Abstract: A thin-film transistor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a gate electrode; an active layer formed of an oxide containing indium, zinc, and titanium; a gate insulating film formed between the gate electrode and the active layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode that are electrically connected to the active layer. Atomic proportions of elements relative to the total quantity of indium, zinc, and titanium that constitute the oxide may be not less than 24 at. % and not more than 80 at. % for indium, not less than 16 at. % and not more than 70 at. % for zinc, and not less than 0.1 at. % and not more than 20 at. % for titanium.

Abstract: A roll-to-roll deposition apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a film travel mechanism, a lithium source, and a first roller. The vacuum chamber is capable of maintaining a reduced-pressure state. The film travel mechanism is capable of causing a film to travel inside the vacuum chamber. The lithium source is capable of evaporating lithium inside the vacuum chamber. The first roller is disposed between a deposition surface of the film and the lithium source. The first roller has a transfer pattern that receives the lithium evaporated from the lithium source. The first roller transfers a pattern of a lithium layer corresponding to the transfer pattern to the deposition surface while rotating.

Abstract: [Object] To reduce heat damage to a film when a lithium layer is formed on the film by using a roll-to-roll system. [Solving Means] A roll-to-roll deposition apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a film travel mechanism, a lithium source, and a first roller. The vacuum chamber is capable of maintaining a reduced-pressure state. The film travel mechanism is capable of causing a film to travel inside the vacuum chamber. The lithium source is capable of making lithium melt inside the vacuum chamber. The first roller is disposed between a deposition surface of the film and the lithium source. The first roller has a transfer pattern that receives the molten lithium from the lithium source. The first roller transfers a pattern of a lithium layer corresponding to the transfer pattern to the deposition surface while being rotated.

Abstract: An oxide-sintered-body sputtering target according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed of a sintered body containing an indium oxide, a zinc oxide, a titanium oxide, and a zirconium oxide, an atomic ratio of titanium with respect to a sum of indium, zinc, and titanium being not less than 0.1% and not more than 20%, a weight ratio of zirconium with respect to a sum of the indium oxide, the zinc oxide, the titanium oxide, and the zirconium oxide being not less than 10 ppm and not more than 2,000 ppm.

Abstract: A thin-film transistor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a gate electrode; an active layer formed of an oxide containing indium, zinc, and titanium; a gate insulating film formed between the gate electrode and the active layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode that are electrically connected to the active layer. Atomic proportions of elements relative to the total quantity of indium, zinc, and titanium that constitute the oxide may be not less than 24 at. % and not more than 80 at. % for indium, not less than 16 at. % and not more than 70 at. % for zinc, and not less than 0.1 at. % and not more than 20 at. % for titanium.

Abstract: A plurality of targets are disposed in parallel with, and at a given distance to, one another. In case a predetermined thin film is formed by sputtering, the occurrence of non-uniformity in the film thickness distribution and the film quality distribution can be restricted. During the time when electric power is charged to a plurality of targets (31a to 31h) which are disposed inside a sputtering chamber (11a) so as to lie opposite to the process substrate (S), and are disposed at a predetermined distance from, and in parallel with, one another, thereby forming a predetermined thin film by sputtering, each of the targets is reciprocated at a constant speed in parallel with the process substrate. Also, magnet assemblies that form tunnel-shaped magnetic flux (M) in front of each target are reciprocated at a constant speed in parallel with each of the targets.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a magnetron sputtering technique for forming a film having an even film thickness distribution for a long period of time. A magnetron sputtering apparatus of the present invention includes a vacuum chamber, a cathode part provided in the vacuum chamber, the cathode part holding a target on the front side thereof and having a backing plate to hold a plurality of magnets on the backside thereof, and a direct-current power source that supplies direct-current power to the cathode part. A plurality of control electrodes, which independently controls potentials, is provided in a discharge space on the side of the target with respect to the backing plate.

