Sputtered oxides used for passivation layers of amorphous InGaZnO thin film transistors

Four sputtered oxide films (SiO2, Al2O3, Y2O3 and TiO2) along with their passivating amorphous InGaZnO thin film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) were comparatively studied in this paper. The device passivated by an Al2O3 thin film showed both satisfactory performance (μFE=5.3 cm2/V s, Ion/Ioff>107) and stability, as was probably related to smooth surface of Al2O3 thin films. Although the performance of the a-IGZO TFTs with a TiO2 passivation layer was also good enough (μFE=3.5 cm2/V s, Ion/Ioff>107), apparent Vth shift occurred in positive bias-stress tests due to the abnormal interface state between IGZO and TiO2 thin films. Sputtered Y2O3 was proved no potential for passivation layers of a-IGZO TFTs in this study. Despite unsatisfactory performance of the corresponding a-IGZO TFT devices, sputtered SiO2 passivation layer might still be preferred for its high deposition rate and excellent transparency which benefit the mass production of flat panel displays, especially active-matrix liquid crystal displays.