Thin-film switching device having chlorine-containing active region and methods of fabrication therefor

Abstract

A thin-film switching device includes an active region including noncrystalline silicon, e.g., hydrogenated amorphous silicon, which includes chlorine distributed in a manner which produces a predetermined photoconductivity and a predetermined field-effect mobility in the active region. Preferably, the active region includes a plurality of hydrogenated amorphous silicon layers, at least one of which includes chlorine. In one embodiment, the plurality of hydrogenated amorphous silicon layers includes a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer including between 0.1 ppm and 106 ppm chlorine. In another embodiment, the plurality of hydrogenated amorphous silicon layers includes a first hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer having a first chlorine concentration and a second hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer having a second chlorine concentration less than the first chlorine concentration. The first hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer includes 1 ppm to 105 ppm chlorine, and the second hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer includes less than 104 ppm chlorine. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.