AlGaN/GaN-heterostructures on (111) 3C-SiC/Si pseudo substrates for high frequency applications

We present the realization of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) based on AlGaN/GaN heterostructures, which were grown on silicon substrates using an ultrathin SiC transition layer. The growth of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures on 3C-SiC(111)/Si(111) was performed using metalorganic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD). The 3C-SiC(111) transition layer was realized by low pressure CVD and prevented Ga-induced meltback etching and Si-outdiffusion in the subsequent MOCVD growth. The two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) formed at the AlGaN/GaN interface showed an electron sheet density of 1.5 × 10¹³ cm^− 3 and a mobility of 870 cm²/Vs. The HEMTs DC and RF characteristics were analysed and showed a peak cut-off frequency as high as 29 GHz for a 250 nm gate length.     

Electrical and structural characterizations of non-polar AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

A non-polar AlGaN/GaN structure is a strong candidate for the high-voltage device that can operate in enhancement-mode compared to the depletion-mode operation that is practically unavoidable for a standard polar AlGaN/GaN structure. Growth of non-polar GaN is non-trivial and a two-step nucleation scheme was developed to produce high-quality non-polar a-plane AlGaN/GaN structures on r-plane sapphire. The anisotropic nature of non-polar GaN requires a modification to a typical polar GaN-based transistor fabrication process. A KOH wet etch proceeded by a dramatically different mechanism compared to the standard polar c-face AlGaN/GaN structure. This device with Pt/Au Schottky gate displayed a barrier height of 0.76 eV and an ideality factor of 4 at 20 °C.     

Isolated photosystem I reaction centers on a functionalized gated high electron mobility transistor

In oxygenic plants, photons are captured with high quantum efficiency by two specialized reaction centers (RC) called Photosystem I (PS I) and Photosystem II (PS II). The captured photon triggers rapid charge separation and the photon energy is converted into an electrostatic potential across the nanometer-scale (~6 nm) reaction centers. The exogenous photovoltages from a single PS I RC have been previously measured using the technique of Kelvin force probe microscopy (KFM). However, biomolecular photovoltaic applications require two-terminal devices. This paper presents for the first time, a micro-device for detection and characterization of isolated PS I RCs. The device is based on an AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structure. AlGaN/GaN HEMTs show high current throughputs and greater sensitivity to surface charges compared to other field-effect devices. PS I complexes immobilized on the floating gate of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs resulted in significant changes in the device characteristics under illumination. An analytical model has been developed to estimate the RCs of a major orientation on the functionalized gate surface of the HEMTs.     

Temperature dependent microwave performance of AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors on high-resistivity silicon substrate

The influence of temperature (− 50 °C to + 200 °C) was studied on the DC and microwave characteristics of AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) on high resistivity Si substrate for the first time. The AlGaN/GaN HEMTs exhibited a current-gain cut-off frequency (f_T) of 11.8 GHz and maximum frequency of oscillation (f_max) of 27.5 GHz. When compared to room temperature values, about 4% and 10% increase in f_T and f_max and 23% and 39.5% decrease in f_T and f_max were observed when measured at − 50 °C and 200 °C, respectively. The improvement of I_D, g_mf_T, and f_max at − 50 °C is due to the enhancement of 2DEG mobility and effective electron velocity. The anomalous drain current reduction in the I-V curves were observed at low voltage region at the temperature ≤ 10 °C but disappeared when the temperature reached ≥ 25 °C. A positive threshold voltage (V_th) shift was observed from − 50 °C to 200 °C. The positive shift of V_th is due to the occurrence of trapping effects in the devices. The drain leakage current decreases with activation energies of 0.028 eV and 0.068 eV. This decrease of leakage current with the increase of temperature is due to the shallow acceptor initiated impact ionization.     

Impact of SF6 plasma treatment on performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMT

Selective plasma treatment of an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure in the RF discharge of the electronegative SF₆ gas was studied. Shallow recess-gate etching of AlGaN (∼5 nm) was performed in CCl₄ plasma through a photoresist mask. Subsequently, recess-gate etching followed in situ by SF₆ plasma. The plasma treatment provides the following advantages in the technology of AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMT): It (1) simplifies their technology; (2) ensures sufficient selectivity; and (3) enables the technologist to set the threshold voltage of the HEMTs controllably. At the same time, the treatment can (1) provide the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure with surface passivation; (2) modify the 2DEG in any area of a HEMT channel; and (3) make it possible to convert a HEMT operation from depletion mode to enhancement mode. The treatment also improved significantly the DC and RF parameters of HEMTs studied.     

