• Clean Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2015

Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) is a material that is widely used for transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs). Indium (In), chief element of the ITO, is expected to be depleted in the near future owing to its high cost and limited reserves. To overcome the issue, ITO has to be retained by recycling redundant ITO targets after manufacturing processes. In this article, we proposed an efficient recycling way of the redundant ITO targets with investigation of the current recycling tendencies in domestic and foreign countries. As a result, it was revealed that only In is recycled from the redundant targets in domestic and Japan. As well, fabrication of TCEs is being researched with ITO nanoparticles solutions. However, since the TCEs fabricated with ITO target is superior to those with other materials, it is thought that establishment of regeneration technology of ITO itself is demanded for an efficient recycling and fabrication of ITO target.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.180-180
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• 2010

Thin film transistors (TFTs) based on oxide semiconductors have emerged as a promising technology, particularly for active-matrix TFT-based backplanes. Currently, an amorphous oxide semiconductor, such as InGaZnO, has been adopted as the channel layer due to its higher electron mobility. However, accurate and repeatable control of this complex material in mass production is not easy. Therefore, simpler polycrystalline materials, such as ZnO and $SnO_2$, remain possible candidates as the channel layer. Inparticular, ZnO-based TFTs have attracted considerable attention, because of their superior properties that include wide bandgap (3.37eV), transparency, and high field effect mobility when compared with conventional amorphous silicon and polycrystalline silicon TFTs. There are some technical challenges to overcome to achieve manufacturability of ZnO-based TFTs. One of the problems, the stability of ZnO-based TFTs, is as yet unsolved since ZnO-based TFTs usually contain defects in the ZnO channel layer and deep level defects in the channel/dielectric interface that cause problems in device operation. The quality of the interface between the channel and dielectric plays a crucial role in transistor performance, and several insulators have been reported that reduce the number of defects in the channel and the interfacial charge trap defects. Additionally, ZnO TFTs using a high quality interface fabricated by a two step atomic layer deposition (ALD) process showed improvement in device performance In this study, we report the fabrication of high performance ZnO TFTs with a $Si_3N_4$ gate insulator treated using plasma. The interface treatment using electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) $O_2$ plasma improves the interface quality by lowering the interface trap density. This process can be easily adapted for industrial applications because the device structure and fabrication process in this paper are compatible with those of a-Si TFTs.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.239-243
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• 2014

The electrical and optical properties of amorphous In-Tin-Zinc-Oxide(ITZO) deposited at room temperature using rf-magnetron sputtering were investigated. The amorphous ITZO thin films were obtained at the composition of In:Sn:Zn = 6:2:2, 4:3:3, and 2:4:4, but the ITZO (8:1:1) showed a crystalline phase of bixbyite structure of In2O3. The resistivity of ITZO could be controlled by oxygen pressure in the sputtering ambient. The resistivity of post-annealed ITZO thin films exhibited the dependence on the amount of Indium. Optical energy band gap and transmittance increased as the amount of indium in ITZO increased. For the device application with ITZO, the bottom-gated thin-film transistor using ITZO as a active channel layer was fabricated. It showed a threshold voltage of 1.42V and an on/off ratio of $5.63{\times}10^7$ operated with saturation field-effect mobility of $14.2cm^2/V{\cdot}s$.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.239-244
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• 2017

We experimentally investigate the physical mechanism for asymmetrical degradation in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) under simultaneous gate and drain bias stresses. The transfer curves exhibit an asymmetrical negative shift after the application of gate-to-source ($V_{GS}$) and drain-to-source ($V_{DS}$) bias stresses of ($V_{GS}=24V$, $V_{DS}=15.9V$) and ($V_{GS}=22V$, $V_{DS}=20V$), but the asymmetrical degradation is more significant after the bias stress ($V_{GS}$, $V_{DS}$) of (22 V, 20 V) nevertheless the vertical electric field at the source is higher under the bias stress ($V_{GS}$, $V_{DS}$) of (24 V, 15.9 V) than (22 V, 20 V). By using the modified external load resistance method, we extract the source contact resistance ($R_S$) and the voltage drop at $R_S$ ($V_{S,\;drop}$) in the fabricated a-IGZO TFT under both bias stresses. A significantly higher RS and $V_{S,\;drop}$ are extracted under the bias stress ($V_{GS}$, $V_{DS}$) of (22 V, 20V) than (24 V, 15.9 V), which implies that the high horizontal electric field across the source contact due to the large voltage drop at the reverse biased Schottky junction is the dominant physical mechanism causing the asymmetrical degradation of a-IGZO TFTs under simultaneous gate and drain bias stresses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.127-127
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• 2011

