Mechanism of Increased High-Frequency Channel Noise With PECVD SiN Passivation in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

The effect of SiN surface passivation on high-frequency channel noise in AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors on a high-resistivity Si substrate is investigated. It was observed that the channel noise increased after SiN surface passivation by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The mean square of the channel noise voltage increased about three times at a bias of $V_{d} = hbox{12 V}$ and $I_{d} = hbox{120 mA/mm}$. Based on the analysis on the noise source components in the channel region, it is believed that the channel noise increase is mainly due to the modification of the lateral electrical field profile by surface passivation. The modification of the lateral electrical field profile after passivation is verified by the 2-D numerical simulation and the observation that the gate leakage increases and the breakdown voltage decreases. The measured correlation coefficient between the channel noise and the gate noise agrees with the proposed mechanism of the electrical field profile modification by surface passivation.      

SiN钝化对W波段AlGaN/GaN HEMT射频性能的影响

在SiC衬底上制备了栅长为110 nm、漏源间距为2μm的W波段AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率场效应晶体管(HEMT),分析了SiN钝化对器件直流和射频特性的影响.研究发现:100 nm SiN钝化可显著提升器件的漏源饱和电流及峰值跨导,漏源饱和电流从1.27 A/mm增加至1.45 A/mm (Vgs=1 V),器件峰值跨导从300 mS/mm提升至370 mS/mm,这是由于SiN钝化显著提高了AlGaN/GaN异质结材料沟道电子浓度.此外,SiN钝化可有效抑制器件电流崩塌,显著改善器件直流回扫特性.然而,由于沟道电子浓度增大,钝化后器件中短沟效应增强,器件夹断特性变差.此外,SiN钝化后W波段AlGaN/GaN HEMTs的射频特性得到显著改善,器件的电流增益截止频率从钝化前的33 GHz提升至107 GHz,最高振荡频率从钝化前的65 GHz提升至156 GHz.     

AlGaN/GaN共栅共源HEMTs器件

研究了蓝宝石衬底AlGaN／GaN共栅共源器件的特性。该器件包括栅长0．8μm共源器件与栅长1μm的共栅器件。研究表明,共栅共源器件的第二栅压对的器件饱和电流与跨导有明显的调制作用,容易实现功率增益控制。与共源器件相比,共栅共源器件在微波特性上fT大约9GHz,比共源器件稍小,但是具有较低的反馈,显著增加的功率资用增益及较高的端口阻抗,与共源器件相比,稳定性更好,可以避免振荡的产生,结合GaN的高功率特性GaN共栅共源器件非常适合微波频段宽频大功率领域的应用。     

钝化前表面预处理对AlGaN/GaN HEMTs性能的影响

提出一种新的钝化技术--采用盐酸和氢氟酸混合预处理溶液(HF:HCI:H2O=1:4:20)对AIGaN/GaNHEMTs进行表面预处理后冉淀积Si3N4钝化,研究了新型钝化技术对AlGaN/GaN HEMTs性能的影响并分析其机理.与用常规方法钝化的器件相比,经过表面顶处理再钝化,成功地抑制了 AIGaN/GaN HEMTs肖特基特性的恶化,有效地增强抑制电流崩塌效应的能力,将GaN基HEMTs的输出功率密度提高到5.2W/mm,并展现良好的电学可靠性.通过X射线光电子谱(XPS)检测预处理前后的AIGaN表面,观察到经过预处理后的AIGaN表面氧元素的含量大幅度下降.表面氧元素的含量下降,能有效地降低表面态密度和表面电荷陷阱密度,被认为是提高AIGaN/GaN HEMTs性能的主要原因.     

High-Temperature Microwave Performance of Submicron AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on SiC

The effect of temperature on the small-signal radio-frequency (RF) performance of submicron AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors on SiC has been studied from room temperature (RT) up to 600 K. A relation between ambient and channel temperatures has been established by means of finite-element simulations. The thermal behavior of the intrinsic parameters $C_{rm gs}$, $C_{rm gd}$, $g_{m, {rm int}}$, and $g_{rm ds}$ has been extracted accurately from RF measurements by means of the small-signal equivalent circuit. Main dc parameters $(I_{D}, g_{m, {rm ext}})$ show reductions close to 50% between RT and 600 K, mainly due to the decrease in the electron mobility and drift velocity. In the same range, $f_{T}$ and $f_{max}$ suffer a 60% decrease due to the reduction in $g_{m, {rm ext}}$ and a slight increase of $C_{rm gs}$ and $C_{rm gd}$. An anomalous thermal evolution of $C_{rm gd}$ at low $I_{D}$ has been identified, which is indicative of the presence of traps.      

