Reducing Thermal Resistance of AlGaN/GaN Electronic Devices Using Novel Nucleation Layers

Currently, up to 50% of the channel temperature in AlGaN/GaN electronic devices is due to the thermal-boundary resistance (TBR) associated with the nucleation layer (NL) needed between GaN and SiC substrates for high-quality heteroepitaxy. Using 3-D time-resolved Raman thermography, it is shown that modifying the NL used for GaN on SiC epitaxy from the metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)-grown standard AlN-NL to a hot-wall MOCVD-grown AlN-NL reduces NL TBR by 25%, resulting in $sim$10% reduction of the operating temperature of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. Considering the exponential relationship between device lifetime and temperature, lower TBR NLs open new opportunities for improving the reliability of AlGaN/GaN devices.      

Nanosecond Timescale Thermal Dynamics of AlGaN/GaN Electronic Devices

Time-resolved Raman thermography, with a temporal resolution of , was used to study the thermal dynamics of AlGaN/GaN electronic devices (high-electron mobility transistors and ungated devices). Heat diffusion from the device active region into the substrate and within the devices was studied. Delays in the thermal response with respect to the electrical pulse were determined at different locations in the devices. Quasi-adiabatic heating of the AlGaN/GaN devices is illustrated within the first of device operation. The temperature of devices on SiC was found to reach of the dc temperature when operated with -long electrical pulses.     

SThM Temperature Mapping and Nonlinear Thermal Resistance Evolution With Bias on AlGaN/GaN HEMT Devices

Channel temperature has a strong impact on the performance of a microwave power transistor. In particular, it has a strong influence on the power gain, energetic efficiency, and reliability of the device. The thermal optimization of device geometry is therefore a key issue, together with precise measurements of temperature within the channel area. In this paper, we have used scanning thermal microscopy to perform temperature mapping, at variable dc bias points, on an AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor made on epilayers grown on silicon carbide substrate. We have analyzed the variation of the thermal resistance values, which are deduced from these measurements, with bias conditions V_GS and V_DS. The observed nonlinear behavior is found to be in excellent agreement with physical simulations, strongly pointing out the large variability of the extension of the dissipation area with the dc bias conditions     

Time-Resolved Temperature Measurement of AlGaN/GaN Electronic Devices Using Micro-Raman Spectroscopy

We report on the development of time-resolved Raman thermography to measure transient temperatures in semiconductor devices with submicrometer spatial resolution. This new technique is illustrated for AlGaN/GaN HFETs and ungated devices grown on SiC and sapphire substrates. A temporal resolution of 200 ns is demonstrated. Temperature changes rapidly within sub-200 ns after switching the devices on or off, followed by a slower change in device temperature with a time constant of ~10 and ~140 mus for AlGaN/GaN devices grown on SiC and sapphire substrates, respectively. Heat diffusion into the device substrate is also demonstrated     

SiC衬底AlGaN/GaN HEMT的热分析与测试

对SiC衬底AlGaN/GaN HEMT的结温进行了理论计算与实测。计算中考虑了衬底材料热导率随温度的变化以及器件源、漏电阻上的热损耗,不同耗散功率下的理论计算与红外显微镜实测结果比较表明,两者相差最大不超过10℃。由于理论计算结果是在解析解的基础上运用计算机迭代计算获得,所耗时间较短,故这一结果对于改善器件结构以提高AlGaN/GaN HEMT及其MMIC电路的性能将有较大帮助。     

基于AlN和GaN形核层的AlGaN/GaN HEMT外延材料和器件对比

使用金属有机物化学气相淀积(MOCVD)方法在蓝宝石衬底上分别采用AlN和GaN作为形核层生长了AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)外延材料,并进行了器件制备和性能分析.通过原子力显微镜(AFM)、高分辨率X射线双晶衍射仪(HR-XRD)和二次离子质谱仪(SIMS)等仪器对两种样品进行了对比分析,结果表明采用AlN形核层的GaN外延材料具有更低的位错密度,且缓冲层中氧元素的拖尾现象得到有效地抑制.器件直流特性显示,与基于GaN形核层的器件相比,基于AlN形核层的器件泄漏电流低3个数量级.脉冲Ⅰ-Ⅴ测试发现基于GaN形核层的HEMT器件受缓冲层陷阱影响较大,而基于AlN形核层的HEMT器件缓冲层陷阱作用不明显.     

