Ohmic contacts to n-type GaN

Ohmic contacts to n-GaN using Ag, Au, TiN, Au/Ti, Au/Mo/Ti, and Au/Si/Ti have been studied. The Fermi level of GaN appears to be unpinned, and metals and compounds with work functions less than the electron affinity resulted in ohmic contacts. Reactively sputter deposited TiN was ohmic as deposited. However, Au/Ti, Au/Mo/Ti, and Au/Si/Ti required heat treatments to form ohmic contacts, with the best being an RTA at 900°C. Ag and Au were shown to diffuse across the GaN surface at T>500°C; therefore, they are unstable, poor ohmic contact metallizations as single metals. The other contact schemes were thermally stable up to 500°C for times of 30 min.