Normally-off characteristics of LiNbO3/AlGaN/GaN ferroelectric field-effect transistor

With the help of MgO mask layer, LiNbO₃ (LN) ferroelectric films were etched effectively using wet etching method and LN/AlGaN/GaN ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FFETs) were fabricated. The electrical properties of the FFETs were studied. Due to the ferroelectric polarization nature of LN films, normally-off characteristics with a turn-on voltage of about + 1.0 V were exhibited in the device. The operation mechanisms of the LN/AlGaN/GaN FFET devices were proposed by the numerical calculations of the electronic band structure and charge distribution.     

Synthesis of hexagonal and cubic GaN thin film on Si (111) using a low-cost electrochemical deposition technique

Gallium nitride GaN thin films were deposited on Si (111) substrates using electrochemical deposition technique at 20 °C. SEM images and EDX results indicated that the growth of GaN films varies with the current density. XRD and Raman analyses showed the presence of hexagonal wurtzite and cubic zinc blende GaN phases with the crystallite size around 18-19 nm. Photoluminescence spectrum showed that the energy gaps of h-GaN/Si (111) and c-GaN/Si (111) were near 3.39 eV and 3.2 eV respectively at 300 K. Raman spectrum indicated the presence of mixed phonon modes of hexagonal and cubic GaN.     

Growth of silicon based germanium tin alloys

Germanium tin (GeSn) is under equilibrium a two phase (Ge + Sn) system. Single phase GeSn alloys are important for silicon based heterostructure devices as stressors for Ge channels and as candidates for direct/indirect band cross-over. Such alloys would allow superior Ge channel metal oxide semiconductor devices and optoelectronic infrared circuits on a Si substrate.Preparation of GeSn layers is possible at low growth temperatures. We discuss the challenges caused by the non-equilibrium growth and the limitations of low temperature epitaxy. Main challenges and limitations are the surface segregation, precipitations and defect accumulation in low temperature epitaxy.The problem of high lattice mismatch between Si and GeSn (> 4%) can be solved using virtual substrates with strain relaxed Ge buffer layers. The lattice mismatch can be reduced to 1% and below.Growth of pseudomorphic GeSn layers on Ge buffers/Si substrate was investigated. The samples were characterized by X-ray methods and Raman spectroscopy. High device process stability was achieved up to 600 °C annealing and documented by Raman spectroscopy. Fabrication of a detector test device demonstrated feasibility for optoelectronic applications with extended infrared range.     

Structural and photoluminescence study of thin GaN film grown on silicon substrate by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

GaN epitaxial layer was grown on Si(111) substrate by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The structure consists of 50 nm thick high-temperature grown AlN buffer layer, 150 nm thick AlGaN layer, 30 nm low-temperature grown AlN layer, 300 nm GaN layer, 50 nm AlGaN superlattice layer, followed by 100 nm GaN epitaxial layer. The low-temperature AlN interlayer and AlGaN superlattice layer were inserted as the defect-blocking layers in the MOCVD grown sample to eliminate the dislocations and improve the structural and optical properties of the GaN layer. The dislocation density at the top surface was decreased to ∼ 2.8 × 10⁹/cm². The optical quality was considerably improved. The photoluminescence emission at 3.42-3.45 eV is attributed to the recombination of free hole-to-donor electron. The observed 3.30 eV emission peak is assigned to be donor-acceptor transition with two longitudinal optical phonon side bands. The relationship of the peak energy and the temperature is discussed.     

Analysis of the thermal behavior of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

The thermal behavior of state-of-the-art multifinger AlGaN/GaN HEMTs grown on SiC is thoroughly analyzed under steady-state and dynamic conditions. Accurate 3-D FEM simulations – based on a novel in-house tool devised to automatically build the device mesh – are performed using a commercial software to explore the influence of various layout and technological solutions on the temperature field. An in-house routine is employed to determine the Foster/Cauer networks suited to describe the dynamic heat propagation through the device structure. To conclude, various experimental techniques are employed to assess the thermal resistance and to allow the monitoring of the thermal impedance versus time of the transistors under test.     

