Metal contacts to n-type GaN

Contacts consisting of various single layer metals to n-type GaN have been formed and characterized. The current-voltage characteristics were measured for 17 different metals (Sc, Hf, Zr, Ag, Al, V, Nb, Ti, Cr, W, Mo, Cu, Co, Au, Pd, Ni, and Pt) deposited on the same epitaxial growth layer. The barrier height, ideality factor, breakdown voltage, and effective Richardson coefficients were measured from those metals which exhibited strong rectifying behavior. The barrier heights for these metal contacts were measured using current-voltage-temperature and capacitance-voltage techniques. It was found that an increase in metal work function correlated with an increase in the barrier height. The surface state density of GaN was approximated to be very similar to CdS and almost a factor of ten less than GaAs.     

Measurement of Small Specific Contact Resistance of Metals with Resistive Semiconductors

The method to measure specific contact resistance of metals with resistive semiconductors has difficulties associated with it. These difficulties are discussed in relation to contacts on gallium nitride (GaN). The specific contact resistance of a Ni/Au contact on p-GaN after oxygen anneal was determined to be on the order of 10⁻¹ Ωcm², which is significantly higher than the best value (10⁻⁶ Ωcm²) reported in the literature. However, the basic measurement of current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the contact in determining the specific contact resistance is not significantly different. The analysis shows that in materials such as p-GaN, which is highly resistive, a low specific contact resistance may be difficult to measure by standard transmission line methods below approximately 10⁻²–10⁻³ Ωcm² in p-GaN.     

Effects of vacuum annealing on electrical properties of GaN contacts

To understand formation and deterioration mechanisms of Ta/Ti ohmic contacts that were previously developed for p-GaN, the electrical properties of the Ta/Ti contacts, which were deposited on undoped GaN substrates and subsequently annealed in vacuum (where a slash (/) sign indicates the deposition sequence), were studied. The Ta/Ti contacts displayed good ohmic behavior after annealing at a temperature of 800°C for 10 min in vacuum, although the undoped GaN substrates were used. However, deterioration of the present ohmic contacts was observed during room-temperature storage. These contact properties were similar to those observed in the Ta/Ti contacts prepared on p-GaN. Hall-effect measurements revealed that thin n-type conductive layers were found to form on surfaces of both the undoped GaN and p-GaN substrates after annealing at 800°C in vacuum.     

Ohmic contacts to n-type GaN using Pd/Al metallization

Ohmic contacts to n-type GaN grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition were formed using a Pd/Al-based metallization. Ohmic contact resistances and specific contact resistances were investigated as a function of rapid thermal annealing temperature, Pd interlayer thickness, and annealing time. As-deposited Pd/AI was found to produce rectifying contacts while the metallization exhibited ohmic characteristics after annealing at temperatures as low as 400°C. A minimum contact resistance of 0.9 ohm-mm (specific contact resistance = 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ ohm-cm²) was obtained upon annealing at 650°C for 30 s. For comparison, Al and Ti/Al contacts were also investigated. Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and x-ray diffraction were used to investigate metallurgical reactions.     

Study of contact resistivity, mechanical integrity, and thermal stability of Ti/Al and Ta/Al ohmic contacts to n-type GaN

The annealing conditions and contact resistivities of Ta/Al ohmic contacts to n-type GaN are reported for the first time. The high temperature stability and mechanical integrity of Ti/Al and Ta/Al contacts have been investigated. Ta/Al (35 nm/115 nm) contacts to n-type GaN became ohmic after annealing for 3 min at 500°C or for 15 s at 600°C. A minimum contact resistivity of 5×10⁻⁶Ω cm² was measured after contacts were repatterned with an Al layer to reduce the effect of a high metal sheet resistance. Ti/Al and Ta/Al contacts encapsulated under vacuum in quartz tubes showed a significant increase in contact resistivity after aging for five days at 600°C. Cross section transmission electron microscopy micrographs and electrical measurements of aged samples indicate that the increased contact resistivity is primarily the result of degradation of the metal layers. Minimal reactions at the metal/GaN interface of aged samples were observed.     

Displacement current of Au/p-diamond Schottky contacts

In this study, the displacement current of Au/p-diamond Schottky contacts was studied by comparing them with low-Mg-doped p-GaN Schottky contacts. In the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics, the current was proportional to the voltage sweep speed at V >−1.5 V. The differential output waveform was obtained through AC operation. Therefore, the displacement current was dominant in the low voltage region where in the true current was extremely small due to the large Schottky barrier height of 1.57 eV. The memory effect, due to the charge and discharge of localized acceptor-type deep-level defects, was negligible in the I–V curve. A clear AC differential signal was confirmed. This suggested that the interface defect density of the p-diamond contacts was very small compared to the p-GaN contacts. Hence, p-diamond Schottky contacts were expected to be a good candidate for a key device such as a phase modulator in a wireless transmitter.     

