Improvement of Breakdown Characteristics of a GaN HEMT with AlGaN Buffer Layer

High-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) with a highly resistive two-layer buffer layer (AlGaN/GaN) were grown on 6H-SiC substrates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The characteristics were compared with those of conventional HEMTs utilizing GaN as the high-resistivity buffer. The results of x-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy indicate that the crystal quality of the HEMT heterostructure is not deteriorated by the AlGaN buffer layer. The direct-current (DC) characteristics of the HEMTs with the two different structures are similar, while the off-state breakdown voltage is enhanced and the mobility of the two-dimensional electron gas is improved by the AlGaN buffer layer. The reasons for the effects of the AlGaN buffer layer are discussed systematically.     

增强型AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结槽栅HEMT研究

为了在获得高击穿电压的同时实现增强型器件,对AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结HEMT进行了栅槽刻蚀,得到阈值电压为0.6 V的增强型HEMT。对器件特性的变化机理进行了分析,发现刻蚀引入的陷阱态使器件的击穿性能降低。采用变频电导法,定量研究了反应离子刻蚀在AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结HEMT中引入的陷阱态。研究表明,刻蚀工艺在双异质结HEMT中引入了大量的浅能级陷阱,这些陷阱的能级主要分布在0.36~0.40 eV。     

Comparative DC Characteristic Analysis of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs Grown on Si(111) and Sapphire Substrates by MBE

A comparative assessment of AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy on silicon and sapphire substrates has been carried out. Large-area power GaN HEMTs with identical device dimensions were fabricated on both substrates. A thicker AlN buffer layer was used for the GaN HEMT on silicon to achieve similar quality and uniformity of GaN epitaxy for rational comparison with that grown on sapphire. Direct-current analysis and physical characterization were carried out to understand the performance of the devices. Mathematical measurement of the instability of the current–voltage (I–V) characteristic at high applied drain bias was carried out to evaluate the performance of both devices. An improved two-dimensional (2D) analysis of the I–V characteristic was performed from a thermal perspective including appropriate scattering effects on the 2D electron gas mobility. The experimental and analytical studies were correlated to reveal the effects of temperature-sensitive scattering phenomena on the mobility as well as on the I–V characteristic at high drain bias in terms of lattice thermal heating. It is observed that the HEMT on Si has improved stability compared with sapphire due to its weaker scattering phenomena at high drain bias, associated with its thermal conductivity. Simulation of 2D thermal mapping was also carried out to distinguish the hot-spot regions of the devices. The comparable electrical performance of these devices illustrates the viability of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on Si(111) to achieve low-cost stable devices with better thermal power handling for high-voltage applications.     

AlN阻挡层对AlGaN/GaNHEMT器件的影响

利用低压MOCVD技术在蓝宝石衬底上生长了AlGaN/GaN异质结和AlGaN/AlN/GaN异质结二维电子气材料,采用相同器件工艺制造出了AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件和AlGaN/AlN/GaN HEMT器件.通过对两种不同器件的比较和讨论,研究了AlN阻挡层的增加对AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件性能的影响.     

MOCVD-Grown AlGaN Buffer GaN HEMTs With V-Gates for Microwave Power Applications

We report the performance of AlGaN buffer GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition. GaN HEMTs on high-quality AlGaN buffer were grown on SiC substrates. The incorporation of an AlGaN buffer into the GaN HEMT significantly improves channel confinement and suppresses the short-channel effect. Advanced deep-recess V-gate structures were employed to optimize the device for better microwave power performance. With a 10-nm GaN channel layer sandwiched between the AlGaN barrier and buffer, excellent power performance was achieved. The output power density is 13.1 W/mm, and the associated power-added efficiency is 72% at 4-GHz frequency and 48-V drain bias. This power performance is comparable to the state-of-the-art GaN HEMTs grown on GaN buffers, indicating that the AlGaN buffer in our optimized device structure does not introduce any noticeable trapping.      

