• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.648-652
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• 2014

We have investigated the effect of electrical properties of amorphous InGaZnO thin film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) by post thermal annealing in $O_2$ ambient. The post-annealed in $O_2$ ambient a-IGZOTFT is found to be more stable to be used for oxide-based TFT devices, and has better performance, such as the on/off current ratios, sub-threshold voltage gate swing, and, as well as reasonable threshold voltage, than others do. The interface trap density is controlled to achieve the optimum value of TFT transfer and output characteristics. The device performance is significantly affected by adjusting the annealing condition. This effect is closely related with the modulation annealing method by reducing the localized trapping carriers and defect centers at the interface or in the channel layer.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.351-359
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• 2015

Next-generation displays should be transparent and flexible as well as having high resolution and frame number. The main factor for active matrix organic light emitting diode and next-generation displays is the development of TFTs (thin-film transistors) with high mobility and large area uniformity. The TFTs used for transparent displays are mainly oxide TFT that has oxide semiconductor as channel layer. Zinc-oxide based substances such as indium-gallium-zinc-oxide has attracted attention in the display industry. In this paper, the mobility improvement of low cost oxide TFT is studied for fast operating next-generation displays by overcoming disadvantages of amorphous silicon TFT that has low mobility and poly silicon TFT that requires expensive equipment for complex process and doping process.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 2016

We investigate the effects of magnesium (Mg) suppressor layer on the electrical performances and stabilities of amorphous indium-zinc-tin-oxide (a-ITZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs). Compared to the ITZO TFT without a Mg suppressor layer, the ITZO:Mg TFT exhibits slightly smaller field-effect mobility and much reduced subthreshold slope. The ITZO:Mg TFT shows improved electrical stabilities compared to the ITZO TFT under both positive-bias and negative-bias-illumination stresses. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy O1s spectra with fitted curves for ITZO and ITZO:Mg films, we observe that Mg doping contributes to an enhancement of the oxygen bond without oxygen vacancy and a reduction of the oxygen bonds with oxygen vacancies. This result shows that the Mg can be an effective suppressor in a-ITZO TFTs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.340.2-340.2
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• 2014

최근 비정질 산화물 반도체는 가시광 영역에서의 투명도와 낮은 공정 온도, 그리고 높은 Field-effect mobility로 인해 Thin film transistors의 Active channel layer의 재료로 각광 받고 있다. ZnO, IZO, IGO, ITGO등의 많은 산화물 반도체들이 TFT의 채널층으로의 적용을 위해 활발히 연구되고 있으며, 특히 비정질 IGZO는 비정질임에도 불구하고 Mobility가 $10cm^2/Vs$ 정도로 기존의 a-Si:H 보다 높은 Mobility 특성을 나타내고 있어 대화면 디스플레이와 고속 구동을 위한 LCD에 적용 할 수 있으며 또한 낮은 공정 온도로 인해 플렉서블 디스플레이에 응용될 수 있다는 장점이 있다. 우리는 RF magnetron sputtering법으로 증착한 비정질 IGZO TFT(Thin Film Transistors)의 전기적 특성과 IGZO 박막의 특성에 미치는 RF power의 영향을 연구하였다. 제작한 TFTs의 Active channel layer는 산소분압 1%, Room temperature에서 RF power별(50~150 W)로 Si wafer 기판 위에 30nm로 증착 하였고 100 nm의 $SiO_2$가 절연체로 사용되었다. 또한 박막 특성을 분석하기 위해 같은 Chamber 분위기에서 100 nm로 IGZO 박막을 증착하였다. 비정질 IGZO 박막의 X-ray reflectivity(XRR)을 분석한 결과 RF Power가 50 W에서 150 W로 증가 할수록 박막의 Roughness는 22.7 (${\AA}$)에서 6.5 (${\AA}$)로 감소하고 Density는 5.9 ($g/cm^3$)에서 6.1 ($g/cm^3$)까지 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 또한 제작한 IGZO TFTs는 증착 RF Power가 증가함에 따라 Threshold voltage (VTH)가 0.3~4(V)로 증가하는 경향을 나타내고 Filed-effect mobility도 6.2~19 ($cm^2/Vs$)까지 증가하는 경향을 보인다. 또한 on/off ratio는 모두 > $10^6$의 값을 나타내며 subthreshold slope (SS)는 0.3~0.8 (V/decade)의 값을 나타낸다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.341-341
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• 2012

