Optimization of ohmic contacts for reliable heterostructure GaAs materials

We studied silver barrier ohmic (Ni/AuGe/Ag/Au) contacts to the GaAs based HEMT structures and observed strong dependence of the cleaning procedures on the ohmic con-tact resistance (R_c), its stability and reliability. The chemical profiles of the metal con-tacts before and after alloying were measured by SIMS. Samples cleaned with the com-bined plasma O₂ and NH₄OH process exhibited excellent results:R _c ∼ 0.1–0.12 ohm-mm when alloyed in the temperature range of 440–540° C and remained stable when subjected to a 200° C and 600mA/mm stress condition for 1000 hr.     

Ti/WSi/Ni ohmic contact to n-type SiCN

Ti/WSi/Ni contact to n-type SiCN was investigated using the circular transmission line method. Current-voltage characteristics, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the contacts before and after annealing. It is shown that the conducting behavior of the contacts is dependent on the annealing temperature. After annealing at 900 ℃ or above, ohmic contacts with specific contact resistivity were achieved. The 1000-℃-annealed contact exhibits the lowest specific contact of 3.07 ×10-5 Ω·cm2. The formation of ohmic contact with low specific contact resistivity was discussed.     

Effects of rapid thermal annealing on ohmic contact of AIGaN/GaN HEMTs

Ohmic contacts with Ti/Al/Ti/Au source and drain electrodes on A1GaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors （HEMTs） were fabricated and subjected to rapid thermal annealing （RTA） in flowing N2. The wafer was divided into 5 parts and three of them were annealed for 30 s at 700, 750, and 800 ℃, respectively, the others were annealed at 750 ℃ for 25 and 40 s. Due to the RTA, a change from Schottky contact to Ohmic contact has been obtained between the electrode layer and the A1GaN/GaN heterojunction layer. We have achieved a low specific contact resistance of 7.41 × 10-6Ω cm2 and contact resistance of 0.54 Ω.mm measured by transmission line mode （TLM）, and good surface morphology and edge acuity are also desirable by annealing at 750 ℃ for 30 s. The experiments also indicate that the performance of ohmic contact is first improved, then it reaches a peak, finally degrading with annealing temperature or annealing time rising.     

Effects of rapid thermal annealing on ohmic contact of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

工艺制作源漏电极为Ti/Al/Ti/Au,并在氮气气氛中对其进行快速退火,研究不同退火条件对欧姆接触的影响。具体实验过程如下：将溅射好源漏电极的外延片分为5部分,其中3片分别在700℃,750℃和800℃下快速退火30s,并相互对比得出最佳退火温度,实验结果发现750℃条件下欧姆接触最好;其余2片在750℃下分别退火25s和40s,并与前边实验750℃ 30s情况下欧姆接触比较,得出最佳退火时间为30s。我们使用传输线模式计算出电极与外延片的欧姆接触电阻率,在750℃ 30s的快速退火条件下得到最低欧姆接触电阻率为0.54 Ω mm,与其余条件下结果比较具有较好的表面形貌和边缘。从实验中我们也得到随着退火温度和退火时间的提高,欧姆接触电阻率先降低到达最低点然后开始升高的现象,为寻找GaN HEMT欧姆接触最佳条件提供了一定依据。     

低欧姆接触MOCVD生长的AlN/GaN HEMT

AlN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors(HEMTs)on SiC substrates were fabricated by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD)and then characterized.An Si/Ti/Al/Ni/Au stack was used to reduce ohmiccontactresistance(0.33 mm)atalowannealingtemperature.Thefabricateddevicesexhibitedamaximum drain current density of 1.07 A/mm(VGS D1 V)and a maximum peak extrinsic transconductance of 340 mS/mm.The off-state breakdown voltage of the device was 64 V with a gate–drain distance of 1.9 m.The current gain extrinsic cutoff frequency fT and the maximum oscillation frequency fmax were 36 and 80 GHz with a 0.25 m gate length,respectively.     

