Browsing by Author "Chen, Hong-Chih"

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Abnormal C-V Hump Effect Induced by Hot Carriers in Gate Length-Dependent p-Type LTPS TFTs
(2019-11-01)
Huang, Shin-Ping
;
Chen, Po-Hsun
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Tsao, Yu-Ching
;
Chen, Hong-Chih
;
Zheng, Yu-Zhe
We investigate the abnormal current-voltage (C-V) hump effect of p-type low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFTs) which have undergone high current operations. Experimental results indicate localized electron trapping in the gate insulator (GI), which is carried out near the drain. The ON-current ( ${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ ) enhancement is due to the reduction of effective length, and the OFF-current ( ${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}$ ) decrease as the electron tunneling path distance increases. These can be observed after hot carrier stress in current characteristics. The C-V measurements demonstrate that the threshold voltage ( ${V}_{\text {th}}$ ) shift is associated with the gate length. In addition, capacitance-voltage measurements also show that this localized trapping region remains the same in length, regardless of channel length. Hence, a model is proposed to explain how the electric field, which is gate length-dependent, affects the source side of the device, and then lowers the source barrier height. This leads to bulk leakage, which causes the subthreshold swing degradation at device scale down.
Abnormal Dual Channel Formation Induced by Hydrogen Diffusion From SiNx Interlayer Dielectric in Top Gate a-InGaZnO Transistors
(2017-03-01)
Chen, Guan-Fu
;
Chang, Ting-Chang
;
Chen, Hua-Mao
;
Chen, Bo-Wei
;
Chen, Hong-Chih
This letter investigates effects of different channel dimensions in top-gate a-InGaZnO4 thin-film transistors with SiNx interlayer dielectric. In narrow channel devices, hydrogen atoms in the SiNx 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.
Abnormal High Resistive State Current Mechanism Transformation in Ti/HfO2/TiN Resistive Random Access Memory
(2020-02-01)
Zhou, Kuan-Ju
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Chang, Ting-Chang
;
Lin, Chih-Yang
;
Chen, Chun-Kuei
;
Tseng, Yi-Ting
In this letter, the electrical characteristics of Ti/HfO2/TiN resistive random access memory (RRAM) were thoroughly investigated. An abnormal current degradation was seen in the DC sweeping cycle. Both the on-state and off-state current clearly exhibited degradation with time. Next, current fitting analysis was used to investigate the carrier transport mechanisms. The results indicate that the on-state carrier transport mechanism changed from space-charge-limited current into hopping conduction after cycle sweeping. However, the off-state current changes from Schottky thermal emission to hopping conduction. Based on comparisons of different Schottky distances and Schottky barriers, physical models were proposed to explain the abnormal current degradation behavior. Finally, COMSOL electric field simulations were used to show the electric field distribution around the conducting filament (CF), and the conducting model was subsequently verified.
An Energy-Band Model for Dual-Gate-Voltage Sweeping in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Transistors
(2019-06-01)
Chen, Guan-Fu
;
Chen, Hong-Chih
;
Chang, Ting-Chang
;
Huang, Shin-Ping
;
Chen, Hua-Mao
This paper clarifies the correct transmission mechanism, misattributed in the previous research, of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistor (a-Si:H TFT) device. Complete drain current-gate voltage (I-D-V-G) transfer characteristics including the forward and backward gate sweeps (gate voltage carried out in the OFF-state -> on-state and the ON-state -> OFF-state) are performed, and the physics models of an energy-band schematic are clearly explained. This paper reveals that the I-D-V-G curve stretch-out behavior of the subthreshold region is due to the leakage of the Poole-Frenkel region. At the Poole-Frenkel regions, electrons transfer to the drain terminal, and holes remain in the valance band of the a-Si:H bulk. The remaining holes represent the positive voltage and cause the electron barrier height lowering. This causes an increase in subthreshold current of the subthreshold region. Finally, three experiments are performed to prove the correctness of these models, and the a-Si TFTs device improvement methods will be proposed to enhance the stability and performance of product of the a-Si TFTs.
