmosphere;

forming conductive oxygen diffusion layers contacting opposite sides of the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers including indium tin oxide (ITO);

forming source and drain electrodes directly over and aligned to the conductive oxygen diffusion layers so as to be conformal layers of the same lateral dimensions as the conductive oxygen diffusion layers; and

heating the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and the source and drain electrodes such that oxygen of the semiconductor channel diffuses into the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and a density of oxygen of the semiconductor channel is adjusted,

wherein the diffusion of oxygen into the conductive oxygen diffusion layers is controlled by adjusting at least one of temperature and duration of heating, and

the semiconductor channel, the conductive oxygen diffusion layers and the source and drain electrodes are heated together at a temperature of less than about 350° C. and greater than about room temperature.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the conductive oxygen diffusion layers are formed after the ZnO thin film is formed.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the ZnO thin film is formed using a radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2007
From: KIM, CHANG-JUNG; SONG, I-HUN; KANG, DONG-HUN; PARK, YOUNG-SOO; LEE, EUN-HA
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018979/0983 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2006-0035076 · Apr 18, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070241327A1 · Oct 18, 2007