Low ohmic contact AIN/GaN HEMTs grown by MOCVD

AlN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors （HEMTs） on SiC substrates were fabricated by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition （MOCVD） and then characterized. An Si/Ti/Al/Ni/Au stack was used to reduce ohmic contact resistance （0.33 g2.mm） at a low annealing temperature. The fabricated devices exhibited a maximum drain current density of 1.07 A/mm （Vows = I V） and a maximum peak extrinsic transconductance of 340 mS/mm. The off-state breakdown voltage of the device was 64 V with a gate-drain distance of 1.9 μm. The current gain extrinsic cutoff frequency fT and the maximum oscillation frequency fmax were 36 and 80 GHz with a 0.25 μm gate length, respectively.     

Au/Ge/Pd ohmic contacts to n-GaAs with the Mo/Ti diffusion barrier

The influences of the As-outdiffusion and Au-indiffusion on the performances of the Au/Ge/Pd/n-GaAs ohmic metallization systems are clarified by investigating three different types of barrier metal structures Au/Ge/Pd/GaAs, Au/Ti/Ge/Pd/ GaAs, and Au/Mo/Ti/Ge/Pd/GaAs. The results indicate that As-outdiffusion leads to higher specific contact resistivity, whereas Au-indiffusion contributes to the turnaround of the contact resistivity at even higher annealing temperature. For Au/Mo/Ti/Ge/Pd/n-GaAs samples, they exhibit the smoothest surface and the lowest specific contact resistivity with the widest available annealing temperature range. Moreover, Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiles show that the existing Ti oxide for the Mo/Ti bilayer can very effectively retard Au-indiffusion, reflecting the onset of the turnaround point at much higher annealing temperature.     

Ni/Pd-based ohmic contacts to p-GaN through p-InGaN/p+-GaN contacting layers

Specific contact resistance \begin{document}$ {\rho }_{\mathrm{c}} $\end{document} to p-GaN was measured for various structures of Ni/Pd-based metals and thin (20–30 nm thick) p-InGaN/p⁺-GaN contacting layers. The effects of surface chemical treatment and annealing temperature were examined. The optimal annealing temperature was determined to be 550 °C, above which the sheet resistance of the samples degraded considerably, suggesting that undesirable alloying had occurred. Pd-containing metal showed ~35% lower \begin{document}$ {\rho }_{\mathrm{c}} $\end{document} compared to that of single Ni. Very thin (2–3.5 nm thick) p-InGaN contacting layers grown on 20–25 nm thick p⁺-GaN layers exhibited one to two orders of magnitude smaller values of \begin{document}$ {\rho }_{\mathrm{c}} $\end{document} compared to that of p⁺-GaN without p-InGaN. The current density dependence of \begin{document}$ {\rho }_{\mathrm{c}} $\end{document}, which is indicative of nonlinearity in current-voltage relation, was also examined. The lowest \begin{document}$ {\rho }_{\mathrm{c}} $\end{document} achieved through this study was 4.9 × 10^–5 Ω·cm² @ J = 3.4 kA/cm².     

Au/Ge/Ni ohmic contacts to n-Type InP

The relationship between the electrical properties and microstructure for annealed Au/Ge/Ni contacts to n-type InP, with an initial doping level of 10¹⁷ cm^-3, have been studied. Metal layers were deposited by electron beam evaporation in the following sequence: 25 nm Ni, 50 nm Ge, and 40 nm Au. Annealing was done in a nitrogen atmosphere at 250-400‡C. The onset of ohmic behavior at 325‡C corresponded to the decomposition of a ternary Ni-In-P phase at the InP surface and the subsequent formation of Ni₂P plus Au₁₀In₃, producing a lower barrier height at the InP interface. This reaction was driven by the inward diffusion of Au and outward diffusion of In. Further annealing, up to 400‡C, resulted in a decrease in contact resistance, which corresponded to the formation of NiP and Au₉ln₄ from Ni₂P and Au₁₀In₃,respectively, with some Ge doping of InP also likely. A minimum contact resistance of 10^-7 Ω-cm² was achieved with a 10 s anneal at 400‡C.     

