High-performance vertical GaN field-effect transistor with an integrated self-adapted channel diode for reverse conduction

A vertical GaN field-effect transistor with an integrated self-adapted channel diode(CD-FET)is proposed to improve the reverse conduction performance.It features a channel diode(CD)formed between a trench source on the insulator and a P-type barrier layer(PBL),together with a P-shield layer under the trench gate.At forward conduction,the CD is pinched off due to depletion effects caused by both the PBL and the metal-insulator-semiconductor structure from the trench source,without influencing the on-state characteristic of the CD-FET.At reverse conduction,the depletion region narrows and thus the CD turns on to achieve a very low turn-on voltage(V_(F)),preventing the inherent body diode from turning on.Meanwhile,the PBL and P-shield layer can modulate the electric field distribution to improve the off-state breakdown voltage(BV).Moreover,the P-shield not only shields the gate from a high electric field but also transforms part of C_(GD)to CGS so as to significantly reduce the gate charge(Q_(GD)),leading to a low switching loss(E_(switch)).Consequently,the proposed CD-FET achieves a low V_(F)of 1.65 V and a high BV of 1446 V,and V_(F),Q_(GD)and E_(switch)of the CD-FET are decreased by 49%,55%and 80%,respectively,compared with those of a conventional metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor(MOSFET).