Suppression of Negative Gate Bias and Illumination Stress Degradation by Fluorine-Passivated In-Ga-Zn-O Thin-Film Transistors

Abstract

The negative gate bias and illumination stress (NBIS) stability and photo-response of In-Ga-Zn-O (IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with either silicon oxide (SiOX) or fluorinated silicon nitride (SiNX:F) passivation were investigated. NBIS degradation can be suppressed when the fluorine (F) in SiNx:F diffused into an IGZO channel during long annealing period. Photo-response analysis revealed that F passivated effectively electron traps in the IGZO channel existing at an energy level close to the valence band maximum (near-VBM state). The fluorine-passivated IGZO TFT is thus advantageous for achieving highly reliable IGZO TFT for next-generation displays.