Study of the leakage current suppression for hybrid-Schottky/ohmic drain AlGaN/GaN HEMT

The leakage current suppression mechanism in AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) is investigated. It is known that leakage current can cause severe reliability problems for HEMT devices and conventional AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices suffer from detrimental off-state drain leakage current issues, especially under high off-state drain bias. Therefore, a leakage current suppression technique featuring hybrid-Schottky/ohmic-drain contact is discussed. Through the 2-zones leakage current suppression mechanism by the hybrid-Schottky/drain metal including the shielding effect of the rough ohmic-drain metal morphology and the drain side electric field modulation, AlGaN/GaN HEMT featuring this novel technique can significantly enhance the leakage current suppression capability and improve the breakdown voltage. An analytical method using loop-voltage-scanning is proposed to illustrate the optimization procedure of the hybrid-Schottky/ohmic drain metallization on leakage current suppression. Through the comparison of the loop leakage current hysteresis of conventional ohmic drain HEMT and hybrid-Schottky/ohmic drain, the leakage current suppression mechanism is verified through the leakage current considering surface acceptor-like trap charging/discharging model. Device featuring the hybrid-Schottky/ohmic drain technique shows an improvement in breakdown voltage from 450 V (with no Schottky drain metal) to 855 V with a total drift region length of 9 μm, indicating enhanced off-state reliability characteristics for the AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices.     

含有Al组分阶变AlGaN过渡层的Si基AlGaN/GaN HEMT

采用一个AlN缓冲层和两个Al组分阶变的AlGaN过渡层作为中间层,在76.2mm Si衬底上外延生长出1.7μm厚无裂纹AlGaN/GaN异质结材料,利用原子力显微镜、X射线衍射、Hall效应测量和CV测量等手段对材料的结构特性和电学性能进行了表征。材料表面平整光滑,晶体质量和电学性能良好,2DEG面密度为1.12×1013cm-2,迁移率为1 208cm2/(V.s)。由该材料研制的栅长为1μm的AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件,电流增益截止频率fT达到10.4GHz,这些结果表明组分阶变AlGaN过渡层技术可用于实现高性能Si基GaN HEMT。     

RF-MBE生长的高Al势垒层AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构

采用RF-MBE技术,在蓝宝石衬底上生长了高Al组分势垒层AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构.用三晶X射线衍射分析得到AlGaN势垒层的Al组分约为43%,异质结构晶体质量较高,界面比较光滑.变温霍尔测量显示此结构具有良好的电学性能,室温时电子迁移率和电子浓度分别高达1246cm2/(V·s)和1.429×1013cm-2,二者的乘积为1.8×1016V-1·s-1.用此材料研制的器件,直流特性得到了提高,最大漏极输出电流为1.0A/mm,非本征跨导为218mS/mm.结果表明,提高AlGaN势垒层Al的组分有助于提高AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构材料的电学性能和器件性能.     

Optimization design on breakdown voltage of AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor

Simulations are carried out to explore the possibility of achieving high breakdown voltage of GaN HEMT (high-electron mobility transistor). GaN cap layers with gradual increase in the doping concentration from 2×10¹⁶ to 5×10¹⁹ cm^-3 of N-type and P-type cap are investigated, respectively. Simulation results show that HEMT with P-doped GaN cap layer shows more potential to achieve higher breakdown voltage than N-doped GaN cap layer under the same doping concentration. This is because the ionized net negative space charges in P-GaN cap layer could modulate the surface electric field which makes more contribution to RESURF effect. Furthermore, a novel GaN/AlGaN/GaN HEMT with P-doped GaN buried layer in GaN buffer between gate and drain electrode is proposed. It shows enhanced performance. The breakdown voltage of the proposed structure is 640 V which is increased by 12% in comparison to UID (un-intentionally doped) GaN/AlGaN/GaN HEMT. We calculated and analyzed the distribution of electrons'' density. It is found that the depleted region is wider and electric field maximum value is induced at the left edge of buried layer. So the novel structure with P-doped GaN buried layer embedded in GaN buffer has the better improving characteristics of the power devices.     

