A thin-film transistor comprises an annealed layer comprising crystalline zinc oxide. A passivation layer is adjacent to the thin-film transistor. The passivation layer has a thickness and material composition such that when a dose of radiation from a radiation source irradiates the thin-film transistor, a portion of the dose that includes an approximate maximum concentration of the dose is located within the annealed layer. The annealed layer has a thickness and threshold displacement energies after it has been annealed such that: a) a difference between a transfer characteristic value of the thin-film transistor before and after the dose is less than a first threshold; and b) a difference between a transistor output characteristic value of the thin-film before and after the dose is less than a second threshold. The thresholds are based on a desired performance of the thin-film transistor.

A thin-film transistor comprises an annealed layer comprising crystalline zinc oxide. A passivation layer is adjacent to the thin-film transistor. The passivation layer has a thickness and material composition such that when a dose of radiation from a radiation source irradiates the thin-film transistor, a portion of the dose that includes an approximate maximum concentration of the dose is located within the annealed layer. The annealed layer has a thickness and threshold displacement energies after it has been annealed such that: a) a difference between a transfer characteristic value of the thin-film transistor before and after the dose is less than a first threshold; and b) a difference between a transistor output characteristic value of the thin-film before and after the dose is less than a second threshold. The thresholds are based on a desired performance of the thin-film transistor.

A method includes performing an anneal on a wafer. The wafer includes a wafer-edge region, and an inner region encircled by the wafer-edge region. During the anneal, a first power applied on a portion of the wafer-edge region is at least lower than a second power for annealing the inner region.

Methods for creating a conductive feature in a dielectric material are provided. In an embodiment, such a method comprises irradiating a region of a dielectric material having a resistivity of at least 10.sup.8 W cm with a focused ion beam, the irradiated region corresponding to a conductive feature embedded in the dielectric material, the conductive feature having a conductivity greater than that of the dielectric material; and forming one or more contact pads of a conductive material in electrical communication with the conductive feature, the one or more contact pads configured to apply a voltage across the conductive feature using a voltage source.

Methods for creating a conductive feature in a dielectric material are provided. In an embodiment, such a method comprises irradiating a region of a dielectric material having a resistivity of at least 10.sup.8 W cm with a focused ion beam, the irradiated region corresponding to a conductive feature embedded in the dielectric material, the conductive feature having a conductivity greater than that of the dielectric material; and forming one or more contact pads of a conductive material in electrical communication with the conductive feature, the one or more contact pads configured to apply a voltage across the conductive feature using a voltage source.

A thin-film transistor comprises an annealed layer comprising crystalline zinc oxide. A passivation layer is adjacent to the thin-film transistor. The passivation layer has a thickness and material composition such that when a dose of radiation from a radiation source irradiates the thin-film transistor, a portion of the dose that includes an approximate maximum concentration of the dose is located within the annealed layer. The annealed layer has a thickness and threshold displacement energies after it has been annealed such that: a) a difference between a transfer characteristic value of the thin-film transistor before and after the dose is less than a first threshold; and b) a difference between a transistor output characteristic value of the thin-film before and after the dose is less than a second threshold. The thresholds are based on a desired performance of the thin-film transistor.

A thin-film transistor comprises an annealed layer comprising crystalline zinc oxide. A passivation layer is adjacent to the thin-film transistor. The passivation layer has a thickness and material composition such that when a dose of radiation from a radiation source irradiates the thin-film transistor, a portion of the dose that includes an approximate maximum concentration of the dose is located within the annealed layer. The annealed layer has a thickness and threshold displacement energies after it has been annealed such that: a) a difference between a transfer characteristic value of the thin-film transistor before and after the dose is less than a first threshold; and b) a difference between a transistor output characteristic value of the thin-film before and after the dose is less than a second threshold. The thresholds are based on a desired performance of the thin-film transistor.

A semiconductor manufacturing method by a semiconductor manufacturing device includes: positioning an anode, which causes an oxidation reaction, in a first end of a base material containing an aluminum oxide and a cathode, which causes a reduction reaction, in a second end of the base material; heating the base material to melt it with the anode being in contact with the first end of the base material and the cathode being in contact with the second end of the base material; causing a current to flow between the anode and the cathode to cause a molten salt electrolysis reaction for a whole of or a part of a period in which the base material is at least partially melted; and after the molten salt electrolysis reaction, cooling the base material to form a p-type aluminum oxide semiconductor layer and an n-type aluminum oxide semiconductor layer.

A semiconductor manufacturing method by a semiconductor manufacturing device includes: positioning an anode, which causes an oxidation reaction, in a first end of a base material containing an aluminum oxide and a cathode, which causes a reduction reaction, in a second end of the base material; heating the base material to melt it with the anode being in contact with the first end of the base material and the cathode being in contact with the second end of the base material; causing a current to flow between the anode and the cathode to cause a molten salt electrolysis reaction for a whole of or a part of a period in which the base material is at least partially melted; and after the molten salt electrolysis reaction, cooling the base material to form a p-type aluminum oxide semiconductor layer and an n-type aluminum oxide semiconductor layer.

A system for processing semiconductor wafers, the system including: a processing chamber; a heat source; a substrate holder configured to expose a semiconductor wafer to the heat source; a first electrode configured to be detachably coupled to a first major surface of a semiconductor wafer; and a second electrode coupled to the substrate holder, the first electrode and the second electrode together configured to apply an electric field in the semiconductor wafer.