Recently, oxide semi-conductor materials have been investigated as promising candidates replacing a-Si:H and poly-Si semiconductor because they have some advantages of a room-temperature process, low-cost, high performance and various applications in flexible and transparent electronics. Particularly, amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) is an interesting semiconductor material for use in flexible thin film transistor (TFT) fabrication due to the high carrier mobility and low deposition temperatures. In this work, we demonstrated improvement of flexibility in IGZO TFTs, which were fabricated on polyimide (PI) substrate. At first, a thin poly-4vinyl phenol (PVP) layer was spin coated on PI substrate for making a smooth surface up to 0.3 nm, which was required to form high quality active layer. Then, Ni gate electrode of 100 nm was deposited on the bare PVP layer by e-beam evaporator using a shadow mask. The PVP and $Al_2O_3$ layers with different thicknesses were used for organic/inorganic multi gate dielectric, which were formed by spin coater and atomic layer deposition (ALD), respectively, at $200^{\circ}C$. 70 nm IGZO semiconductor layer and 70 nm Al source/drain electrodes were respectively deposited by RF magnetron sputter and thermal evaporator using shadow masks. Then, IGZO layer was annealed on a hotplate at $200^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. Standard electrical characteristics of transistors were measured by a semiconductor parameter analyzer at room temperature in the dark and performance of devices then was also evaluated under static and dynamic mechanical deformation. The IGZO TFTs incorporating hybrid gate dielectrics showed a high flexibility compared to the device with single structural gate dielectrics. The effects of mechanical deformation on the TFT characteristics will be discussed in detail.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.229-235
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• 2002

This paper presents the fabrication of polycrystalline thin film transistor(TFT) using sequential lateral solidification(SLS) of amorphous silicon. The fabricated SLS TFT showed high Performance suitable for active matrix liquid crystal display(AMLCD). The SLS process involves (1) a complete melting of selected area via irradiation through a patterned mask, and (2) a precisely controlled pulse translation of the sample with respect to the mask over a distance shorter than the super lateral growth(SLG) distance so that lateral growth extended over a number of iterative steps. The SLS experiment was performed with 550$\AA$ a-Si using 308nm XeCl laser having $2\mu\textrm{m}$ width. Irradiated laser energy density is 310mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and pulse duration time was 25ns. The translation distance was 0.6$\mu$m/pulse, 0.8$\mu$m/pulse respectively. As a result, a directly solidified grain was obtained. Thin film transistors (TFTs) were fabricated on the poly-Si film made by SLS process. The characteristics of fabricated SLS p -type poly-Si TFT device with 2$\mu\textrm{m}$ channel width and 2$\mu\textrm{m}$ channel length showed the mobility of 115.5$\textrm{cm}^2$/V.s, the threshold voltage of -1.78V, subthreshold slope of 0.29V/dec, $I_{off}$ current of 7$\times$10$^{-l4}$A at $V_{DS}$ =-0.1V and $I_{on}$ / $I_{off}$ ratio of 2.4$\times$10$^{7}$ at $V_{DS}$ =-0.1V. As a result, SLS TFT showed superior characteristics to conventional poly-Si TFTs with identical geometry.y.y.y.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.400-406
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• 2024

Next-generation wide-bandgap semiconductors such as SiC, GaN, and Ga2O3 are being considered as potential replacements for current silicon-based power devices due to their high mobility, larger size, and production of high-quality wafers at a moderate cost. In this study, we investigate the gradual modulation of chemical composition in multi-stacked metal oxide semiconductor thin films to enhance the performance and bias stability of thin-film transistors (TFTs). It demonstrates that adjusting the Ga ratio in the indium gallium oxide (IGO) semiconductor allows for precise control over the threshold voltage and enhances device stability. Moreover, employing multiple deposition techniques addresses the inherent limitations of solution-processed amorphous oxide semiconductor TFTs by mitigating porosity induced by solvent evaporation. It is anticipated that solution-processed indium gallium oxide (IGO) semiconductors, with a Ga ratio exceeding 50%, can be utilized in the production of oxide semiconductors with wide band gaps. These materials hold promise for power electronic applications necessitating high voltage and current capabilities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.254-255
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• 2012

