p-Channel TFT´s using magnetron-sputtered Ta2O5films as gate insulators

Metal-gate thin-film transistors (TFT´s) have been fabricated in layers of laser-recrystallized polycrystalline silicon on fused quartz substrates at processing temperatures below 625°C. Tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) was used as a gate insulator instead of a conventional thermally grown silicon dioxide (SiO2). Ta2O5gate insulator was deposited onto the recrystallized silicon layer at room temperature, using an RF-magnetron sputtering system. The reactive ion etching method, using CF4as a reactive gas, was employed in patterning deposited Ta2O5. These TFT´s have exhibited p-channel depletion-mode characteristics with a threshold voltage of 2.5 V and a transconductance of 70 µS at Vg= - 2 V. An on-off current ratio exceeding 10⁵has been obtained.