Solution-Processed High-Performance ZnO Nano-FETs Fabricated with Direct-Write Electron-Beam-Lithography-Based Top-Down Route

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been extensively investigated for use in large-area electronics; in particular, the solution-processing routes have shown increasing promise towards low-cost fabrication. However, top-down fabrication approaches with nanoscale resolution, towards aggressively scaled device platforms, are still underexplored. This study reports a novel approach of direct-write electron-beam lithography (DW-EBL) of solution precursors as negative tone resists, followed by optimal precursor processing to fabricate micron/nano-field-effect transistors (FETs). It is demonstrated that the mobility and current density of ZnO FETs can be increased by two orders of magnitude as the precursor pattern width is decreased from 50 mu m to 100 nm. These nano-FET devices exhibit field-effect mobility exceeding approximate to 30 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) and on-state current densities reaching 10 A m(-1), the highest reported so far for direct-write precursor-patterned nanoscale ZnO FETs. Using atomic force microscopy and parametric modeling, the origin of such device performance improvement is investigated. The findings emphasize the influence of pre-decomposition nanoscale precursor patterning on the grain morphology evolution in ZnO and, consequently, open up large-scale integration, and miniaturization opportunities for solution-processed, high-performance nanoscale oxide FETs.

Automated summary

This study presents a novel approach of direct-write electron-beam lithography (DW-EBL) to fabricate micron/nano-field-effect transistors (FETs) using ZnO solution precursors as negative tone resists. It demonstrates a significant improvement in the mobility and current density of ZnO FETs as the precursor pattern width decreases. The findings highlight the influence of pre-decomposition nanoscale precursor patterning on the grain morphology evolution in ZnO, enabling opportunities for large-scale integration and miniaturization of high-performance nanoscale oxide FETs.