Interest in nano-crystalline silicon (nc-Si) thin films has been growing because of their favorable processing conditions for certain electronic devices. In particular, there has been an increase in the use of nc-Si thin films in photovoltaics for large solar cell panels and in thin film transistors for large flat panel displays. One of the most important material properties for these device applications is the macroscopic charge-carrier mobility. Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) or nc-Si is a basic material in thin film transistors (TFTs). However, a-Si:H based devices have low carrier mobility and bias instability due to their metastable properties. The large number of trap sites and incomplete hydrogen passivation of a-Si:H film produce limited carrier transport. The basic electrical properties, including the carrier mobility and stability, of nc-Si TFTs might be superior to those of a-Si:H thin film. However, typical nc-Si thin films tend to have mobilities similar to a-Si films, although changes in the processing conditions can enhance the mobility. In polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin films, the performance of the devices is strongly influenced by the boundaries between neighboring crystalline grains. These grain boundaries limit the conductance of macroscopic regions comprised of multiple grains. In much of the work on poly-Si thin films, it was shown that the performance of TFTs was largely determined by the number and location of the grain boundaries within the channel. Hence, efforts were made to reduce the total number of grain boundaries by increasing the average grain size. However, even a small number of grain boundaries can significantly reduce the macroscopic charge carrier mobility. The nano-crystalline or polymorphous-Si development for TFT and solar cells have been employed to compensate for disadvantage inherent to a-Si and micro-crystalline silicon (${\mu}$-Si). Recently, a novel process for deposition of nano-crystralline silicon (nc-Si) thin films at room temperature was developed using neutral beam assisted chemical vapor deposition (NBaCVD) with a neutral particle beam (NPB) source, which controls the energy of incident neutral particles in the range of 1~300 eV in order to enhance the atomic activation and crystalline of thin films at room temperature. In previous our experiments, we verified favorable properties of nc-Si thin films for certain electronic devices. During the formation of the nc-Si thin films by the NBaCVD with various process conditions, NPB energy directly controlled by the reflector bias and effectively increased crystal fraction (~80%) by uniformly distributed nc grains with 3~10 nm size. The more resent work on nc-Si thin film transistors (TFT) was done. We identified the performance of nc-Si TFT active channeal layers. The dependence of the performance of nc-Si TFT on the primary process parameters is explored. Raman, FT-IR and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to study the microstructures and the crystalline volume fraction of nc-Si films. The electric properties were investigated on Cr/SiO2/nc-Si metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.443-450
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• 2014

Amorphous (a-Si) films were epitaxially crystallized on a very thin large-grained poly-Si seed layer by a silicide-enhanced rapid thermal annealing (SERTA) process. The poly-Si seed layer contained a small amount of nickel silicide which can enhance crystallization of the upper layer of the a-Si film at lower temperature. A 5-nm thick poly-Si seed layer was then prepared by the crystallization of an a-Si film using the vapor-induced crystallization process in a $NiCl_2$ environment. After removing surface oxide on the seed layer, a 45-nm thick a-Si film was deposited on the poly-Si seed layer by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition at $200^{\circ}C$. The epitaxial crystallization of the top a-Si layer was performed by the rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process at $730^{\circ}C$ for 5 min in Ar as an ambient atmosphere. Considering the needle-like grains as well as the crystallization temperature of the top layer as produced by the SERTA process, it was thought that the top a-Si layer was epitaxially crystallized with the help of $NiSi_2$ precipitates that originated from the poly-Si seed layer. The crystallinity of the SERTA processed poly-Si thin films was better than the other crystallization process, due to the high-temperature RTA process. The Ni concentration in the poly-Si film fabricated by the SERTA process was reduced to $1{\times}10^{18}cm^{-3}$. The maximum field-effect mobility and substrate swing of the p-channel poly-Si thin-film transistors (TFTs) using the poly-Si film prepared by the SERTA process were $85cm^2/V{\cdot}s$ and 1.23 V/decade at $V_{ds}=-3V$, respectively. The off current was little increased under reverse bias from $1.0{\times}10^{-11}$ A. Our results showed that the SERTA process is a promising technology for high quality poly-Si film, which enables the fabrication of high mobility TFTs. In addition, it is expected that poly-Si TFTs with low leakage current can be fabricated with more precise experiments.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.519-525
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• 2015

Positive bias stress-induced instability in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) bottom-gate thin-film transistors (TFTs) was investigated under high $V_{GS}$/low $V_{DS}$ and low $V_{GS}$/high $V_{DS}$ stress conditions through incorporating a forward/reverse $V_{GS}$ sweep and a low/high $V_{DS}$ read-out conditions. Our results showed that the electron trapping into the gate insulator dominantly occurs when high $V_{GS}$/low $V_{DS}$ stress is applied. On the other hand, when low $V_{GS}$/high $V_{DS}$ stress is applied, it was found that holes are uniformly trapped into the etch stopper and electrons are locally trapped into the gate insulator simultaneously. During a recovery after the high $V_{GS}$/low $V_{DS}$ stress, the trapped electrons were detrapped from the gate insulator. In the case of recovery after the low $V_{GS}$/high $V_{DS}$ stress, it was observed that the electrons in the gate insulator diffuse to a direction toward the source electrode and the holes were detrapped to out of the etch stopper. Also, we found that the potential profile in the a-IGZO bottom-gate TFT becomes complicatedly modulated during the positive $V_{GS}/V_{DS}$ stress and the recovery causing various threshold voltages and subthreshold swings under various read-out conditions, and this modulation needs to be fully considered in the design of oxide TFT-based active matrix organic light emitting diode display backplane.