We investigate the transparent TFTs using a transparent ZnSnO3 (ZTO)/Ag/ZTO multilayer electrode as S/D electrodes with low resistivity of $3.24{\times}10^{-5}$ ohm-cm, and high transparency of 86.29% in ZTO based TFTs. The Transparent TFTs (TTFTs) are prepared on glass substrate coated 100 nm of ITO thin film. On atomic layer deposited $Al_2\;O_3$, 50 nm ZTO layer is deposited by RF magnetron sputtering through a shadow mask for channel layer using ZTO target with 1 : 1 molar ratio of ZnO : $SnO_2$. The power of 100W, the working pressure of 2mTorr, and the gas flow of Ar 20 sccm during the ZTO deposition. After channel layer deposition, a ZTO (35 nm)/Ag (12 nm)/ZTO(35 nm) multilayer is deposited by DC/RF magnetron sputtering to form transparent S/D electrodes which are patterned through the shadow mask. Devices are annealed in air at 300$^{\circ}C$ for 30 min following ZTO deposition. Using UV/Visible spectrometer, the optical transmittances of the TTFT using ZTO/Ag/ ZTO multilayer electrodes are compared with TFT using Mo electrode. The structural properties of ZTO based TTFT with ZTO/Ag/ZTO multilayer electrodes are analyzed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The transfer and output characterization of ZTO TTFTs are examined by a customized probe station with HP4145B system in are.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.615-620
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• 2020

Oxide semiconductor, represented by a-IGZO, has been commercialized in the market as active layer of TFTs of display backplanes due to its various advantages over a-Si. a-IGZO can be deposited at room temperature by RF magnetron sputtering process; however, additional thermal annealing above 300℃ is required to obtain good semiconducting properties and stability. These temperature are too high for common flexible substrates like PET, PEN, and PI. In this work, effects of microwave annealing time on IGZO thin film and associated thin-film transistors are demonstrated. As the microwave annealing time increases, the electrical properties of a-IGZO TFT improve to a degree similar to that during thermal annealing. Optimal microwave annealed IGZO TFT exhibits mobility, SS, V_th, and V_H of 6.45 ㎠/Vs, 0.17 V/dec, 1.53 V, and 0.47 V, respectively. PBS and NBS stability tests confirm that microwave annealing can effectively improve the interface between the dielectric and the active layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2010