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.     

Modulated reflectance and absorption characterization of single crystal GaN films

The results of the first application of electrolyte electroreflectance and photoreflectance to single crystal films of gallium nitride grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy on sapphire are presented. Absorption measurements were also performed and used to complement the results of the other techniques. The crystalline quality of the samples was evaluated, and the effects of impurity reductions and different nucleation processes were studied.     

GaN基蓝光器件的研究进展

本文对近几年ＧａＮ基蓝光器件，包括ＧａＮ基发光二极管和激光二极管的发展历程进行了全面介绍和评价。指出ＧａＮ基蓝光ＬＥＤ的研究开发技术将在１－２年内走向成熟，从而实现大规模商业化生产，而ＧａＮ基蓝光ＬＤ也将在近二年内实用化。     

340 GHz GaN大功率固态倍频链

随着太赫兹技术的应用和发展,对大功率太赫兹固态源的需求愈加迫切。文中基于GaN肖特基二极管(SBD)工艺设计并制造了具有高功率输出的170 GHz和340 GHz太赫兹倍频器,实现了340 GHz大功率太赫兹固态倍频链。采用多管芯GaN SBD提高器件功率承载能力,综合开展电路优化设计提升倍频性能,通过仿真研究和实验测试,验证了倍频器设计的有效性和先进性。170 GHz倍频器的实测峰值输出功率达到580 mW,倍频效率为14.5%。340 GHz倍频器的实测峰值输出功率为66 mW,倍频效率为12.5%。该太赫兹固态倍频链性能优良,在太赫兹系统中具有重要的应用价值。     

Properties of electrical contacts on bulk and epitaxial n-type ZnO

The electrical properties of several metal contacts to n-type ZnO (0001) were studied. The ZnO samples consisted of bulk single-crystal material, epitaxial layers on sapphire grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and polycrystalline thin films on sapphire obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Ohmic and rectifying contacts were observed dependent upon both the metal material and the ZnO surface. Ohmic contacts were characterized using the circular transmission line method (c-TLM), where contact resistivity was found to be in the range of 10⁻⁴−10⁻⁵ Ω-cm². Schottky behavior was observed using Ag contacts exhibiting varying leakage current and breakdown voltage dependent on the polarity of the ZnO surface.     

Barrier height determination for n-type 4H-SiC schottky contacts made using various metals

We have studied Schottky barrier contacts to n-type 4H-SiC with Cr, Mo, Ta, W, Au, and Ni. We have focused on effects of the metal work function, measurement technique and interface behavior on the Schottky barrier heights (SBHs). The contacts were prepared by metal deposition via high frequency cathodic sputtering on chemical vapor epitaxially grown epitaxial layers with low residual doping (2 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻³). Prior to deposition on Si-terminated surfaces, they were in-situ cleaned by Ar-ion sputtering for 5 and 10 min, respectively. The contacts have been characterized by means of current-voltage, capacitance-voltage (C-V), and internal photoemission (IPE) methods at room temperature. With deep level transient spectroscopy, interface deep electron traps have been detected with thermal ionization energies of 0.68, 0.77, and 1.04 eV, respectively. These traps have been attributed to structural defects formed during epitaxial growth termination. The diodes have relatively low reverse leakage current, but the ideality factor is larger than one. The SBHs have been determined from C-V and IPE measurements. It has been shown that the C-V data may contain errors resulting in a low SBH if electron deep traps are present in the interface region. In general, the SBH of various metals are influenced by the metal work function and also by the semiconductor surface preparation. The interface homogeneity is an important characteristic of the Schottky contacts, which may be improved by an optimized ion sputtering prior to metal deposition. We have considered the SBHs determined by IPE measurements as most reliable.     

n-GaN肖特基势垒紫外光探测器的电子辐照效应

研究了n型Au/GaN肖特基势垒紫外光探测器的电子辐照失效机理.从实验中观测到,随着电子辐照注量的不断增加,Au/GaN间辐照诱生的界面态引起器件的击穿电压明显减小,反向漏电流逐渐增大.辐照诱生的深能级缺陷导致紫外光探测器对较长波长光的吸收,使得UV探测器中可见光成分的背景噪声增加.同时,对辐照后的GaN肖特基紫外光探测器进行了100℃以下的退火处理,退火后,器件的电流-电压特性有所改善.     

n-GaN上Ti/Al电极的表面处理与退火

实验研究了不同表面处理方法和不同退火条件对GaN上的Ti/Al电极的影响,用CH3CSNH2/NH4OH处理后的GaN材料的荧光光谱强度最高,在该材料上制作的Ti/Al电极的欧姆接触电阻率最小.通过欧姆接触电阻率,I-V曲线,X射线衍射等手段,分析了GaN与Ti/Al 电极接触表面在退火过程中的固相反应,提出了二次退火的方法.     

