The characteristics of fluorinated polycrystalline silicon oxides and thin film transistors by CF4 plasma treatment

This study describes a simple fluorinating technique by the tetrafluoromethane (CF4) plasma treatment to form fluorinated polyoxides and polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors (TFTs). In comparison with the non-fluorinated device, the fluorinated polyoxides and devices exhibit a higher breakdown field (>8 MV/cm), low charge trapping rates, low off-state current, and low trap states. Furthermore, the performance and reliability of the fluorinated devices are also improved by the CF4 plasma treatment. This is due to the fact that the incorporated fluorine can break strain bonds to form stronger silicon-fluorine (Si-F) bonds to passivate the generation of interface and trap states existing near the polyoxide/polysilicon interface and grain boundaries.