An investigation in InGaO3(ZnO)m pellets as cause of variability in thin film transistor characteristics

Abstract

Indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) is a novel amorphous oxide semiconductor, which recently has received much attention for thin film transistors (TFTs) in flat panel displays. Published literature reports significant variations in the properties of thin films and TFTs prepared from IGZO even though the reported process conditions are similar.We demonstrate that these differences could arise from the method for preparation of targets from which the films are made. Accordingly, we also propose simple and appropriate conditions, specifically using much lower sintering temperatures and thus avoiding use of sealed Pt tubes for preparation of IGZO targets in composition range, InGaO3(ZnO) m, with 1 ≤ m ≤ 5. These target materials are suitable in physical vapour deposition processes such as pulsed laser deposition and sputtering. In developing the process for sintering, the phase analysis of the target pellets was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The chemical compositions of the phases are also confirmed with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. We also demonstrate successful deposition of amorphous IGZO thin films by pulse laser deposition using the targets prepared by the proposed sintering process. Finally, we demonstrate that unmonitored method of making pellets for films deposition is a cause of variability associated in published literature on IGZO TFTs. © Indian Academy of Sciences.