Low temperature electronic transport in sputter deposited a-IGZO films

•Electrical resistivity of a-IGZO films is measured vs. temperature in the range 15–300 K.•Electronic transport properties can be tuned by means of oxygen supply.•A temperature invariant resistivity of a-IGZO films is reached.•Conductive and transparent a-IGZO films are produced.

We report on the electrical properties of a-IGZO thin films prepared by reactive sputtering. Without oxygen injection, dc resistivity measured at room temperature is ρ300K = 1.22 × 10−3 Ωm. The lowest resistivity ρ300K = 4.86 × 10−5 Ωm is obtained at a certain oxygen supply into the deposition process. Hall effect measurements of these films reveal a metallic-like behavior from mobility and carrier concentration vs. temperature in the range 15–300 K whereas films deposited without oxygen or for the highest oxygen flows behave as semiconductors. These enhanced electrical properties are connected to the oxygen vacancies and the local coordination structure around the In3+ cations.