AlN/GaN Insulated-Gate HFETs Using Cat-CVD SiN

The authors fabricated SiN/AlN/GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor heterostructure field-effect transistors (MIS-HFETs) using SiN passivation by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD). Cat-CVD SiN increased the electron density of AlN/GaN HFETs by compensating the surface depletion of the two-dimensional electron gas. The MIS-HFETs had a maximum drain current density of 0.95 A/mm and a peak extrinsic transconductance of 211 mS/mm. A current-gain cutoff frequency of 107 GHz and maximum oscillation frequency of 171 GHz were obtained for the 60- and 70-nm-gate devices, respectively.