Role of nanoscale AlN and InN for the microwave characteristics of AlGaN/(Al,In)N/GaN-based HEMT

A new AlGaN/GaN-based high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is proposed and its micro-wave characteristics are discussed by introducing a nanoscale AlN or InN layer to study the potential improvement in their high frequency performance. The 2DEG transport mechanism including various sub-band calculations for both (Al,In) N-based HEMTs are also discussed in the paper. Apart from direct current characteristics of the proposed HEMT, various microwave parameters such as transconductance, unit current gain (h ₂₁ = 1) cut-off frequency (f _t ), high power-gain frequency (f _max). Masons available/stable gain and masons unilateral gain are also discussed for both devices to understand its suitable deployment in microwave frequency range.     

AlGaN/GaN界面特性研究进展

GaN是一种宽禁带半导体材料,由于具有优越的热稳定性和化学稳定性,使这种材料和与其相关的器件可以工作在高温和恶劣的环境中,并可用于大功率微波器件。本文主要介绍AlGaN/GaN有关界面特性,该特性反映了纵向纳米尺度下的能带特性;从AlGaN/GaNHEMT设计出发,给出了材料性质和结构参数对AlGaN/GaN异质结二维电子气特性影响的研究结果;讨论了AlGaN/GaN界面2DEG载流子的输运性质;分析了材料缺陷对AlGaN/GaN界面2DEG性质的影响;指出了有待研究的问题和方向。     

A surface-potential-based model for AlGaN/AlN/GaN HEMT

A new surface-potential-based model for AlGaN/AlN/GaN high electron mobility transistor(HEMT) is proposed in this paper. Since the high polarization effects caused by AlN interlayer favorably influence the two dimensional electron gas(2DEG) and scattering mechanisms, we first add spontaneous and piezoelectric charge terms to the source equation of surface-potential, and a mobility model for AlGaN/AlN/GaN HEMT is rewritten. Compared with TCAD simulations, the DC characteristics of AlGaN/AlN/GaN HEMT are faithfully reproduced by the new model.     

MOCVD生长的SiC衬底高迁移率GaN沟道层AlGaN/AlN/GaN HEMT结构

用MOCVD技术在高阻6H-SiC衬底上研制出了具有高迁移率GaN沟道层的AlGaN/AlN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)结构材料,其室温和80K时二维电子气迁移率分别为1944和11588cm2/(V·s),相应二维电子气浓度为1.03×1013cm-2;三晶X射线衍射和原子力显微镜分析表明该材料具有良好的晶体质量和表面形貌,10μm×10μm样品的表面粗糙度为0.27nm.用此材料研制出了栅长为0.8μm,栅宽为1.2mm的HEMT器件,最大漏极饱和电流密度和非本征跨导分别为957mA/mm和267mS/mm.     

RF and microwave characteristics of a 10 nm thick InGaN-channel gate recessed HEMT

A new depletion-mode gate recessed AlGaN/InGaN/GaN-high electron mobility transistor(HEMT)with 10 nm thickness of InGaN-channel is proposed.A growth of AlGaN over GaN leads to the formation of twodimensional electron gas(2DEG)at the heterointerface.High 2DEG density(ns)is achieved at the heterointerface due to a strain induced piezoelectric effect between AlGaN and GaN layers.The electrons are confined in the InGaN-channel without spilling over into the buffer layer,which also reduces the buffer leakage current.From the input transfer characteristics the threshold voltage is obtained as 4:5 V and the device conducts a current of 2 A/mm at a drain voltage of 10 V.The device also shows a maximum output current density of 1.8 A/mm at Vds of 3 V.The microwave characteristics like transconductance,cut-off frequency,max frequency of oscillation and Mason’s Unilateral Gain of the device are studied by AC small-signal analysis using a two-port network.The stability and power performance of the device are analyzed by the Smith chart and polar plots respectively.To our knowledge this proposed InGaN-channel HEMT structure is the first of its kind.     

AlGaN/GaN HFET的2DEG和电流崩塌研究(Ⅰ)

从不同的视角回顾和研究了A1GaN/GaN HFET的二维电子气(2DEG)和电流崩塌问题.阐述了非掺杂的AIGaN/GaN异质结界面存在2DEG的原动力是极化效应,电子来源是AlGaN上的施主表面态.2DEG浓度与AlGaN/GaN界面导带不连续性、AlGaN层厚和Al组分有密切关系.揭示了AlGaN/GaN HFET的2DEG电荷涨落受控于表面、界面和缓冲层中的各种缺陷及外加应力,表面空穴陷阱形成的虚栅对输入信号有旁路和延迟作用,它们导致高频及微波状态下的电流崩塌.指出由于构成电流崩塌因素的复杂性,各种不同的抑制电流崩塌方法都存在不足,因此实现该器件大功率密度和高可靠性还有很长的路要走.     