金属Al与半导体Ge欧姆接触的制备和表征

基于圆形传输线模型,通过测试样品的比接 触电阻率和电流-电压(I-V)特性曲线,分析 对比了Al与Si基上外延生长的p型Ge、n型Ge和n型Si的接触特性。实验结果发现,由于金 属与Ge材料接触存在强烈的费米钉效应,导致金属与n型Ge接触有高的接触电阻,难实 现低的比接触电阻率;而Al与p型Ge在掺杂浓度为4.2×10¹⁸ cm－3时,并且经过退火,比接 触电阻率能达到4.0×10－7 Ω·cm²;Al与n型Ge和n型Si接 触电极相比,后者可形成良好的 欧姆接触,其比接触电阻率较n型Ge接触降低了1个量级,经合金化处理后的Al/n⁺Si接触 电阻率能达到5.21×10－5 Ω·cm²,达到了制作高性能Ge 光电器件的要求。     

Simultaneous formation of p- and n-type ohmic contacts to 4H-SiC using the ternary Ni/Ti/Al system

Fabrication procedures for silicon carbide power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) can be improved through simultaneous formation (i.e., same contact materials and one step annealing) of ohmic contacts on both the p-well and n-source regions. We have succeeded with the simultaneous formation of the ohmic contacts for p- and n-type SiC semiconductors by examining ternary Ni/Ti/Al materials with various compositions, where a slash symbol “/” indicates the deposition sequence starting with Ni. The Ni(20 nm)/Ti(50 nm)/Al(50 nm) combination provided specific contact resistances of 2 × 10⁻³ Ω-cm² and 2 × 10⁻⁴ Ω-cm² for p- and n-type SiC, respectively, after annealing at 800°C for 30 min, where the doping level of Al in the SiC substrate was 4.5 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ and the level of N was 1.0 × 10¹⁹ cm⁻³.     

二次退火对Al/Ti/n-GaN/Si欧姆接触的影响

采用热壁外延的方法在硅衬底上生长出n-GaN晶体,制成了Ti/Al双层电极的欧姆接触。通过对不同退火条件下的I-V特性曲线、X射线衍射及二次离子质谱分析,揭示了界面固相反应对该接触的影响,并提出了一种新的二次退火的方法。结果表明,经过二次退火后,Al、Ti、GaN发生了界面固相反应,其接触性能明显提高。     

Ta/Au ohmic contacts to n-type ZnO

Ta/Au ohmic contacts are fabricated on n-type ZnO (∼1 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³) epilayers, which were grown on R-plane sapphire substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). After growth and metallization, the samples are annealed at 300°C and 500°C for 30 sec in nitrogen ambient. The specific contact resistance is measured to be 3.2×10⁻⁴ Ωcm² for the as-deposited samples. It reduces to 5.4×10⁻⁶ Ωcm² after annealing at 300°C for 30 sec without significant surface morphology degradation. When the sample is annealed at 500°C for 30 sec, the specific contact resistance increases to 3.3 × 10⁻⁵ Ωcm². The layer structures no longer exist due to strong Au and Ta in-diffusion and O out-diffusion. The contact surface becomes rough and textured.     

High-speed InP/lnGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor utilizing nonalloyed contacts on n+-InP contacting layers

We have demonstrated a high-speed InP/lnGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor with nonalloyed TiPtAu contacts on n⁺-InP emitter and collector contacting layers. The use of SiBr₄ as a silicon doping source enabled the formation of low resistance (p_c <2 × 10⁻⁶Ω. cm²), nonalloyed TiPtAu contacts to the heavily doped (n = 2 × 10¹⁹ cm⁻³) InP contacting layers. A device with a 3 × 10 Μm² emitter contact exhibited excellent dc characteristics and had ƒ_T = ƒ_max = 107 GHz. Emitter and collector resistances are compared to a device with InGaAs contacting layers.     

Electrical characteristics of thermally stable Ru and Ru/Au ohmic contacts to surface-treated p-type GaN

The electrical and thermal properties of Ru and Ru/Au ohmic contacts on two-step-surface-treated p-GaN have been investigated using current-voltage (I–V) measurements and Auger electron spectroscopy. It is shown that annealing at 700°C for 2 min in a flowing N₂ atmosphere improves the I–V characteristics of the contacts. For example, the annealed Ru and Ru/Au schemes produce a specific contact resistance of 3.4 (±0.9)×10⁻³ and 1.2 (±1.1)×10⁻³ Ωcm², respectively. It is also shown that annealing results in a large reduction (by ∼100 meV) in the Schottky barrier heights of the Ru and Ru/Au contacts, compared to the as-deposited ones. The electrical properties of the two-step-surface-treated Ru/Au contacts are compared with those of the conventionally treated contacts.     