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors with implanted ohmic contacts

Selective area silicon implantation for source/drain regions was integrated into the fabrication of molecular beam epitaxy-grown AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. Dopant activation was achieved by rapid thermal annealing at 1100 °C in flowing N₂ ambient for 120 s with an AlN encapsulation. Linear transmission line measurements showed that the resistance of the overlay Ti/Al/Ni/Au ohmic contacts was reduced by 61% compared to the control sample. After the Schottky Ni/Au gate formation, the typical DC characteristics displayed a higher current drive, smaller knee voltage and better gate control properties for HEMTs with implanted source and drain regions.     

Nanocrystalline diamond piezoresistive sensor

The design, fabrication and test of piezoresistive sensors based on nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films are reported. The CoventorWare FEM calculations of the mechanical stress and geometrical deformations of a 3-D structure are used for a proper localization of the piezoresistor on the carrying substrate. The boron-doped piezoresistive sensing element was realized using a directed patterned growth of NCD film on SiO₂/Si by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The gauge factor of boron-doped NCD films was investigated in the range from room temperature up to 200 °C and from 0 to 5 N of the applied force. These NCD piezoresistive sensor elements are compared with a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) based piezoresistive sensor and their high-temperature applications are discussed.     

Multilayer AlN/AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN heterostructures for high-power field-effect transistors grown by ammonia MBE

The results of the optimization of the ammonia MBE technology of AlN/AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN heterostructures for high-power microwave field-effect transistors (FETs) are presented. The creation of technological systems of the EPN type for the deposition of group III nitrides by ammonia MBE, in combination with the development of optimum growth and postgrowth processes, make it possible to obtain AlN/AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN based heterostructures for high-power microwave FETs with the output static characteristics on the world best level. One of the main fields of application of the semiconductor heterostructures based on group III nitrides is the technology of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). Most investigations in this field have been devoted to the classical GaN/AlGaN structures with a single heterojunction. An alternative approach based on the use of double heterostructures with improved two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) confinement offers a number of advantages, but such structures are usually characterized by a lower carrier mobility as compared to that in the single-junction structures. We succeeded in optimizing the double heterostructure parameters and growth conditions so as to obtain conducting channels with a 2DEG carrier mobility of 1450, 1350, and 1000 cm²/(V s) and a sheet electron density of 1.3 × 10¹³, 1.6 × 10¹³, and 2.0 × 10¹³ cm^?2, respectively. Experimental HEMTs with 1-μm-long gates based on the obtained multilayer heterostructure with a doped upper barrier layer exhibit stable current-voltage characteristics with maximum saturation current densities of about 1 A/mm and a transconductance of up to 180 mS/mm.     

Dopant-free GaN/AlN/AlGaN radial nanowire heterostructures as high electron mobility transistors

We report the rational synthesis of dopant-free GaN/AlN/AlGaN radial nanowire heterostructures and their implementation as high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). The radial nanowire heterostructures were prepared by sequential shell growth immediately following nanowire elongation using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies reveal that the GaN/AlN/AlGaN radial nanowire heterostructures are dislocation-free single crystals. In addition, the thicknesses and compositions of the individual AlN and AlGaN shells were unambiguously identified using cross-sectional high-angle annular darkfield scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Transport measurements carried out on GaN/AlN/AlGaN and GaN nanowires prepared using similar conditions demonstrate the existence of electron gas in the undoped GaN/AlN/AlGaN nanowire heterostructures and also yield an intrinsic electron mobility of 3100 cm(2)/Vs and 21,000 cm(2)/Vs at room temperature and 5 K, respectively, for the heterostructure. Field-effect transistors fabricated with ZrO(2) dielectrics and metal top gates showed excellent gate coupling with near ideal subthreshold slopes of 68 mV/dec, an on/off current ratio of 10(7), and scaled on-current and transconductance values of 500 mA/mm and 420 mS/mm. The ability to control synthetically the electronic properties of nanowires using band structure design in III-nitride radial nanowire heterostructures opens up new opportunities for nanoelectronics and provides a new platform to study the physics of low-dimensional electron gases.     

AlGaN/GaN HEMTs passivated by Cat-CVD SiN Film

We demonstrate the excellent performance of a 140 W AlGaN/GaN HEMT in the C-band, which is passivated by a Cat-CVD SiN film. The interface trap density of the AlGaN surface passivated by Cat-CVD film after NH₃ treatment is 3 × 10¹² cm^− 2, which is the smallest of investigated deposition techniques. The lowest interface trap density achieved by the Cat-CVD technique makes it possible to operate the AlGaN/GaN HEMT in the C-band. We clarify that the Cat-CVD technique is necessary for developing future amplifiers.     