输出功率密度为2.23W/mm的X波段AlGaN/GaN功率HEMT器件

MOCVD技术在蓝宝石衬底上制备出具有高迁移率GaN沟道层的AlGaN/GaN HEMT材料.高迁移率GaN外延层的室温迁移率达741cm2/(V·s),相应背景电子浓度为1.52×1016cm-3;非有意掺杂高阻GaN缓冲层的室温电阻率超过108Ω·cm,相应的方块电阻超过1012Ω/□.50mm HEMT外延片平均方块电阻为440.9Ω/□,方块电阻均匀性优于96％.用此材料研制出了0.2μm栅长的X波段HEMT功率器件,40μm栅宽的器件跨导达到250mS/mm,特征频率fT为77GHz;0.8mm栅宽的器件电流密度达到1.07A/mm,8GHz时连续波输出功率为1.78W,相应功率密度为2.23W/mm,线性功率增益为13.3dB.     

AlGaN/GaN double-channel HEMT

正The fabrication of AlGaN/GaN double-channel high electron mobility transistors on sapphire substrates is reported.Two carrier channels are formed in an AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN/GaN multilayer structure.The DC performance of the resulting double-channel HEMT shows a wider high transconductance region compared with single-channel HEMT. Simulations provide an explanation for the influence of the double-channel on the high transconductance region.The buffer trap is suggested to be related to the wide region of high transconductance.The RF characteristics are also studied.     

Reliability analysis of AlGaN/GaN HEMT on SopSiC composite substrate under long-term DC-life test

This paper report on the long-term stress (1000 h) carried out on AlGaN/GaN HEMTs processed on composite SopSiC substrate. Almost all tested devices present good device stability and promising performance. The reliability issues identified during the work are clearly related to the high levels of gate leakage current. All these results are very encouraging and confirm that the composite substrates are very promising for low-cost and high performance AlGaN/GaN HEMT for RF power applications.     

AlGaN/GaN double-channel HEMT

The fabrication of AlGaN/GaN double-channel high electron mobility transistors on sapphire substrates is reported. Two carrier channels are formed in an AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN/GaN multilayer structure. The DC performance of the resulting double-channel HEMT shows a wider high transconductance region compared with single-channel HEMT. Simulations provide an explanation for the influence of the double-channel on the high transconductance region. The buffer trap is suggested to be related to the wide region of high transconductance. The RF characteristics are also studied.     

高击穿电压AlGaN/GaN HEMT电力开关器件研究进展

作为第三代宽禁带半导体材料的典型代表,GaN材料在各个应用领域的研究工作都受到了高度的重视。概述了基于AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构的新型高压、高频、低损耗电力开关器件的最新研究进展。从器件的结构特征入手,详细介绍了改善器件击穿特性的途径、高频开关特性的研究情况、Si衬底上AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构材料的生长、增强型器件的制备技术和功率集成电路的研究等几个国际上的热点问题。最后,对该项研究面临的问题及未来的发展趋势做了展望。     

The role of surface barrier oxidation on AlGaN/GaN HEMTs reliability

Reliability of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs processed with different surface oxidation levels was studied using electrical and optical methods. It was found that HEMTs with more surface oxide content are more susceptible to degradation in terms of gate leakage and trapping characteristics, although this oxide layer initially passivates surface traps. In the degraded devices, trap level with activation energy of 0.45–0.47 eV was observed and attributed to surface related traps. This indicates that oxygen may play a crucial role for AlGaN/GaN HEMT reliability.     

质子辐照对场板AlGaN／GaN HEMT器件电特性的影响

分别采用3MeV和10MeV的质子对GaN基HEMT（High Electron Mobility Transistor）器件进行辐照。实验发现：低注量辐照引起了体材料载流子浓度增加,高注量辐照引起了HEMT器件漏电流下降,跨导减小,阈值电压显著退化的结果。通过分析发现辐射感生受主缺陷引起的2DEG浓度降低是上述器件退化的主要原因。此外基于实验结果,采用辐射感生受主缺陷退化模型仿真并计算了HEMT器件主要参数随受主浓度的退化规律,仿真结果与实验结果有较好的一致性。本文实验结果也表明场板结构和SiN钝化层有效地阻止了电子陷落在表面态中,屏蔽了绝大部分的辐照损伤,是很有效的辐射加固手段。     