Interface annealing characterization of Ti/Al/Au ohmic contacts to p-type 4H-SiC

Ti/Al/Au ohmic contacts to p-type 4H-SiC in terms of a different annealing time and Ti composition are reported. At 1050℃, proper increase in annealing time plays a critical role in the Schottky to ohmic contact conversion. With the optimized annealing time, the contact with a high Ti content yields a lower specific contact resistivity(ρ_c) of 6.4×10^-5 Ω·cm² compared with the low-Ti contact. The annealed surface morphology and phase resultants were examined by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD), respectively. For the better ohmic contact, element distribution and chemical states were qualitatively identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) depth analysis. In particular, the presence of C and a Si-related phase was discussed and associated with the change in the surface status of the as-grown epilayer of 4H-SiC during annealing. The results reveal that the out-diffused C and Si atoms, with an approximate atomic ratio of 1:1 in the contact layer, can combine to form an amorphous Si-C state. The polycrystalline graphite instead of an unreacted C cluster in the whole alloyed structure and an extra nanosize graphite flake on the outermost surface of the annealed contact were confirmed by Raman spectroscopy.     

磷注入4H-SiC（0001）的欧姆接触特性

摘要: 研究了不同剂量的磷注入4H–SiC层经高温退火处理后的电学特性。通过在1650 ?C 退火30分钟激活了注入的磷离子。TLM及Hall法测试的结果表明,尽管随着磷注入浓度的增加而产生的位错环使得Ni/SiC界面处势垒增高,仍形成了良好的镍欧姆接触,表面接触电阻率为1.30?10-6Ω.cm2。磷注入层电阻率随着磷掺杂浓度的升高而减小。通过对不同注入剂量下电子浓度随温度的变化曲线进行测试,结果表明在200–500K的温度范围内,磷注入层的电子浓度与温度基本无关。     

Long-term thermal stability of Ti/Al/Mo/Au ohmic contacts on n-GaN

Improved performance of the ohmic contacts on n-GaN has been demonstrated with the use of MoAu as the capping layer on TiAl metallization. Contact resistance as low as 0.13 Θ-mm was achieved in these ohmic contacts when annealed at 850°C for 30 sec. We have studied the long-term thermal stability of these contacts at 500°C, 600°C, 750°C, and 850°C, respectively. The Ti/Al/Mo/Au metallization forms low contact-resistance ohmic contacts on n-GaN that are stable at 500°C and 600°C after 25 h of thermal treatment. The ohmic-contact performance degrades after 10 h of thermal treatment at 750°C, while the contacts exhibit nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics after 1 h of thermal treatment at 850°C with the formation of oxide on the surface of the contacts accompanied by surface discoloration. The intermetallic reactions taking place in the contacts during the long-term thermal treatments were studied using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and the surface morphology was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM).     

Scanning Ion Probe Studies of Silicon Implantation Profiles in AlGaN/GaN HEMT Heterostructures

This paper reports results of scanning ion probe studies of silicon implantation profiles in source and drain regions of AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) heterostructures. It is shown that both the undoped channel length and the transition region between implanted and non- implanted regions become wider with increasing depth in the structure. These results may explain the previously reported existence of resistance associated with the transition region between implanted and non-implanted semiconductor regions in AlGaN/GaN HEMT heterostructures with non-alloyed Si-implanted source and drain ohmic contact regions.     

Effects of annealing in an oxygen ambient on electrical properties of ohmic contacts to p-type GaN

Effects of annealing ambient of an oxygen and nitrogen mixed gas on the electrical properties were studied for Au-based ohmic contacts (NiAu, CoAu, CuAu, PdAu, and PtAu) to p-type GaN. Addition of oxygen to the nitrogen gas reduced the specific contact resistances (ρ_c) and resitivities of the p-GaN epilayers (ρ_s) of the contacts after annealing at temperatures of 500–600°C. The microstructural analysis at the p-GaN/metal interfaces did not detect the heterostructural intermediate semiconductor layer at the GaN/metal interfaces. The reason for reduction of both the ρc and ρ_s values by the oxygen gas addition was believed to be due to formation of the p-GaN epilayer with high hole concentrations, caused by removal of hydrogen atoms which bonded with Mg atoms.