Abstract: In a magnetron sputtering apparatus an arrangement is made such that the peripheral portion of a target is uniformly eroded to attain a high efficiency in target utilization and, in addition, that an abnormal discharging hardly occurs to thereby enable satisfactory thin film forming. A magnet assembly is provided behind a target that is disposed opposite to the process substrate. This magnet assembly has a central magnet that is disposed linearly along the longitudinal direction, and a peripheral magnet that is disposed so as to enclose the periphery of the central magnet, while changing the polarity on the side of the target. At this time, among the respective magnetic fluxes generated between the central magnet and the peripheral magnet at the longitudinally end portions of the magnet assembly, the position at which the vertical component of the magnetic field becomes zero is locally shifted to the central magnet within a certain range.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a sputtering apparatus, a thin-film forming method, and a manufacturing method for a field effect transistor, which are capable of reducing damage of a base layer. [Solving Means] The sputtering apparatus according to the present invention sputters target portions Tc1 to Tc5, which are arranged in an inside of a vacuum chamber, along the arrangement direction thereof in sequence, to thereby form a thin-film on a surface of a substrate 10. With this, rate at which sputtered particles enter the surface of the substrate in a direction oblique to the surface of the substrate is increased, and hence it is possible to achieve a reduction of the damage of the base layer.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a sputtering apparatus, a thin-film forming method, and a manufacturing method for a field effect transistor, which are capable of reducing damage of a base layer. [Solving Means] The sputtering apparatus 100 includes a conveying mechanism, a first target Tc1, a second target (Tc2 to Tc5), and a sputtering means. The conveying mechanism conveys a supporting portion, which is arranged in an inside of a vacuum chamber and supports a substrate, linearly along a conveying surface parallel to the surface to be processed of the substrate. The first target Tc1 is opposed to the conveying surface with a first space therebetween. The second target (Tc2 to Tc5) is arranged on a downstream side in a conveying direction of the substrate with respect to the first target Tc1, and is opposed to the conveying surface with a second space smaller than the first space therebetween. The sputtering means sputters each target.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a sputtering apparatus, a thin-film forming method, and a manufacturing method for a field effect transistor, which are capable of reducing damage of a base layer. [Solving Means] A sputtering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a sputtering apparatus for forming a thin-film on a surface to be processed of a substrate 10, and includes a vacuum chamber 61, a supporting portion 93, a target 80, and a magnet 83. The magnet 83 generates plasma forming a region to be sputtered 80a, and moves the region to be sputtered 80abetween a first position in which the region to be sputtered 80a is not opposed to the surface to be processed and a second position in which the region to be sputtered is opposed to the surface to be processed. With this, it is possible to weaken incident energy of sputtered particles incident on the surface to be processed of the substrate 10 from the region to be sputtered 80a, and to protect the base layer.

Abstract: To provide a vacuum processing apparatus capable of supporting and conveying a substrate by a method suitable for a processing content in each processing step and capable of suppressing various mechanisms provided within a processing chamber from being adversely affected. More particularly, the CVD chamber of the apparatus is configured to be horizontal, and hence the above-mentioned problem can be solved. Further, by configuring a sputtering apparatus as the vertical type processing apparatus, problems with abnormal electrical discharge can be solved.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a magnetron sputtering technique for forming a film having an even film thickness distribution for a long period of time. A magnetron sputtering apparatus of the present invention includes a vacuum chamber, a cathode part provided in the vacuum chamber, the cathode part holding a target on the front side thereof and having a backing plate to hold a plurality of magnets on the backside thereof, and a direct-current power source that supplies direct-current power to the cathode part. A plurality of control electrodes, which independently controls potentials, is provided in a discharge space on the side of the target with respect to the backing plate.

Abstract: A plurality of targets are disposed in parallel with, and at a given distance to, one another. In case a predetermined thin film is formed by sputtering, the occurrence of non-uniformity in the film thickness distribution and the film quality distribution can be restricted. During the time when electric power is charged to a plurality of targets which are disposed inside a sputtering chamber so as to lie opposite to the process substrate, and are disposed at a predetermined distance from, and in parallel with, one another, thereby forming a predetermined thin film by sputtering, each of the targets is reciprocated at a constant speed in parallel with the process substrate. Also, magnet assemblies that form tunnel-shaped magnetic flux in front of each target are reciprocated at a constant speed in parallel with each of the targets.

Abstract: In a magnetron sputtering apparatus an arrangement is made such that the peripheral portion of a target is uniformly eroded to attain a high efficiency in target utilization and, in addition, that an abnormal discharging hardly occurs to thereby enable satisfactory thin film forming. A magnet assembly is provided behind a target that is disposed opposite to the process substrate. This magnet assembly has a central magnet that is disposed linearly along the longitudinal direction, and a peripheral magnet that is disposed so as to enclose the periphery of the central magnet, while changing the polarity on the side of the target. At this time, among the respective magnetic fluxes generated between the central magnet and the peripheral magnet at the longitudinally end portions of the magnet assembly, the position at which the vertical component of the magnetic field becomes zero is locally shifted to the central magnet within a certain range.

Abstract: According to the invention, when targets are sputtered, each of them moves with respect to a substrate; and therefore, the entire area of the substrate is opposed to the targets during sputtering, so that a film of homogeneous quality can be formed on the surface of the substrate. During the sputtering, not only the targets but also magnetic field forming devices are moved relative to the targets, and therefore, a large area of the targets can be sputtered. In addition, when the magnetic field forming devices are also moved with respect to the substrate, the region of the target which is highly sputtered, moves with respect to the substrate, so that the thickness distribution of the film formed on the substrate can be even more uniform.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetron sputtering method and a magnetron sputtering apparatus that can significantly reduce a non-erosion region causing an abnormal electrical discharge on a surface of a target and deposition of target materials. A plurality of targets 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D are disposed in a vacuum atmosphere while being electrically independent to each other; and sputtering is performed by generating magnetron discharge in the vicinity of the targets 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D. During the sputtering, voltages having a phase difference of 180 degrees are alternately applied to the adjacent targets 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: According to the invention, when targets are sputtered, each of them moves with respect to a substrate; and therefore, the entire area of the substrate is opposed to the targets during sputtering, so that a film of homogeneous quality can be formed on the surface of the substrate. During the sputtering, not only the targets but also magnetic field forming devices are moved relative to the targets, and therefore, a large area of the targets can be sputtered. In addition, when the magnetic field forming devices are also moved with respect to the substrate, the region of the target which is highly sputtered, moves with respect to the substrate, so that the thickness distribution of the film formed on the substrate can be even more uniform.