用于SiC和蓝宝石衬底的AlGaN/GaN HEMT热解析模型

研究了温度的升高对低场迁移率及阈值电压的影响,建立了模拟AlGaN/GaN HEMT直流I-V特性的热解析模型。模型考虑了极化、材料热导率、电子迁移率、薄层载流子浓度、饱和电子漂移速度及导带断续的影响。模拟结果表明,低场迁移率随温度的升高而下降,阈值电压随温度的升高略有增加,但变化很小,而沟道温度随漏压的增加上升很快,并最终导致输出漏电流的下降。最后将模拟结果与实验值进行对比,符合较好,证明了该模型的正确性,并可以应用于SiC和蓝宝石两种不同衬底AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件的模拟。     

76.2mm Si基AlGaN/GaN HEMT

<正>南京电子器件研究所采用含有双AlGaN过渡层的材料结构在76.2 mm(3英寸)Si衬底上外延生长了厚度超过2μm的AlGaN/GaN HEMT材料(图1),材料表面光滑、无裂纹。通过外延材料结构和生长条     

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。     

Thermal storage effects on AlGaN/GaN HEMT

The effects of thermal storage on GaN–HEMT devices grown on SiC substrate have been investigated by DC and pulsed electrical measurements, breakdown measurements (by means of a Transmission Line Pulser, TLP), and optical and electron microscopy. After 3000 h of thermal storage testing at 300 °C, only a limited reduction of the DC drain saturation current and of the transconductance peak was observed (20% and 25% decrease, respectively). However, pulsed measurements on aged devices clearly highlight a dramatic current collapse effect that has been attributed to a creation of surface traps in the gate-to-drain and gate-to-source access region. On-state breakdown characterization carried out on aged devices did not highlight any noticeable changes with respect to the untreated devices similarly to the DC characterization. Failure analyses have demonstrated that a loss of adhesion of the passivation layer was responsible for the observed trap formation. An improved passivation deposition process was therefore developed, including a surface cleaning procedure aimed at preventing passivation detaching. The devices fabricated using this new procedure do not show any enhancement of trapping effects up to 500 h of thermal stress at 300 °C.     

Scalable Multi-harmonic Large-Signal Model for AlGaN/GaN HEMTs Including a Geometry-Dependent Thermal Resistance

A scalable large-signal model of AlGaN/GaN High electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) suitable for multi-harmonic characterizations is presented.This model is fulfilled utilizing an improved drain-source current (Ids) formulation with a geometry-dependent thermal resistance (Rth) and charge-trapping modification.The Ids model is capable of accurately modeling the highorder transconductance (gm),which is significant for the prediction of multi-harmonic characteristics.The thermal resistance is identified by the electro-thermal Finite element method (FEM) simulations,which are physically and easily scalable with the finger numbers,unit gate width and power dissipations of the device.Accurate predictions of the quiescent currents,S-parameters up to 40GHz,and large-signal harmonic performance for the devices with different gate peripheries have been achieved by the proposed model.     

Thermal Boundary Resistance Measurements for Phase-Change Memory Devices

Thermal interfaces play a key role in determining the programming energy of phase-change memory (PCM) devices. This letter reports the picosecond thermoreflectance measurements of thermal boundary resistance (TBR) at TiN/GST and Al/TiN interfaces, as well as the intrinsic thermal conductivity measurements of fcc GST between 30°C and 325°C. The TiN/GST TBR decreases with temperature from ~26 to ~18 m²·K/GW, and the Al/TiN ranges from ~7 to 2.4 m²·K/GW. A TBR of 10 m²·K/GW is equivalent in thermal resistance to ~192 nm of TiN. The fcc GST conductivity increases with temperature between ~0.44 and 0.59 W/m/K. A detailed understanding of TBR is essential for optimizing the PCM technology.     

AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构热时间常数谱提取方法的研究

利用电学法对AlGaN/GaN 高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMTs)有源区瞬态温升进行测量.利用非参数拟合算法—局部加权回归散点平滑法(LOWESS)对原始测量数据进行平滑去噪处理,进而得到热时间常数谱,分析AlGaN/GaN HEMTs热传导路径物理结构。与传统平滑去噪方法—多阶指数拟合相比,通过LOWESS算法得到的热时间常数谱更丰富,得到RC网络更多,进而热传导路径结构分析更精细。结果表明,LOWESS非参数拟合算法能够更好的去除测量数据噪声,保留原始离散数据细微的变化趋势。通过该方法所提取的热时间常数谱能描述AlGaN/GaN HEMTs有源区温度细微变化,帮助研究人员精确分析热传导路径层次构成。     

具有栅源间本征GaN调制层的AlGaN/GaN HEMT

为解决常规AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)因源极电子注入栅极右侧高场区造成的雪崩击穿,并提高器件的击穿电压,提出了一种具有栅源间本征GaN (i-GaN)调制层的新型AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构.新结构器件在反向耐压时将调制层下方部分区域的二维电子气(2DEG)完全耗尽,扩展了沟道的夹断区,有效阻止了源极电子向栅极右侧高场区的注入.仿真结果表明,通过设置适当的调制层长度和厚度,器件的击穿电压可从常规结构的862 V提升至新结构的1086 V,增幅达26％.同时,GaN调制层会微幅增大器件的比导通电阻,对阈值电压也具有一定的提升作用.     