增强型AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件工艺的研究进展

随着高压开关和高速射频电路的发展,增强型GaN基高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)成为该领域内的研究热点。增强型GaN基HEMT只有在加正栅压才有工作电流,可以大大拓展该器件在低功耗数字电路中的应用。近年来,国内外对增强型GaN基HEMT阈值电压的研究主要集中以下两个方面:在材料生长方面,通过生长薄势垒、降低Al组分、生长无极化电荷的AlGaN/GaN异质材料、生长InGaN或p-GaN盖帽层,来控制二维电子气浓度;在器件工艺方面,采用高功函数金属、MIS结构、刻蚀凹栅、F基等离子体处理,来控制表面电势,影响二维电子气浓度。从影响器件阈值电压的相关因素出发,探讨了实现和优化增强型GaN基HEMT的各种工艺方法和发展方向。     

AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件工艺的研究进展

首先论述了Al GaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)在微波大功率领域的应用优势和潜力;其次,介绍并分析了影响Al GaN/GaN HEMT性能的主要参数,分析表明要提高Al-GaN/GaN HEMT的频率和功率性能,需改善寄生电阻、电容、栅长和击穿电压等参数。然后,着重从材料结构和器件工艺的角度阐述了近年来Al GaN/GaN HEMT的研究进展,详细归纳了目前主要的材料生长和器件制作工艺,可以看出基本的工艺思路是尽量提高材料二维电子气的浓度和材料对二维电子气的限制能力的同时减小器件的寄生电容和电阻,增强栅极对沟道的控制能力。另外,根据具体情况调节栅长及沟道电场。最后,简要探讨了Al GaN/GaN HEMT还存在的问题以及面临的挑战。     

Carrier transport related analysis of high-power AlGaN/GaN HEMTstructures

Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillation and Hall measurement results were compared with HEMT DC and RF characteristics for two different MOCVD grown AlGaN-GaN HEMT structures on semiinsulating 4H-SiC substrates. A HEMT with a 40-nm, highly doped AlGaN cap layer exhibited an electron mobility of 1500 cm²/V/s and a sheet concentration of 9×10¹² cm at 300 K (7900 cm²/V/s and 8×10¹² cm^-2 at 80 K), but showed a high threshold voltage and high DC output conductance. A 27-nm AlGaN cap with a thinner, lightly doped donor layer yielded similar Hall values, but lower threshold voltage and output conductance and demonstrated a high CW power density of 6.9 W/mm at 10 GHz. The 2DEG of this improved structure had a sheet concentration of n_SdH=7.8×10¹² cm^-2 and a high quantum scattering lifetime of τ_q=1.5×10^-13 s at 4.2 K compared to n_SdH=8.24×10¹² cm^-2 and τ_q=1.72×10^-13 s for the thick AlGaN cap layer structure, Despite the excellent characteristics of the films, the SdH oscillations still indicate a slight parallel conduction and a weak localization of electrons. These results indicate that good channel quality and high sheet carrier density are not the only HEMT attributes required for good transistor performance     

A simple parallel conduction extraction method (SPCEM) for MODFETs and undoped GaN-based HEMTs

We report a simple method to extract the mobility and sheet carrier densities of conduction channels in conventional modulation doped field-effect transistor (MODFET) structures and unintentionally doped GaN-based high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structures for a special case. Extraction of the conduction channels from the magnetic field-dependent data can present number of problems; even the most recent methods encounter great difficulties. For the GaN-based HEMT structures which have lower mobilities and larger effective masses than that of GaAs-based counterparts, these difficulties become more prominent. In this study, we describe a simple method for magnetotransport analysis to extract conduction channels successfully for a special case that is commonly encountered: one bulk channel and one two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel. Advantage of this method is mainly its simplicity. The analysis can be done with only two magnetic field-dependent measurements per temperature step. The method is applied to the magnetotransport results of an unintentionally doped AlGaN/AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructure over a temperature range of 29-350 K and in a magnetic field range of 0-1.5 T (μB<1). The results are then compared with those obtained using a commercial package for these calculations namely: quantitative mobility spectrum analysis (QMSA).     

Role of barrier and buffer layer defect states in AlGaN/GaN HEMT structures

We have used low energy electron-excited nanoscale luminescence spectroscopy (LEEN) to detect the defects in each layer of AlGaN/GaN HEMT device structures to correlate their effect on two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) confinement. Also, we have used Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) to detect the chemical composition as a function of lateral position on a growth wafer and to correlate chemical effects with electronic properties. We investigated several high-quality AlGaN/GaN heterostructures of varying electrical properties using incident electron beam energies of 0.5–15 keV to probe electronic state transitions within each of the heterostructure layers. The LEEN depth profiles reveal differences between sucessful and failed structures and highlight the importance of acceptor deep defect levels in the near 2DEG region. Variations in the GaN and AlGaN band edge emissions, as well as the yellow defect emission across an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure growth wafer have been observed. AES and LEEN spectroscopy of the growth wafer suggest that variation in the cation concentration may play a role in the mechanism responsible for the deep aceceptor level emission in the AlGaN barrier layer.     

