| The growing field of large-area flexible electronics presents the need for amorphous materials with electrical performances superior to amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H). Metal oxide semiconductors show great promise in thin film transistors (TFTs) due to their high electron mobility (µ, 1–100 cm2V-1s-1), mechanical flexibility, and electrical stability. However, most oxide semiconductor fabrication still relies on expensive, inflexible and energy intensive vacuum deposition methods. To overcome these limitations, my thesis work has focused on developing low-temperature solution processing routes to functional metal oxide materials.;In Chapter 2, we demonstrate an optimized "ink" and printing process for inkjet patterning of amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) and investigate the effects of device structure on derived electron mobility. Bottom-gate top-contact (BGTC) TFTs are fabricated and shown to exhibit electron mobilities comparable to a-Si:H. Furthermore, a record µ of 2.5 cm 2V-1s-1 is demonstrated for bottom-gate bottom-contact (BGBC) TFTs. The mechanism underlying such impressive performance is investigated using transmission line techniques, and it is shown that the semiconductor-source/drain electrode interface contact resistance is nearly an order of magnitude lower for BGBC transistors versus BGTC devices.;In Chapter 3, we report the implementation of amorphous indium yttrium oxide (a-IYO) as a TFT semiconductor for the first time. Amorphous and polycrystalline IYO films are grown via a low-temperature solution process utilizing exothermic "combustion" precursors. Precursor transformation and the IYO films are analyzed by DTA, TGA, XRD, AFM, XPS, and optical transmission, revealing efficient conversion to the metal-oxide lattice, and smooth, transparent films. a-IYO TFTs fabricated with a hybrid nanodielectric exhibit impressive electron mobilities of 7.3 cm2V-1s-1 (Tanneal = 300 °C) and 5.0 cm2V-1s -1 (Tanneal = 250 °C) for 2 V operation.;Finally, Chapter 4 examines the role of the strong oxygen binding cation, known as the "oxygen getter" in quaternary metal oxide semiconductors. We present a systematic structural and electrical study of the carrier suppression role of gallium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanum when introduced into IZO. We conclude that metal oxide lattice energy (HL) and metal ionic radius are the best predictors of the efficacy of an oxygen getter in IXZO and only Ga acts effectively in this role. |