Analysis of Negative Bias Temperature Instability Degradation in p-Type Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistors of Different Grain Sizes
(2019-11-01)
Tu, Hong-Yi
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Tsao, Yu-Ching
;
Tai, Mao-Chou
;
Chang, Ting-Chang
;
Tsai, Yu-Lin
This letter investigates degradation after negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) stress applied to LTPS TFTs with different polycrystalline-silicon grain sizes. The initial characteristics of the LTPS TFTs are similar regardless of grain size; however, we observed a different degree of degradation after NBTI depending on grain size. In general, after NBTI, both grain boundary traps and interface traps were generated. We found that the degree of NBTI degradation is dominated by the concentration of grain boundary traps, which themselves are a result of the different grain sizes that occur due to excimer laser annealing energy. At initial, dangling bonds in the grain boundaries and at the interface are passivated by hydrogen atoms, hence the initial characteristics are similar. Since the large grain of poly-Si initially generates more dangling bonds in the grain boundaries, after NBTI, hydrogen depassivation generates more grain boundary traps and causes much more serious degradation in device performance.
Effect of ELA Energy Density on Self-Heating Stress in Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistors
(2020-08-01)
Huang, Shin-Ping
;
Chen, Hong-Chih
;
Chen, Po-Hsun
;
Zheng, Yu-Zhe
;
Chu, Ann-Kuo
The extent of the poly-silicon crystalline protrusion, a result of differences in excimer laser annealing (ELA), affects the performance and reliability of thin-film transistors (TFTs). This study investigates the degradation mechanism of the low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT devices with differences in crystalline protrusion under self-heating stress (SHS). Higher ELA energy will induce higher protrusion height in the interface between the poly-silicon and gate insulator (GI). This surface morphology leads to serious charge trapping into the GI layers; in contrast, the smallest degradation after SHS can be seen in the devices with the lowest protrusion height. This indicates that the degradation is caused by the surface morphology between the poly-Si and GI interface. In addition, the COMSOL simulation results confirm that the large electric field in the GI layer appears in the rough surface morphology devices; therefore, choosing the appropriate ELA energy of the poly-Si is beneficial for the applications of the driving TFT in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display in the manufacturing industry.
Impact of Dehydrogenation Annealing Process Temperature on Reliability of Polycrystalline Silicon Thin Film Transistors
(2019-10-01)
Huang, Shin-Ping
;
Chen, Po-Hsun
;
Chen, Hong-Chih
;
Zheng, Yu-Zhe
;
Chu, Ann-Kuo
This letter investigates variations in polycrystalline silicon thin film transistor (TFT) performance under illumination and negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) tests due to different dehydrogenation annealing temperatures during the fabrication process. The depth of the density of state (DOS) in polysilicon can be indirectly determined by the TFT response to light illumination, since dangling bonds act as recombination centers. The electrical characteristics of TFTs after undergoing NBTI can also be indicative of the bonding type of silicon atoms. By analyzing the results of these reliability tests, the type of DOS can be clarified, which is beneficial for realizing the relationship between performance and reliability.
Investigation of the Capacitance-Voltage Electrical Characteristics of Thin-Film Transistors Caused by Hydrogen Diffusion under Negative Bias Stress in a Moist Environment
(2019-10-30)
Chen, Hong-Chih
;
Kuo, Chuan-Wei
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Chang, Ting-Chang
;
Lai, Wei-Chih
;
Chen, Po-Hsun
In this study, the impact of moisture on the electrical characteristics of an amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistor (a-IGZO TFT) was investigated. In commercial applications of such TFTs, high stability and quality performance in humid environments are essential. During TFT operation under ambient moisture, the electrolysis of water molecules occurs via the tip electric field effect. Hydrogen diffuses from the etch-stop layer or back-channel into the main channel under a negative electric field. The hydrogen atoms act as shallow donors (which causes the carrier concentration in the channel to rise), causing the threshold voltage (V-TH) to shift in the negative direction. Hydrogen diffusion from the overlap of the source/drain and gate electrodes to the channel center caused by the tip electric field induces a significant barrier lowering and V-TH shifts in a short-channel device. However, under negative bias stress (NBS) in ambient moisture, the negative V-TH shift is more obvious in short- than in long-channel devices, indicating suppressed hydrogen diffusion in long-channel devices. This is attributed to the electrolysis of water by the tip electric field at the source, drain, and gate electrodes, which causes hydrogen to diffuse to the center of the channel. Here, a novel physical model of the capacitance-voltage (C-V) electrical property changes under ambient moisture is proposed, based on the early appearance of abnormalities in the C-V measurements. The electrolysis of water caused by the tip electric field and electrical abnormalities caused by hydrogen diffusion into the a-IGZO active layer are explained by this model. A secondary-ion mass spectrometry analysis shows that hydrogen content in the channel generally increases under NBS in ambient moisture. The degradation behavior due to moisture in a-IGZO is clarified. Thus, inhibiting the tip electric field may benefit future flexible-display and gas-sensing applications.