AlGaN/GaN HEMT材料外延技术研究

采用低压MOCVD技术在蓝宝石和SiC衬底上生长了本征GaN和AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构材料。生长过程中采用了EpiTUNEⅡ在位监测技术,对材料生长工艺进行了模型分析以及优化控制。在获得具有良好表面形貌、晶体质量以及光荧光谱的GaN本征材料基础上,生长了AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构材料,获得了良好的2DEG性能。     

Influence of annealed ohmic contact metals on electron mobility of strained AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

The influence of annealed ohmic contact metals on the electron mobility of a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is investigated on ungated AlGaN/GaN heterostructures and AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field effect transistors (AlGaN/GaN HFETs). Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics for ungated AlGaN/GaN heterostructures and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics for AlGaN/GaN HFETs are obtained, and the electron mobility for the ungated AlGaN/GaN heterostructure is calculated. It is found that the electron mobility of the 2DEG for the ungated AlGaN/GaN heterostructure is decreased by more than 50% compared with the electron mobility of Hall measurements. We propose that defects are introduced into the AlGaN barrier layer and the strain of the AlGaN barrier layer is changed during the annealing process of the source and drain, causing the decrease in the electron mobility.     

AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结材料生长及性质研究

基于能带理论设计并利用MOCVD技术在76.2 mm蓝宝石衬底上生长了不同GaN沟道层厚度的AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN双异质结材料.室温霍尔测试结果表明:双异质结材料的二维电子气面密度随沟道层厚度增加有所升高并趋于饱和;二维电子气迁移率则随沟道厚度增加明显升高.200 nm厚GaN沟道的双异质结材料方块电阻平均值3...     

InAlN/AlN/GaN HEMT电学特性仿真与分析

研究了一种新型GaN基HEMT结构,即InAlN/AlN/GaN异质结层结构,并对其直流特性以及频率特性进行了仿真。通过理论分析,结合TCAD软件,与常规AlGaN/AlN/GaNHEMT进行对比。对栅长为1μm的器件进行仿真,结果表明,器件的最大跨导为450mS/mm,最大电流密度为2A/mm,电流增益截止频率fT=15GHz,最高振荡频率fmax=35GHz。     

不同插入层对抑制Mg掺杂p-GaN的记忆效应

研究了低温(LT) GaN和AlN不同插入层对抑制Mg掺杂p-GaN金属有机化学气相沉积外延中存在的记忆效应的影响,外延生长p-GaN缓冲层,制作具有该缓冲层的AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT),并对该器件进行电学测试.二次离子质谱仪测试表明p-GaN上10 nm厚的LT-GaN插入层相比于2 nm厚的AlN插入层能更好地抑制Mg扩散.霍尔测试表明,2 nm厚的AlN插入层的引入和GaN存在较大的晶格失配会引入位错,进而会降低AlGaN/GaNHEMT的电子迁移率以及增加其方块电阻;含有10 nm厚的LT-GaN插入层的p-GaN作为缓冲层的AlGaN/GaN HEMT,其方块电阻、电子迁移率以及二维电子气(2DEG)密度分别为334.9 Ω/口,1 923 cm2/(V·s)和9.68×1012 cm-2.器件具有很好的直流特性,其饱和电流为470 mA/mm,峰值跨导为57.7 mS/mm,电流开关比为3.13×109.     

Investigation of Self-Heating Effects in Submicrometer GaN/AlGaN HEMTs Using an Electrothermal Monte Carlo Method

An electrothermal Monte Carlo (MC) method is applied in this paper to investigate electron transport in submicrometer wurtzite GaN/AlGaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown on various substrate materials including SiC, Si, GaN, and sapphire. The simulation method is an iterative technique that alternately runs an MC electronic simulation and solves the heat diffusion equation using an analytical thermal resistance matrix method. Results demonstrate how the extent of the thermal droop in the I_d-V_ds characteristics and the device peak temperature depend upon both the biasing conditions and the substrate material type. Polarization effects are considered in the simulations, as they greatly influence electron transport in GaN/AlGaN HEMTs by creating a highly concentrated two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the GaN/AlGaN interface. It is shown that a higher 2DEG density provides the devices with a better current handling capability but also increases the importance of the thermal effects     

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.     

Hydrodynamic simulation of surface traps in the AlGaN/GaN HEMT

Computer simulation of an AlGaN/GaN HEMT is carried out using commercially available software DESSIS. Traps located at the top of the AlGaN layer have been identified as being the primary source of electrons in the AlGaN/GaN HEMT. Recent experiments have focused on their role in HEMT performance with regard to the virtual gate effect and current collapse. In this work, analysis is carried out on these devices through the development of two different models designed to describe the 2DEG formation. Simulation of these models using the hydrodynamic model, which takes into account heating of the electrons, has been carried out to provide a more detailed understanding of the role of surface traps.     

DISTORTION PROPERTIES OF GaN SWITCHES AT HIGH-TEMPERATURES

The origins of HEMT distortion in passive control applications as SPST switch are presented in this paper. Also, this paper describes the change of the AlGaN/GaN HEMT switch distortion properties (second-and third distortion intercept points) over a wide range of temperature. The results indicate that the change in second-and third-order distortion intercept points is smaller (about 2dBm) over a wide range of temperature from ?50 to +300°C. A comparison of the GaN-based HEMT switch with InP-and GaAs-HEMT switches shows that the GaN technology generates lower distortion than its InP and GaAs technologies counterpart.