Low-resistance ohmic contacts on InAlN/GaN heterostructures with MOCVD-regrown n+-InGaN and mask-free regrowth process

This paper studied the low-resistance ohmic contacts on InAlN/GaN with metal–organic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD)regrowth technique.The 150-nm regrown n-InGaN exhibits a low sheet resistance of 31Ω/□,resulting in an extremely low contact resistance of 0.102Ω·mm between n^(+)-InGaN and InAlN/GaN channels.Mask-free regrowth process was also used to significantly improve the sheet resistance of InAlN/GaN with MOCVD regrown ohmic contacts.Then,the diffusion mechanism between n^(+)-InGaN and InAlN during regrowth process was investigated with electrical and structural characterizations,which could benefit the further process optimization.

Influence of Al Composition on Transport Properties of Two-Dimensional Electron Gas in Al_xGa_(1-x)N/GaN Heterostructures

Magnetotransport properties of two-dimensional electron gases （2DEG） in AlxGa1-x N/GaN heterostructures with different Al compositions are investigated by magnetotransport measurements at low temperatures and in high magnetic fields. It is found that heterostructures with a lower Al composition in the barrier have lower 2DEG concentration and higher 2DEG mobility.

Improved RF power performance of InAlN/GaN HEMT by optimizing rapid thermal annealing process for high-performance low-voltage terminal applications

Improved radio-frequency(RF)power performance of InAlN/GaN high electron mobility transistor(HEMT)is achieved by optimizing the rapid thermal annealing(RTA)process for high-performance low-voltage terminal applications.By optimizing the RTA temperature and time,the optimal annealing condition is found to enable low parasitic resistance and thus a high-performance device.Besides,compared with the non-optimized RTA HEMT,the optimized one demonstrates smoother ohmic metal surface morphology and better heterojunction quality including the less degraded heterojunction sheet resistance and clearer heterojunction interfaces as well as negligible material out-diffusion from the barrier to the channel and buffer.Benefiting from the lowered parasitic resistance,improved maximum output current density of 2279 mA·mm^(-1)and higher peak extrinsic transconductance of 526 mS·mm^(-1)are obtained for the optimized RTA HEMT.In addition,due to the superior heterojunction quality,the optimized HEMT shows reduced off-state leakage current of 7×10^(-3)mA·mm^(-1)and suppressed current collapse of only 4%,compared with those of 1×10^(-1)mA·mm^(-1)and 15%for the non-optimized one.At 8 GHz and V_(DS)of 6 V,a significantly improved power-added efficiency of 62%and output power density of 0.71 W·mm^(-1)are achieved for the optimized HEMT,as the result of the improvement in output current,knee voltage,off-state leakage current,and current collapse,which reveals the tremendous advantage of the optimized RTA HEMT in high-performance low-voltage terminal applications.

Novel GaN-based double-channel p-heterostructure field-effect transistors with a p-GaN insertion layer

GaN-based p-channel heterostructure field-effect transistors(p-HFETs)face significant constraints on on-state currents compared with n-channel high electron mobility transistors.In this work,we propose a novel double heterostructure which introduces an additional p-GaN insertion layer into traditional p-HFETs.The impact of the device structure on the hole densities and valence band energies of both the upper and lower channels is analyzed by using Silvaco TACD simulations,including the thickness of the upper AlGaN layer and the doping impurities and concentration in the GaN buffer layer,as well as the thickness and Mg-doping concentration in the p-GaN insertion layer.With the help of the p-GaN insertion layer,the C-doping concentration in the GaN buffer layer can be reduced,while the density of the two-dimensional hole gas in the lower channel is enhanced at the same time.This work suggests that a double heterostructure with a p-GaN insertion layer is a better approach to improve p-HFETs compared with those devices with C-doped buffer layer alone.

The low-temperature mobility of two-dimensional electron gas in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

To reveal the internal physics of the low-temperature mobility of two-dimensional electron gas （2DEG） in Al- GaN/GaN heterostructures, we present a theoretical study of the strong dependence of 2DEG mobility on Al content and thickness of AlGaN barrier layer. The theoretical results are compared with one of the highest measured of 2DEG mobility reported for AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. The 2DEG mobility is modelled as a combined effect of the scat- tering mechanisms including acoustic deformation-potential, piezoelectric, ionized background donor, surface donor, dislocation, alloy disorder and interface roughness scattering. The analyses of the individual scattering processes show that the dominant scattering mechanisms are the alloy disorder scattering and the interface roughness scattering at low temperatures. The variation of 2DEG mobility with the barrier layer parameters results mainly from the change of 2DEG density and distribution. It is suggested that in AlGaN/GaN samples with a high Al content or a thick AlGaN layer, the interface roughness scattering may restrict the 2DEG mobility significantly, for the AlGaN/GaN interface roughness increases due to the stress accumulation in AlGaN layer.