Silicate-silsesquioxane or siloxane-silsesquioxane hybrid thin films are strong candidates as matrix materials for ultra low dielectric constant (low-k) thin films. We synthesized the silicate-silsesquioxane hybrid resins from tetraethoxyorthosilicate (TEOS) and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) through hydrolysis and condensation polymerization by changing their molar ratios ([TEOS]:[MTMS] = 7:3, 5:5, and 3:7), spin-coating on Si(100) wafers. In the case of [TEOS]:[MTMS] 7:3, the dielectric permittivity value of the resultant thin film was measured at 4.30, exceeding that of the thermal oxide (3.9). This high value was thought to be due to Si-OH groups inside the film and more extensive studies were performed in terms of electronic, ionic, and orientational polarizations using Debye equation. The relationship between the mechanical properties and the synthetic conditions of the silicate-silsesquioxane precursors was also investigated. The synthetic conditions of the low-k films have to be chosen to meet both the low orientational polarization and high mechanical properties requirements. In addition, we have investigated a new solution-based approach to the synthesis of semiconducting chalcogenide films for use in thin-film transistor (TFT) devices, in an attempt to develop a simple and robust solution process for the synthesis of inorganic semiconductors. Our material design strategy is to use a sol-gel reaction to carry out the deposition of a spin-coated CdS film, which can then be converted to a xerogel material. These devices were found to exhibit n-channel TFT characteristics with an excellent field-effect mobility (a saturation mobility of ${\sim}\;48\;cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$) and low voltage operation (< 5 V). These results show that these semiconducting thin film materials can be used in low-cost and high-performance printable electronics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.310-321
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate types and characteristics of chemical substances used in LCD(Liquid crystal display) panel manufacturing process. Methods: The LCD panel manufacturing process is divided into the fabrication(fab) process and module process. The use of chemical substances by process was investigated at four fab processes and two module processes at two domestic TFT-LCD(Thin film transistor-Liquid crystal display) panel manufacturing sites. Results: LCD panels are manufactured through various unit processes such as sputtering, chemical vapor deposition(CVD), etching, and photolithography, and a range of chemicals are used in each process. Metal target materials including copper, aluminum, and indium tin oxide are used in the sputtering process, and gaseous materials such as phosphine, silane, and chlorine are used in CVD and dry etching processes. Inorganic acids such as hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid are used in wet etching process, and photoresist and developer are used in photolithography process. Chemical substances for the alignment of liquid crystal, such as polyimides, liquid crystals, and sealants are used in a liquid crystal process. Adhesives and hardeners for adhesion of driver IC and printed circuit board(PCB) to the LCD panel are used in the module process. Conclusions: LCD panels are produced through dozens of unit processes using various types of chemical substances in clean room facilities. Hazardous substances such as organic solvents, reactive gases, irritants, and toxic substances are used in the manufacturing processes, but periodic workplace monitoring applies only to certain chemical substances by law. Therefore, efforts should be made to minimize worker exposure to chemical substances used in LCD panel manufacturing process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.329-329
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• 2007

Photoconductive poly crystalline lead oxide coated on amorphous thin film transistor (TFT) arrays is the best candidate for direct digital x-ray detector for medical imaging. Thicker films with lessening density often show lower x-ray induced charge generation and collection becomes less efficient. In this work, we present a new methodology used for the high density deposition of PbO. We investigate the structural properties of the films using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy experiments. The film coatings of approximately $200\;{\mu}m$ thickness were deposited on $2"{\times}2"$ conductive-coated glass substrates for measurements of dark current and x-ray sensitivity. The lead oxide (PbO) films of $200\;{\mu}m$ thickness were deposited on glass substrates using a wet coating process in room temperature. The influence of post-deposition annealing on the characteristics of the lead oxide films was investigated in detail. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy have been employed to obtain information on the morphology and crystallization of the films. Also we measured dark current, x-ray sensitivity and linearity for investigation of the electrical characteristics of films. It was found that the annealing conditions strongly affect the electrical properties of the films. The x-ray induced output charges of films annealed in oxygen gas increases dramatically with increasing annealing temperatures up to $500^{\circ}C$ but then drops for higher temperature anneals. Consequently, the more we increase the annealing temperatures, the better density and film quality of the lead oxide. Analysis of this data suggests that incorporation and decomposition reactions of oxygen can be controlled to change the detection properties of the lead oxide film significantly. Post-deposition thermal annealing is also used for densely film. The PbO films that are grown by new methodology exhibit good morphology of high density structure and provide less than $10\;pA/mm^2$ dark currents as they show saturation in gain (at approximate fields of $4\;V/{\mu}m$). The ability to operate at low voltage gives adequate dark currents for most applications and allows voltage electronics designs.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.115-121
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• 2013

We fabricated thin film transistors (TFTs) using TiInZnO(TiIZO) thin films as active channel layer. The thin films of TiIZO were deposited at room temperature by RF-magnetron co-sputtering system from InZnO(IZO) and Ti targets. We examined the effects of titanium addition by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the electrical characteristics of the TFTs. The TiIZO TFTs were investigated according to the radio-frequency power applied to the Ti target. We found that the transistor on-off currents were greatly influenced by the composition of titanium addition, which suppressed the formation of oxygen vacancies, because of the stronger oxidation tendency of Ti relative to that of Zn or In. A optimized TiIZO TFT with rf power 40W of Ti target showed good performance with an on/off current ratio greater than $10^5$, a field-effect mobility of 2.09 [$cm^2/V{\cdot}s$], a threshold voltage of 2.2 [V] and a subthreshold swing of 0.492 [V/dec.].