SiN钝化前的NF3等离子体处理对AlGaN/GaN HEMT性能的影响

研究了SiN钝化前利用感应耦合等离子体（ICP）对AlGaN/GaN HEMT表面进行NF3等离子体处理对器件性能的影响. 结果表明,运用低能量的NF3等离子体处理钝化前的AlGaN/GaN HEMT表面能有效抑制器件电流崩塌,而器件直流及微波小信号特性则未受影响. 微波功率测试表明,经过6min NF3等离子体处理的AlGaN/GaN HEMT在2GHz, 30V工作电压下达到6.15W/mm的输出功率密度,而未经过处理的器件只达到1.82W/mm的输出功率密度.     

Improved Thermal Performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs by an Optimized Flip-Chip Design

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) on sapphire substrates have been studied for their potential application in RF power applications; however, the low thermal conductivity of the sapphire substrate is a major drawback. Aiming at RF system-in-a-package, the authors propose a flip-chip-integration approach, where the generated heat is dissipated to an AlN carrier substrate. Different flip-chip-bump designs are compared, using thermal simulations, electrical measurements, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and infrared thermography. The authors show that a novel bump design, where bumps are placed directly onto both source and drain ohmic contacts, improves the thermal performance of the HEMT     

Electron transport in passivated AlGaN/GaN/Si HEMTs

AlGaN/GaN/Si high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy are investigated using direct-current and radio-frequency measurements. As has been found, the maximum of drain current achieves 881 mA/mm with an extrinsic current gain cutoff frequency of 37 GHz for a 0.25 µm gate length. Pulsed characteristics also showed a reduction of trapping centers that improves the quality of the epilayers.     

蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN共栅共源微波HEMTs器件

报道了蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN共栅共源器件的制备与特性.该器件包括栅长为0.8μm共源器件与栅长为1μm的共栅器件.实验表明,共栅器件的第二栅压会显著影响器件饱和电流与跨导特性,从而控制功率增益.与共源器件相比,共栅共源器件表现出稍低的fT、较低的反馈、显著增加的功率资用增益及较高的端口阻抗.     

蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN共栅共源微波HEMTs器件

报道了蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN共栅共源器件的制备与特性.该器件包括栅长为0.8μm共源器件与栅长为1μm的共栅器件.实验表明,共栅器件的第二栅压会显著影响器件饱和电流与跨导特性,从而控制功率增益.与共源器件相比,共栅共源器件表现出稍低的 f T、较低的反馈、显著增加的功率资用增益及较高的端口阻抗.     

高漏偏压下AlGaN/GaN HEMT噪声性能的研究

The advent of fully integrated GaN PA-LNA circuits makes it meaningful to investigate the noise performance under high drain bias. However, noise performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs under high bias has not received worldwide attention in theoretical studies due to its complicated mechanisms. The noise value is moderately higher and its rate of increase is fast with increasing high voltage. In this paper, several possible mechanisms are proposed to be responsible for it. Impact ionization under high electric field incurs great fluctuation of carrier density, which increases the drain diffusion noise. Besides, higher gate leakage current related shot noise and a more severe self-heating effect are also contributors to the noise increase at high bias. Analysis from macroscopic and microscopic perspectives can help us to design new device structures to improve noise performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs under high bias.     

Noise performance in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs under high drain bias

rom macroscopic and microscopic perspectives can help us to design new device structures to improve noise performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs under high bias.     

AlGaN/GaN HEMTs器件布局对器件性能影响分析

比较了空气桥跨细栅和空气桥跨栅总线两种源连接结构的1 mm AlGaN/GaN HEMTs器件的特性,对两种结构的管芯进行了等效电路参数提取.测试了两种布局方式下的不同源场板结构器件的射频以及功率性能,比较分析表明,空气桥跨细栅的源连接方式由于有效地降低了栅漏电容以及栅源电容,比空气桥跨栅总线源连接的器件能取得更好的频率特性以及功率特性.     

钝化前表面预处理对AlGaN/GaN HEMTs性能的影响

提出一种新的钝化技术--采用盐酸和氢氟酸混合预处理溶液(HF:HCI:H2O=1:4:20)对AIGaN/GaNHEMTs进行表面预处理后冉淀积Si3N4钝化,研究了新型钝化技术对AlGaN/GaN HEMTs性能的影响并分析其机理.与用常规方法钝化的器件相比,经过表面顶处理再钝化,成功地抑制了 AIGaN/GaN HEMTs肖特基特性的恶化,有效地增强抑制电流崩塌效应的能力,将GaN基HEMTs的输出功率密度提高到5.2W/mm,并展现良好的电学可靠性.通过X射线光电子谱(XPS)检测预处理前后的AIGaN表面,观察到经过预处理后的AIGaN表面氧元素的含量大幅度下降.表面氧元素的含量下降,能有效地降低表面态密度和表面电荷陷阱密度,被认为是提高AIGaN/GaN HEMTs性能的主要原因.     

AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on resistive Si(111) substrate grown by gas-sourceMBE

Al_0.3Ga_0.7N/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structures have been grown on resistive Si(111) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) using ammonia (NH₃). The use of an AlN/GaN intermediate layer allows a resistive buffer layer to be obtained. High sheet carrier density and high electron mobility arc obtained in the channel. A device with 0.5 μm gate length has been realised exhibiting a maximum extrinsic transconductance of 160 mS/mm and drain-source current exceeding 600 mA/mm. Small-signal measurements show f_t of 17 GHz and f_max of 40 GHz     

High-performance E-mode AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

Enhancement-mode AlGaN/GaN high electron-mobility transistors have been fabricated with a gate length of 160 nm. The use of gate recess combined with a fluorine-based surface treatment under the gate produced devices with a threshold voltage of +0.1 V. The combination of very high transconductance (> 400 mS/mm) and low gate leakage allows unprecedented output current levels in excess of 1.2 A/mm. The small signal performance of these enhancement-mode devices shows a record current cutoff frequency (f/sub T/) of 85 GHz and a power gain cutoff frequency (f/sub max/) of 150 GHz.     

Temperature-dependent nonlinearities in GaN/AlGaN HEMTs

Temperature-dependent nonlinearities of GaN/AlGaN HEMTs are reported. The large-signal device model of the transistor is obtained by using a physics-based analysis. The model parameters are obtained as functions of bias voltages and temperature. The analysis of the device has been carried out using a time-domain technique. f_max for a 0.23 μm×100 μm Al_0.13Ga_0.87N/GaN FET is calculated as 69 GHz at 300 K, while at 500 K, f_max decreases to 30 GHz, which are in agreement with the experimental data within 7% error. f_max as obtained from calculated unilateral gain, decreases monotonically with increasing temperature. For shorter gate lengths irrespective of the operating temperature f_max is less sensitive to bias voltage scaling. For longer gate length devices, f_max becomes less sensitive to the bias voltage scaling at elevated temperatures. 1-dB compression point (P_1-dB ) at 4 GHz for a 1 μm×500 μm Al_0.15Ga_0.85N/GaN FET is 13 dBm at 300 K. At 500 K, P_1-dB decreases to 2.5 dBm for the same operating frequency. Similar results for output referred third intercept point (OIP3) are reported for different gate length devices     

Microwave Performance of AlGaN/GaN High-Electron-Mobility Transistors on Si/SiO2/Poly-SiC Substrates

The radiofrequency (RF) performance of AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on Si-on-poly-SiC (SopSiC) substrates formed by the Smart-Cut^TM process is reported. This provides a low-cost, high-thermal-conductivity substrate for power applications. HEMTs with a 0.5 μm gate length show cutoff frequencies (f _T) of 18 to 27 GHz for gate-to-drain distances of 3 to 32 μm and a maximum frequency of oscillation (f _max) of 43 to 47 GHz. The f _max values are slightly lower than comparable devices on sapphire, SiC or Si alone. This approach looks promising for applications requiring cheap large-area substrates and better thermal management than provided by pure Si substrates alone.     

Enhancement-mode AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on silicon substrate

High-performance enhancement-mode AlGaN/GaN HEMTs (E-HEMTs) were demonstrated with samples grown on a low-cost silicon substrate for the first time. The fabrication process is based on a fluoride-based plasma treatment of the gate region and postgate annealing at 450 /spl deg/C. The fabricated E-HEMTs have nearly the same peak transconductance (G/sub m/) and cutoff frequencies as the conventional depletion-mode HEMTs fabricated on the same wafer, suggesting little mobility degradation caused by the plasma treatment.     

温度对AlGaN/GaN HEMT电学性能的影响

研究了蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件直流和微波性能随温度的变化。研究结果表明,器件直流性能随着温度升高逐渐下降,350°C时直流性能依然良好,从350°C冷却到室温后,器件直流特性除欧姆接触电阻改善外,其他都得到了恢复;微波测试表明,器件fT,fmax都随温度升高而下降,180°C时,fT从室温的11.6GHz下降为7.5GHz、fmax从24.6GHz下降为19GHz,通过外推得到350°C时的fT为3.5GHz,fmax为12GHz。证明了AlGaN/GaN HEMT具有良好的热稳定性,适合在高温下进行高频工作。