GaN-based heterostructures： electric-static equilibrium and boundary conditions

In the GaN-based heterostructures, this paper reports that the strong electric fields induced by polarization effects at the structure boundaries complicate the electric-static equilibrium and the boundary conditions. The basic requirements of electric-static equilibrium for the heterostructure systems are discussed first, and it is deduced that in the application of the coupled Schroedinger-Poisson model to the heterostructures of electric static equilibrium state, zero external electric field guarantees the overall electric neutrality, and there is no need to introduce the charge balance equation. Then the relation between the screening of the polar charges in GaN-based heterostructures and the possible boundary conditions of the Poisson equation is analysed, it is shown that the various boundary conditions are equivalent to each other, and the surface charge, which can be used in studying the screening of the polar charges, can be precisely solved even if only the conduction band energy is correctly known at the surface. Finally, through the calculations on an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure with typical structure parameters by the coupled Schroedinger-Poisson model under the various boundary conditions, the correctness of the above analyses are validated.

Recess-free enhancement-mode AlGaN/GaN RF HEMTs on Si substrate

Enhancement-mode(E-mode)GaN-on-Si radio-frequency(RF)high-electron-mobility transistors(HEMTs)were fabri-cated on an ultrathin-barrier(UTB)AlGaN(<6 nm)/GaN heterostructure featuring a naturally depleted 2-D electron gas(2DEG)channel.The fabricated E-mode HEMTs exhibit a relatively high threshold voltage(VTH)of+1.1 V with good uniformity.A maxi-mum current/power gain cut-off frequency(fT/fMAX)of 31.3/99.6 GHz with a power added efficiency(PAE)of 52.47%and an out-put power density(Pout)of 1.0 W/mm at 3.5 GHz were achieved on the fabricated E-mode HEMTs with 1-μm gate and Au-free ohmic contact.

The effects of vicinal sapphire substrates on the properties of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

A1GaN/GaN heterostructures on vicinal sapphire substrates and just-oriented sapphire substrates （0001） are grown by the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition method. Samples are studied by high-resolution x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, capacitance-voltage measurement and the Van der Panw Hall-effect technique. The investigation reveals that better crystal quality and surface morphology of the sample are obtained on the vicinal substrate. Fur- thermore, the electrical properties are also improved when the sample is grown on the vicinal substrate. This is due to the fact that the use of vicinal substrate can promote the step-flow mode of crystal growth, so many macro-steps are formed during crystal growth, which causes a reduction of threading dislocations in the crystal and an improvement in the electrical properties of the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure.

Determination of the relative permittivity of the AlGaN barrier layer in strained AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

Using the measured capacitance voltage curves and the photocurrent spectrum obtained from the Ni Schottky contact on a strained Al0.3Ga0.7N/GaN heterostructure, the value of the relative permittivity of the AlGaN barrier layer was analysed and calculated by self-consistently solving SchrSdinger＇s and Poisson＇s equations. It is shown that the calculated values of the relative permittivity are different from those formerly reported, and reverse biasing the Ni Schottky contact has an influence on the value of the relative permittivity. As the reverse bias increases from 0 V to -3 V, the value of the relative permittivity decreases from 7.184 to 7.093.

Magnetotransport properties of two-dimensional electron gas in AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructures

Magnetotransport measurements are carried out on the A1GaN/A1N/GaN in an SiC heterostructure, which demon- strates the existence of the high-quality two-dimensional electron gas （2DGE） at the A1N/GaN interface. While the carrier concentration reaches 1.32×10^13 cm^-2 and stays relatively unchanged with the decreasing temperature, the mobility of the 2DEG increases to 1.21 × 10^4 cm2/（V.s） at 2 K. The Shubnikov-de Haas （SdH） oscillations are observed in a magnetic field as low as 2.5 T at 2 K. By the measurements and the analyses of the temperature-dependent SdH oscillations, the effective mass of the 2DEC is determined. The ratio of the transport lifetime to the quantum scattering time is 9 in our sample, indicating that small-angle scattering is predominant.

