Method for fabricating n-type carbon nanotube device

[0002] This application is a divisional application of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/233,601, filed Sep. 4, 2002 (of which the entire disclosure of the pending, prior application is hereby incorporated by reference).

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention generally relates to a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device and, more particularly, to a method characterized in that thermal annealing and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor-phased deposition (PECVD) are employed to form a non-oxide gate layer on a carbon nanotube device. Therefore, the inherently p-type carbon nanotube can be used to fabricate an n-type carbon nanotube device with reliable device characteristics and high manufacturing compatibility.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] In the nanotechnology era, it is an important issue to develop a carbon nanotube (CNT) logic device. Inherently, a carbon nanotube transistor exhibits p-type characteristics at room temperature.

[0007] Richard Smalley et al. have disclosed a conventional technique in “Chemical doping of individual semiconducting carbon-nanotube ropes” (Physical Review B, Vol.61, No. 16), in which potassium ions are implanted into the carbon nanotube so as to provide sufficient electrons such that the carbon nanotube exhibts n-type characteristics. However, this method is not compatible with the state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing process.

[0008] Therefore, there is need in providing a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device, in which the p-type carbon nanotube exhibits n-type characteristics at room temperature and the method is compatible with the state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing process.

[0009] Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device, characterized in that thermal annealing and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor-phased deposition (PECVD) are employed to form a non-oxide gate layer on a carbon nanotube device.

[0010] It is the secondary object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device, characterized in that the inherently p-type carbon nanotube can be used to fabricate an n-type carbon nanotube device with reliable device characteristics and high manufacturing compatibility.

[0011] In order to achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention provides a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device, comprising steps of: depositing an oxide film on a substrate; forming a first metal film on said oxide film; forming a carbon nanotube layer on said first metal film; depositing a gate layer covering said first metal film and said carbon nanotube layer; and forming a gate electrode on said gate layer.

[0012] The present invention further provides another method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device, comprising steps of: forming a gate electrode in a substrate; depositing an oxide film on said substrate and said gate electrode; forming a first metal film on said oxide film; depositing a carbon nanotube layer on said first metal film; and depositing a gate layer covering said first metal film and said carbon nanotube layer.

[0013] Other and further features, advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not to be restrictive of the invention. The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention in general terms.

[0014] The objects, spirits and advantages of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be readily understood by the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptions, wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an oxide film deposited on a substrate in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first metal film formed on the oxide film in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a carbon nanotube layer formed on the first metal film in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 1D is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a gate layer covering the first metal film and the carbon nanotube layer in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 1E is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a second metal film formed on the gate layer in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 1F is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a gate electrode formed on the gate layer in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a gate electrode formed in a substrate in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an oxide film deposited on the substrate and the gate electrode in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 2C a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first metal film covering the oxide film in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2D a schematic cross-sectional view showing a carbon nanotube layer deposited on the first metal film in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0025] FIG. 2E a schematic cross-sectional view showing a gate layer covering the first metal film and the carbon nanotube layer in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The present invention providing a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device can be exemplified by the preferred embodiments as described hereinafter.

[0027] The method according to the present invention employs plasma-enhanced chemical vapor-phased deposition (PECVD) to form a non-oxide gate layer, such as silicon nitride (SiNx), on a carbon nanotube device to function as a gate oxide layer. Meanwhile, thermal annealing is performed to fabricate an n-type carbon nanotube device from a p-type carbon nanotube.

[0028] Please refer to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1F, which show a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, an oxide film 11 of 1000 Å in thickness is deposited on a substrate 10. Then, a first metal film 12 is formed on the oxide film 11. In the present embodiment, the first metal film 12 is formed of Ti. The first metal film 12 is then patterned by photolithography as well as etching so as to function as a drain region and a source region, as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1C, a carbon nanotube layer 13 formed by spin-coating carbon nanotube dimethylformamide (CNT DMF) on the first metal film 12. The carbon nanotube layer 13 conducts the current between the drain and the source in a transistor.

[0030] In FIG. 1D, a gate layer 14 is formed by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor-phased deposition (PECVD) and thermal annealing at 400° C. to cover the first metal film 12 and the carbon nanotube layer 13. The gate layer 14 is formed of a non-oxide material, such as silicon nitride (SiNx) in the present embodiment. By using the gate layer 14 as a gate oxide layer, the inherently p-type carbon nanotube device exhibits n-type characteristics. Later, as shown in FIG. 1E, a second metal film 15 of 1500 Å in thickness is deposited on the gate layer 14. In the present embodiment, the second metal film 15 is formed of Ti.

[0031] Finally, the second metal film 15 is patterned to form a gate electrode 16 for an n-type carbon nanotube device by using conventional semiconductor manufacturing process such as photolithography and etching, as shown in FIG. 1F.

[0032] For another embodiment of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2E, which show a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device. As shown in FIG. 2A, a substrate 10 is patterned by etching to form a pattern for the gate electrode and then a metal film is formed in the substrate 10 by sputtering so as to form a gate electrode 20. Later, as shown in FIG. 2B, an oxide film 11 of 1000 Å in thickness is deposited on the substrate 10 and the gate electrode 20. A first metal 12 is then sputtered onto the oxide film 11. In the present embodiment, the first metal is formed of Ti. The first metal film 12 is then patterned by photolithography as well as etching so as to function as a drain region and a source region, as shown in FIG. 2C.

[0033] In FIG. 2D, a carbon nanotube layer 13 formed by spin-coating carbon nanotube dimethylformamide (CNT DMF) on the first metal film 12. The carbon nanotube layer 13 conducts the current between the drain and the source in the n-type carbon nanotube device according to the present invention.

[0034] Finally, as shown in FIG. 2E, a gate layer 14 is formed by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor-phased deposition (PECVD) and thermal annealing at 400° C. to cover the first metal film 12 and the carbon nanotube layer 13. The gate layer 14 is formed of a non-oxide material, such as silicon nitride (SiNx) in the present embodiment. By using the gate layer 14 as a gate oxide layer, the inherently p-type carbon nanotube device exhibits n-type characteristics.

[0035] According to the above discussion, it is apparent that the present invention discloses a method for fabricating an n-type carbon nanotube device, characterized in that thermal annealing and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor-phased deposition (PECVD) are employed to form a non-oxide gate layer on a carbon nanotube device. Therefore, the inherently p-type carbon nanotube can be used to fabricate an n-type carbon nanotube device with reliable device characteristics and high manufacturing compatibility. Therefore, the present invention has been examined to be progressive, advantageous and applicable to the industry.

[0036] Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments that will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. This invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.