4 W/mm蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN HEMT

报道了利用南京电子器件研究所生长的蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN异质结材料制作的HEMT,器件功率输出密度达4W/mm。通过材料结构及生长条件的优化,利用MOCVD技术获得了二维电子气(2DEG)面密度为0.97×1013cm-2、迁移率为1000cm2/Vs的AlGaN/GaN异质结构材料,用此材料完成了栅长1μm、栅宽200μm AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件的研制。小信号测试表明器件的fT为17GHz、最高振荡频率fmax为40GHz;负载牵引测试得到2GHz下器件的饱和输出功率密度为4.04W/mm。     

蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN HFET功率特性

通过台面隔离与注入隔离结合的方法,解决了由于GaN外延材料缓冲层质量差造成的AlGaN/GaN HFET击穿电压低的问题.通过优化的500℃/50s栅退火条件,改善Ni-AlGaN/GaN二极管特性,理想因子和势垒高度分别优化到1.5和0.87eV.通过改进AlGaN/GaN HFET制备工艺,得到提高器件输出功率的优化工艺,采用这一工艺制备的蓝宝石衬底总栅宽为1mm,器件在频率为8GHz时输出功率达到4.57W,功率附加效率为55.1%.     

蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN HFET功率特性

通过台面隔离与注入隔离结合的方法,解决了由于GaN外延材料缓冲层质量差造成的AlGaN/GaN HFET击穿电压低的问题.通过优化的500℃/50s栅退火条件,改善Ni-AlGaN/GaN二极管特性,理想因子和势垒高度分别优化到1.5和0.87eV.通过改进AlGaN/GaN HFET制备工艺,得到提高器件输出功率的优化工艺,采用这一工艺制备的蓝宝石衬底总栅宽为1mm,器件在频率为8GHz时输出功率达到4.57W,功率附加效率为55.1%.     

影响AlGaN/GaN HFET器件二维电子气的若干因素

基于Sentaurus Workbench(SWB)TCAD可制造性设计平台进行AlGaN/GaN器件的结构设计和仿真,并对影响二维电子气的重要参数因素进行了研究及优化,诸如AlGaN势垒层中Al组分x、AlGaN势垒层厚度h、应变弛豫度r和栅偏压Vg等因素。参数相关性的制约结果,无疑会反映在对器件物理特性的制约及影响上。研究结果表明,在一定条件下增大势垒层中Al组分和势垒层厚度可以提高器件的电流传输特性。然而随着二者的不断增大将会引起应变弛豫的发生,而应变弛豫的发生会降低器件的性能。     

Trapping Effects in the Transient Response of AlGaN/GaN HEMT Devices

In this paper, the transient analysis of an AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) device is presented. Drain-current dispersion effects are investigated when gate or drain voltages are pulsed. Gate-lag and drain-lag turn-on measurements are analyzed, revealing clear mechanisms of current collapse and related dispersion effects. Numerical 2-D transient simulations considering surface traps effects in a physical HEMT model have also been carried out. A comparison between experimental and theoretical results is shown. The presence of donor-type traps acting as hole traps, due to their low energy level of 0.25 eV relative to the valence band, with densities >1e20 cm^-3 (>5e12 cm^-2), uniformly distributed at the HEMT surface, and interacting with the free holes that accumulated at the top surface due to piezoelectric fields, accounts for the experimentally observed effects. Time constants next to 10 ms are deduced. Some additional features in the measured transient currents, with faster time constants, could not be associated with surface states     

The Impact of Thermal Boundary Resistance in Phase-Change Memory Devices

Thermal conduction governs the writing time and energy of phase-change memory (PCM) devices. Recent measurements demonstrated large thermal resistances at the interfaces of phase-change materials with neighboring electrode and passivation materials. In this letter, electrothermal simulations quantify the impact of these resistances on the set to reset transition. The programming current decreases strongly with increasing boundary resistance due to increased lateral temperature uniformity, which cannot be captured using a reduced effective conductivity in the phase-change material. Reductions in programming current from 20% to 30% occur for an interface resistance of 50 m²middotK/GW. The precise spatial distribution of thermal properties is critical for the simulation of PCM devices.