Laser ablated ZnO layers for ALGaN/GaN HEMT passivation

ZnO layer in a role of passivation of the AlGaN/GaN-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) is presented. The thin layer is deposited by pulsed laser deposition technique. It is fully compatible with the process technology of high electron mobility transistors prepared on AlGaN/GaN heterostructures due to its physical properties similar to the GaN. We have succeeded to (1) suppress the gate leakage current; (2) increase the maximum of the drain current and the electron drift mobility, and (3) ensure the threshold voltage to be unaltered by employment of the thin ZnO layer to the channel area of the HEMT.     

Effect of high temperature AlGaN buffer thickness on GaN Epilayer grown on Si(111) substrates

Crack-free GaN epitaxial layer was obtained through inserting 80 nm graded AlGaN buffer layer between GaN epilayer and high temperature AlN buffer on 2-in Si(111) substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. This paper investigated the influence of AlGaN buffer thickness on the structural properties of the GaN epilayer. It was confirmed from the optical microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy that the graded AlGaN buffer with optimized thickness had a remarkable effect on introducing relative compressive strain to the top GaN layer and preventing the formation of cracks. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy analysis showed that AlGaN buffer with proper thickness could improve the crystal quality and surface morphology of the GaN film. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that a significant reduction in threading dislocations was achieved in GaN epilayer by the insertion of graded AlGaN buffer.     

Thermal stability of N-polar n-type Ohmic contact for GaN-based light emitting diode on Si substrate

Thermal stability of N-polar n-type Ohmic contact for GaN light emitting diode (LED) on Si substrate was investigated. Al/Ti/Au were deposited as the contacts on the N-polar n-type GaN with and without AlN buffer layer on the surface, respectively, and both contacts exhibited Ohmic behaviors. The samples with AlN showed excellent Ohmic contact thermal stability when annealed below 700 °C, while the samples without AlN experienced serious degradation on electrical properties after being annealed in the temperature range of 250-600 °C. After the process of aging at 30 mA (155 A/cm²) and room temperature for 1000 h, operating voltage increase less than 0.05 V for LEDs with AlN but more than 0.45 V for LEDs without AlN. Therefore, we conclude that the existence of AlN buffer layer is a key of forming high stable Ohmic contact for GaN-based vertical structure LED on Si substrate.     

AlGaN/GaN-based diodes and gateless HEMTs for gas and chemical sensing

The characteristics of Pt/GaN Schottky diodes and Sc/sub 2/O/sub 3//AlGaN/GaN metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) diodes as hydrogen and ethylene gas sensors and of gateless AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) as polar liquid sensors are reported. At 25/spl deg/C, a change in forward current of /spl sim/6 mA at a bias of 2 V was obtained in the MOS diodes in response to a change in ambient from pure N/sub 2/ to 10% H/sub 2// 90% N/sub 2/. This is approximately double the change in forward current obtained in Pt/GaN Schottky diodes measured under the same conditions. The mechanism appears to be formation of a dipole layer at the oxide/GaN interface that screens some of the piezo-induced channel charge. The MOS-diode response time is limited by the mass transport of gas into the test chamber and not by the diffusion of atomic hydrogen through the metal/oxide stack, even at 25/spl deg/C. Gateless AlGaN/GaN HEMT structures exhibit large changes in source-drain current upon exposing the gate region to various polar liquids, including block co-polymer solutions. The polar nature of some of these polymer chains lead to a change of surface charges in gate region on the HEMT, producing a change in surface potential at the semiconductor/liquid interface. The nitride sensors appear to be promising for a wide range of chemicals, combustion gases and liquids.     

Optimization of GaN nucleation layer deposition conditions on sapphire substrates in HVPE system

The influence of deposition conditions of nucleation GaN layer on the properties of high-temperature GaN layer, grown on sapphire substrates, was investigated. The hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) three-section horizontal hot-wall furnace technique was applied. Various temperatures, HCl flows and time intervals of nucleation layer growth were utilized. Based on previous studies the following experimental conditions were selected: temperature was kept at 450 or 570 °C, and HCl flows were 8 or 10 sccm/min. The duration of nucleation layer deposition was 5, 7 and 9 min. The scanning electron microscopy technique was applied for the investigation of nucleation layer morphology after migration. Thick GaN layers were deposited during the three-step growth process at 1060 °C. Samples with various surface morphologies were obtained. Photoluminescence spectra and X-ray measurements were performed, which permitted clarifications of the influence of growth conditions of the nucleation layer on the properties of high-temperature layers.