Degradation mechanism of two-dimensional electron gas density in high Al-content AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

This paper finds that the two-dimensional electron gas density in high Al-content A1GaN/GaN heterostructures exhibits an obvious time-dependent degradation after the epitaxial growth. The degradation mechanism was investigated in depth using Hall effect measurements,high resolution x-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy.The results reveal that the formation of surface oxide is the main reason for the degradation,and the surface oxidation always occurs within the surface hexagonal defects for high Al-content AlGaN/GaN heterostructures.

Fabrication of GaN-Based Heterostructures with an InA1GaN/AlGaN Composite Barrier

CaN-based heterostructures with an InAlCaN/AlCaN composite barrier on sapphire （0001） substrates are grown by a low-pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition system. Compositions of the InAiGaN layer are determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, structure and crystal quality of the heterostruetures are identified by high resolution x-ray diffraction, surface morphology of the samples are examined by an atomic force microscope, and Hall effect and capacitance-voltage measurements are performed at room temperature to evaluate the electrical properties of heterostructures. The Al/In ratio of the InAlGaN layer is 4.43, which indicates that the InAlCaN quaternary layer is nearly lattice-matched to the CaN channel. Capacitance-voltage results show that there is no parasitic channel formed between the InAIGaN layer and the AlCaN layer. Compared with the InAl- CaN/CaN heterostructure, the electrical properties of the InAlCaN/AlGaN/GaN heterostructure are improved obviously. Influences of the thickness of the AlGaN layer on the electrical properties of the heterostructures are studied. With the optimal thickness of the AlGaN layer to be 5 nm, the 2DEG mobility, sheet density and the sheet resistance of the sample is 1889.61 cm2/V.s, 1.44 × 10^13 cm-2 and as low as 201.1 Ω/sq, respectively.

基于60nmT型栅f_T&f_(max)为170&210 GHz的InAlN/GaN HFETs器件（英文）

基于蓝宝石衬底InAlN/GaN异质结材料研制具有高电流增益截止频率(f_T)和最大振荡频率(f_(max))的InAlN/GaN异质结场效应晶体管(HFETs).基于再生长n+GaN欧姆接触工艺实现了器件尺寸的缩小,有效源漏间距(Lsd)缩小至600nm.此外,采用自对准栅工艺制备60nmT型栅.由于器件尺寸的缩小,在Vgs=1V时,器件最大饱和电流(Ids)达到1.89A/mm,峰值跨导达到462mS/mm.根据小信号测试结果,外推得到器件的f_T和f_(max)分别为170GHz和210GHz,该频率特性为国内InAlN/GaNHFETs器件频率的最高值.

InAlN/AlN/GaN HEMT器件特性研究

通过利用MOCVD生长的高质量蓝宝石衬底InAlN/AlN/GaN异质结材料,获得了高的二维电子气面密度,其值为1.65×1013cm-2。通过该结构制备了0.15μm栅长InAlN/AlN/GaN HEMT器件,获得了相关的电学特性:最大电流密度为1.3 A/mm,峰值跨导为260 mS/mm,电流增益截止频率为65 GHz,最大振荡频率为85 GHz。对比于相应的AlGaN/AlN/GaN HEMT器件,InAlN/AlN/GaN HEMT器件由于具有高的二维电子气面密度和薄的势垒层厚度,其最大电流密度和峰值跨导特性有了很大的改善,同时频率特性也有显著提高。

超薄势垒InAlN/GaN HFET器件高频特性分析

采用二次外延重掺杂n^+GaN实现非合金欧姆接触,并通过优化干法刻蚀和金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)外延工艺,有效降低了欧姆接触电阻。将非合金欧姆接触工艺应用于InAlN/GaN异质结场效应晶体管(HFET)器件制备,器件的有效源漏间距缩小至600 nm。同时,结合40 nm T型栅工艺,制备了高电流截止频率(f_T)和最大振荡频率(f_(max))的InAlN/GaN HFET器件。结果显示减小欧姆接触电阻和栅长后,器件的电学特性,尤其是射频特性得到大幅提升。栅偏压为0 V时,器件最大漏源饱和电流密度达到1.88 A/mm;直流峰值跨导达到681 m S/mm。根据射频小信号测试结果外推得到器件的f_T和f_(max)同为217 GHz。

