← Back to Patent Explorer
US6358378B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for fabricating ZnO thin film for ultraviolet detection and emission source operated at room temperature, and apparatus therefor

Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
•
Filing: 2001-01-24
•
Granted: 2002-03-19
•
Expires: 2021-01-24
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An economical method of fabricating a high quality ZnO thin film with only NBE and without any deep-level emission at room temperature in order to replace conventional III-V group compounds such as GaN, and an apparatus therefor. The method comprises the steps of introducing argon (Ar) and oxygen (O 2 ) into a vacuum chamber while maintaining a vacuum level of 1-100 mTorr in the vacuum chamber, preheating a substrate, depositing a ZnO monocrystal thin film on the substrate by RF magnetron sputtering while introducing carbon(C) or nitrogen (N) atoms from an atomic radical source installed over the substrate, and slowly cooling the substrate while maintaining a partial pressure of oxygen in the vacuum chamber at a partial pressure level used while depositing the ZnO thin film.

Inventors

  • 👤 Won Kook Choi
  • 👤 Hyung Jin Jung
  • 👤 Kyeong Kook Kim
  • 👤 Young Soo Yoon
  • 👤 Jong Han Song

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 10:39
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/34; C23C14/0021; C23C14/0036; C23C14/0047; C23C14/06; C23C14/08; C23C14/086; C30; C30B; C30B23/00; C30B23/02; C30B29/00; C30B29/10; C30B29/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices, the method comprising the steps of: introducing argon (Ar) and oxygen (O 2 ) into a vacuum chamber while maintaining a vacuum level of 1-100 mTorr in the vacuum chamber; preheating a substrate; depositing a ZnO monocrystal thin film on the substrate by RF magnetron sputtering while introducing carbon (C) or nitrogen (N) atoms from an atomic radical source installed over the substrate for p-type doping; and cooling the substrate while maintaining a partial pressure of oxygen in the vacuum chamber at a partial pressure level used while depositing the ZnO thin film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices, the method comprising the steps of: introducing argon (Ar) and oxygen (O 2 ) into a vacuum chamber while maintaining a vacuum level of 1-100 mTorr in the vacuum chamber; preheating a substrate; depositing a ZnO monocrystal thin film on the substrate by RF magnetron sputtering while introducing carbon (C) or nitrogen (N) atoms from an atomic radical source installed over the substrate for p-type doping; and cooling the substrate while maintaining a partial pressure of oxygen in the vacuum chamber at a partial pressure level used while depositing the ZnO thin film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a ratio of argon (Ar) to oxygen (O 2 ) is less than 4/1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the ratio of argon (Ar) to oxygen (O 2 ) is 1/1 to 3/1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the substrate is preheated to a temperature range of 500-650° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an energy density per unit effective area applied to a target is 3.9-7.4 W/cm 2 during the RF magnetron sputtering.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 56 words
The method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 4 , wherein the substrate is one selected from the group consisting of Al 2 O 3 monocrystal substrate, Si monocrystal substrate, and a substrate using the ZnO as a buffer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
A RF magnetron sputtering apparatus for fabricating ZnO thin films used in ultraviolet detection and emission devices, wherein a target and a substrate are horizontally arranged and an atomic radical source is installed over the substrate for p-type doping.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
A RF magnetron sputtering apparatus for fabricating ZnO thin films used in ultraviolet detection and emission devices, wherein a target and a substrate are horizontally arranged and an atomic radical source is installed over the substrate for p-type doping.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 59 words
A method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices, the method comprising the steps of: preheating a substrate; and depositing a ZnO monocrystal thin film on the substrate by RF magnetron sputtering while introducing carbon (C) or nitrogen (N) atoms from an atomic radical source installed over the substrate for p-type doping.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 59 words
A method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices, the method comprising the steps of: preheating a substrate; and depositing a ZnO monocrystal thin film on the substrate by RF magnetron sputtering while introducing carbon (C) or nitrogen (N) atoms from an atomic radical source installed over the substrate for p-type doping.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 85 words
A method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices, the method comprising the steps of: preheating a substrate; depositing a ZnO monocrystal thin film on the substrate by RF magnetron sputtering while introducing carbon (C) or nitrogen (N) atoms from an atomic radical source installed over the substrate for p-type doping; and cooling the substrate while maintaining a partial pressure of oxygen in the vacuum chamber at a partial pressure level used while depositing the ZnO thin film.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 85 words
A method of fabricating a ZnO thin film for use in ultraviolet detection and emission devices, the method comprising the steps of: preheating a substrate; depositing a ZnO monocrystal thin film on the substrate by RF magnetron sputtering while introducing carbon (C) or nitrogen (N) atoms from an atomic radical source installed over the substrate for p-type doping; and cooling the substrate while maintaining a partial pressure of oxygen in the vacuum chamber at a partial pressure level used while depositing the ZnO thin film.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4888062A Cited
US5514485A Cited
US5545443A Cited
US5578501A Cited
US5569548A Cited
US5942090A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-03-18 2005-09-17 2006-03-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-03-18 2009-09-17 2010-03-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-03-18 2013-09-17 2014-03-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag