Abnormal Dual Channel Formation Induced by Hydrogen Diffusion From SiN_x Interlayer Dielectric in Top Gate a-InGaZnO Transistors

Abstract

This letter investigates effects of different channel dimensions in top-gate a-InGaZnO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sub> thin-film transistors with SiN <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">x</sub> interlayer dielectric. In narrow channel devices, hydrogen atoms in the SiN <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">x</sub> layer diffuse into the entire active layer, inducing a single channel. However, in wider channel devices, the diffusion distance for hydrogen atoms is insufficient to affect the whole channel, instead inducing a double channel. In addition, under hot carrier stress, narrow and wide channels exhibit different degradation behaviors, with simulations showing a strong electrical field at IGZO near the drain terminal of the main channel, which is unaffected by hydrogen.