Comparison of GaN and In<Subscript>0.04</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.96</Subscript>N <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Layers on the Electrical and Electroluminescence Properties of Green Light Emitting Diodes

We have compared the effects of Mg-doped GaN and In_0.04Ga_0.96N layers on the electrical and electroluminescence (EL) properties of the green light emitting diodes (LEDs). To investigate the effects of different p-layers on the LED performance, the diode active region structures were kept identical. For LEDs with p-InGaN layers, the p-In_0.04Ga_0.96N/GaN polarization-related EL peak was dominant at low current levels, while the multiple-quantum-well (MQW) peak became dominant at higher current levels, different from LEDs with p-GaN layers. Also, LEDs with p-InGaN exhibited slightly higher turn on voltages (V _on ) and forward voltages (V _f ) compared to LEDs with p-GaN layers. However, the MQW related EL intensity was much higher and diode series resistance lower for LEDs with p-InGaN layers compared with LEDs with p-GaN, showing possible improvements in output power for LEDs with p-InGaN layers. The diodes with p-GaN layers typically showed V _f of ∼3.1 V at a drive current of 20 mA, with a series resistance of ∼24.7 Ω, while diodes with p-InGaN showed V _f of ∼3.2 V, with a series resistance of ∼18.5 Ω, for device dimensions of 230 μm by 230 μm.     

栅槽刻蚀工艺对增强型GaN HEMT器件性能的影响

基于凹槽栅增强型氮化镓高电子迁移率晶体管(GaN HEMT)研究了不同的栅槽刻蚀工艺对GaN器件性能的影响。在栅槽刻蚀方面,采用了一种感应耦合等离子体(ICP)干法刻蚀技术与高温热氧化湿法刻蚀技术相结合的两步法刻蚀技术,将AlGaN势垒层全部刻蚀掉,制备出了阈值电压超过3 V的增强型Al_2O_3/AlGaN/GaN MIS-HEMT器件。相比于传统的ICP干法刻蚀技术,两步法是一种低损伤的自停止刻蚀技术,易于控制且具有高度可重复性,能够获得更高质量的刻蚀界面,所制备的器件增强型GaN MIS-HEMT器件具有阈值电压回滞小、电流开关比(I_ON/I_OFF)高、栅极泄漏电流小、击穿电压高等特性。     

Growth of InGaN HBTs by MOCVD

The design and growth of GaN/InGaN heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) are studied. Atomic-force microscopy (AFM) images of p⁺InGaN base layers (∼100 nm) deposited under various growth conditions indicate that the optimal growth temperature is limited to the range between 810 and 830°C due to a trade-off between surface roughness and indium incorporation. At these temperatures, the growth pressure must be kept above 300 Torr in order to keep surface pit density under control. An InGaN graded-composition emitter is adopted in order to reduce the number of V-shaped defects, which appear at the interface between GaN emitter and InGaN base and render an abrupt emitter-base heterojunction nearly impossible. However, the device performance is severely limited by the high p-type base contact resistance due to surface etching damage, which resulted from the emitter mesa etch.     

Dopant-selective photoenhanced wet etching of GaN

A dopant-selective photoelectrochemical wet etching process for GaN is described. The process utilizes KOH solution and Hg arc lamp illumination to achieve selective etching of n-type GaN with respect to intrinsic and p-type GaN. An intrinsic GaN etch-stop layer as well as the selective undercutting of a buried n-type layer within a p-n GaN homostructure are demonstrated.     

Chemically assisted ion beam etching of gallium nitride

Chemically assisted ion beam etching of gallium nitride (GaN) grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition has been characterized using an Ar ion beam and Cl₂gas. The etch rate of GaN was found to increase linearly with Ar ion beam current density, increase linearly then saturate with Ar ion beam energy, vary slightly with Cl₂ flow rate, and lastly, increase moderately with substrate temperature. Etch rates as high as 330 nm/min were obtained at high beam energies and 210 nm/min at a more nominal level of 500 eV. The anisotropy of etched profiles improved in the presence of Cl₂ in comparison to those etched by Ar ion milling only. Elevated substrate temperatures further enhanced the anisotropy to obtain near-vertical profiles for fairly deep-etched structures. Auger electron spectroscopy was used to investigate etch-induced surface changes. Oxygen contamination was observed on the as-etched surface but a dilute HC1 treatment restored the stoichiometry of the material to its unetched state.