Si基超薄势垒InAlN/GaN HEMT开关器件小信号模型

为了更好地表征Si基超薄InAlN/GaN HEMT开关器件的特性和开发更精确的开关电路模型,基于0.25μm HEMT工艺制备了不同栅极电阻的开关器件,提出了附加10 kΩ栅极电阻的器件结构,并对开关器件进行了小信号模型分析。采用传统的去嵌结构提取了开关器件的寄生电容、电感和电阻参数来得到相应的本征参数。采用误差因子评估模型的准确度,结果表明模型拟合和实测的S参数基本吻合。最后将模型应用在Ku波段单刀双掷(SPDT)开关电路的设计中,实测的开启状态下该电路的插入损耗小于2.28 dB,输入回波损耗大于10 dB,输出回波损耗大于12 dB;关断状态下其隔离度大于36.54 dB。所提出的Si基InAlN/GaN HEMT模型可以为Si基HEMT的电路设计和集成提供一定的理论指导。

Ka波段InAlN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结场效应晶体管

InAlN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结材料可以兼顾较高的二维电子气浓度和较好的载流子限域性,适宜制备Ka波段及以上微波功率器件。使用金属有机物气相外延方法,在SiC衬底上生长高性能InAlN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结构材料并制备了栅长为0.2μm的异质结场效应晶体管。测试结果表明,在栅压+2 V时器件的最大电流密度为1.12 A/mm,直流偏置条件VDS为+15 V和VGS为-1.6 V时,最高输出功率密度为2.1 W/mm,29 GHz下实现功率附加效率(ηPAE)为22.3%,截止频率fT达到60 GHz,最高振荡频率fmax为105 GHz。就功率密度和功率附加效率而言,是目前报道的Ka波段InAlN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结场效应晶体管研究的较好结果。

电流增益截止频率为236 GHz的InAlN/GaN高频HEMT

研制了高电流增益截止频率(f_T)的In Al N/Ga N高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)。采用金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)再生长n^+GaN非合金欧姆接触工艺将器件源漏间距缩小至600 nm,降低了源、漏寄生电阻,有利于改善器件的寄生效应;使用低压化学气相沉积(LPCVD)生长SiN作为栅下介质,降低了InAlN/GaN HEMT栅漏电;利用电子束光刻实现了栅长为50 nm的T型栅。此外,还讨论了寄生效应对器件f_T的影响。测试结果表明,器件的栅漏电为3.8μA/mm,饱和电流密度为2.5 A/mm,f_T达到236 GHz。延时分析表明,器件的寄生延时为0.13 ps,在总延时中所占的比例为19%,优于合金欧姆接触工艺的结果。

背势垒对InAlN/GaN异质结构中二维电子气的影响

利用有效质量理论自洽求解Poisson和Schrdinger方程理论研究了背势垒插入层对InAlN/GaN晶格匹配异质结构的电学性能的影响。研究表明,对于In0.17Al0.83N/AlN/GaN的异质结构,AlN的临界厚度为2.43 nm。此时,异质结中二维电子气(2DEG)浓度达到2.49×1013 cm-2,且不随势垒层厚度的变化而变化。重点模拟研究了具有背势垒的InAlN/AlN/GaN/AlGaN/GaN和InAlN/AlN/GaN/InGaN/GaN两种结构的能带结构和2DEG的分布情况。理论结果表明,采用AlGaN背势垒结构时,对于AlGaN的任意Al组分,GaN沟道层导带底能量均被抬升,增强了AlN/GaN三角势阱对2DEG的限制作用,提高了电子迁移率。采用InGaN/GaN作为背势垒结构,当InGaN厚度为2或3 nm时,三角势阱中的2DEG随InGaN中In组分的增加先升高后降低,这主要是由于GaN/InGaN界面处产生的正极化电荷的影响,引起电子在AlN/GaN三角势阱和InGaN/GaN势阱之间的分布变化。

结构参数对N极性面GaN/InAlN高电子迁移率晶体管性能的影响

基于漂移-扩散传输模型、费米狄拉克统计模型以及Shockley-Read-Hall复合模型等,通过自洽求解薛定谔方程、泊松方程以及载流子连续性方程,模拟研究了材料结构参数对N极性面GaN/InAlN高电子迁移率晶体管性能的影响及其物理机制.结果表明,增加GaN沟道层的厚度(5-15 nm)与InAlN背势垒层的厚度(10-40 nm),均使得器件的饱和输出电流增大,阈值电压发生负向漂移.器件的跨导峰值随Ga N沟道层厚度的增加与InAlN背势垒层厚度的减小而减小.模拟中,各种性能参数的变化趋势均随GaN沟道层与InAlN背势垒层厚度的增加而逐渐变缓,当GaN沟道层厚度超过15 nm、InAlN背势垒层厚度超过40 nm后,器件的饱和输出电流、阈值电压等参数基本趋于稳定.材料结构参数对器件性能影响的主要原因可归于器件内部极化效应、能带结构以及沟道中二维电子气的变化.