High-Mobility Tellurium Thin-Film Transistor: Oxygen Scavenger Effect Induced by a Metal-Capping Layer

With the ongoing development of electronic devices, there is an increasing demand for new semiconductors beyond traditional silicon. A key element in electronic circuits, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), utilizes both n-type and p-type semiconductors. While the advancements in n-type...

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Main Authors: Seung-Min Lee, Seong Cheol Jang, Ji-Min Park, Jaewon Park, Nayoung Choi, Kwun-Bum Chung, Jung Woo Lee, Hyun-Suk Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/6/418
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author Seung-Min Lee
Seong Cheol Jang
Ji-Min Park
Jaewon Park
Nayoung Choi
Kwun-Bum Chung
Jung Woo Lee
Hyun-Suk Kim
author_facet Seung-Min Lee
Seong Cheol Jang
Ji-Min Park
Jaewon Park
Nayoung Choi
Kwun-Bum Chung
Jung Woo Lee
Hyun-Suk Kim
author_sort Seung-Min Lee
collection DOAJ
description With the ongoing development of electronic devices, there is an increasing demand for new semiconductors beyond traditional silicon. A key element in electronic circuits, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), utilizes both n-type and p-type semiconductors. While the advancements in n-type semiconductors have been substantial, the development of high-mobility p-type semiconductors has lagged behind. Recently, tellurium (Te) has been recognized as a promising candidate due to its superior electrical properties and the capability for large-area deposition via vacuum processes. In this work, an innovative approach involving the addition of a metal-capping layer onto Te thin-film transistors (TFTs) is proposed, which significantly enhances their electrical characteristics. In particular, the application of an indium (In) metal-capping layer has led to a dramatic increase in the field-effect mobility of Te TFTs from 2.68 to 33.54 cm<sup>2</sup>/Vs. This improvement is primarily due to the oxygen scavenger effect, which effectively minimizes oxidation and eliminates oxygen from the Te layer, resulting in the production of high-quality Te thin films. This progress in high-mobility p-type semiconductors is promising for the advancement of high-performance electronic devices in various applications and industries.
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spelling doaj-art-d70077c5489a4cc5b9617e3b4c24b4e42025-08-20T02:42:23ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-03-0115641810.3390/nano15060418High-Mobility Tellurium Thin-Film Transistor: Oxygen Scavenger Effect Induced by a Metal-Capping LayerSeung-Min Lee0Seong Cheol Jang1Ji-Min Park2Jaewon Park3Nayoung Choi4Kwun-Bum Chung5Jung Woo Lee6Hyun-Suk Kim7Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physics, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physics, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of KoreaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of KoreaWith the ongoing development of electronic devices, there is an increasing demand for new semiconductors beyond traditional silicon. A key element in electronic circuits, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), utilizes both n-type and p-type semiconductors. While the advancements in n-type semiconductors have been substantial, the development of high-mobility p-type semiconductors has lagged behind. Recently, tellurium (Te) has been recognized as a promising candidate due to its superior electrical properties and the capability for large-area deposition via vacuum processes. In this work, an innovative approach involving the addition of a metal-capping layer onto Te thin-film transistors (TFTs) is proposed, which significantly enhances their electrical characteristics. In particular, the application of an indium (In) metal-capping layer has led to a dramatic increase in the field-effect mobility of Te TFTs from 2.68 to 33.54 cm<sup>2</sup>/Vs. This improvement is primarily due to the oxygen scavenger effect, which effectively minimizes oxidation and eliminates oxygen from the Te layer, resulting in the production of high-quality Te thin films. This progress in high-mobility p-type semiconductors is promising for the advancement of high-performance electronic devices in various applications and industries.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/6/418p-type semiconductortelluriumhigh mobilitymetal-capping layerthin-film transistors
spellingShingle Seung-Min Lee
Seong Cheol Jang
Ji-Min Park
Jaewon Park
Nayoung Choi
Kwun-Bum Chung
Jung Woo Lee
Hyun-Suk Kim
High-Mobility Tellurium Thin-Film Transistor: Oxygen Scavenger Effect Induced by a Metal-Capping Layer
Nanomaterials
p-type semiconductor
tellurium
high mobility
metal-capping layer
thin-film transistors
title High-Mobility Tellurium Thin-Film Transistor: Oxygen Scavenger Effect Induced by a Metal-Capping Layer
title_full High-Mobility Tellurium Thin-Film Transistor: Oxygen Scavenger Effect Induced by a Metal-Capping Layer
title_fullStr High-Mobility Tellurium Thin-Film Transistor: Oxygen Scavenger Effect Induced by a Metal-Capping Layer
title_full_unstemmed High-Mobility Tellurium Thin-Film Transistor: Oxygen Scavenger Effect Induced by a Metal-Capping Layer
title_short High-Mobility Tellurium Thin-Film Transistor: Oxygen Scavenger Effect Induced by a Metal-Capping Layer
title_sort high mobility tellurium thin film transistor oxygen scavenger effect induced by a metal capping layer
topic p-type semiconductor
tellurium
high mobility
metal-capping layer
thin-film transistors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/6/418
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