Characteristics of AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN double heteroj unction HEMTs with an improved breakdown voltage

正We studied the performance of AlGaN/GaN double heterojunction high electron mobility transistors (DH-HEMTs) with an AlGaN buffer layer,which leads to a higher potential barrier at the backside of the twodimensional electron gas channel and better carrier confinement.This,remarkably,reduces the drain leakage current and improves the device breakdown voltage.The breakdown voltage of AlGaN/GaN double heterojunction HEMTs (~ 100 V) was significantly improved compared to that of conventional AlGaN/GaN HEMTs(~50 V) for the device with gate dimensions of 0.5 x 100μm and a gate-drain distance of 1μm.The DH-HEMTs also demonstrated a maximum output power of 7.78 W/mm,a maximum power-added efficiency of 62.3%and a linear gain of 23 dB at the drain supply voltage of 35 V at 4 GHz.     

Thermal effects in AlGaN/GaN/Si high electron mobility transistors

Group III-nitride compounds are of increasing interest for designing high power and high temperature transistors. A considerable progress in the growth and process technology of these devices has been achieved. However, there are still limitations concerning particularly the lack of native substrates. Comparison of the AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors investigated favours the SiC substrate. Recently, encouraging results have been reported for AlGaN/GaN/Si. The crucial problem found in AlGaN/GaN transistors operating at high biases is the self-heating induced by high power dissipation in the active zone. The present work reports on a study of the self-heating in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs grown on Si(1 1 1). The electron-band parameters of the heterostructures have been calculated self-consistently by taking into account the piezoelectric and spontaneous polarizations. As an experiment support, direct-current characteristics of AlGaN/GaN/Si HEMTs have been used to derive the drain voltage-dependent temperature rise in the conductive channel. As has been found, the self-heating is relatively weak. An improvement in the electron transport is achieved by optimizing the epilayers and adjusting the electrode sizes at output of the transistors investigated.     

Influence of barrier thickness on the high-power performance ofAlGaN/GaN HEMTs

The dependence of current slump in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on the thickness of the AlGaN barrier was observed. Power measurements on a 2×125×0.3 μm AlGaN/GaN HEMT made on Silicon Carbide (SiC) substrates with an AlGaN thickness of 10 nm gave a saturated output power of 1.23 W/mm at 8 GHz whereas a device with the same dimensions fabricated on samples with an AlGaN barrier of 20 nm gave a saturated output power of 2.65 W/mm at the same frequency. RF load line measurements clearly show the reduction of RF full channel current as compared to dc full channel current and the increase in the RF knee voltage compared to the dc knee voltage, with the effect being more pronounced in thin barrier samples. Passivation improved the large signal performance of these devices. A 1×150×0.3 μm transistor made on AlGaN(20 nm)/GaN structure gave a saturated output power of 10.7 W/mm (40% power added efficiency) at 10 GHz after passivation. This represents the state of the art microwave power density for AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. Heating of the transistors during high-power operation of these devices becomes the important factor in limiting their performance after passivation     

8英寸Si衬底上高质量AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构的生长

在8英寸(1英寸=2.54 cm)的Si衬底上采用金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)生长了高质量、无龟裂的GaN薄膜和AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)结构.通过调节应力调控层的结构,厚度为5 μm的GaN膜层翘曲度低于50 μm.采用X射线衍射(XRD)对GaN薄膜的(002)和(102)衍射峰进行扫描,其半峰全宽(FWHM)分别为182和291 arcsec.透射电子显微镜(TEM)截面图显示GaN外延层的位错密度达到了3.5×107/cm2,证实了在大尺寸Si衬底上可以制作高质量的GaN薄膜.AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构的二维电子气浓度和载流子迁移率分别为9.29×1012/cm2和2 230 cm2/(V·s).基于这些半绝缘AlGaN/GaNHEMT结构所制作的功率电子器件的输出电流可达20 A,横向击穿电压可达1 200 V.