Reverse blocking characteristics and mechanisms in Schottky-drain AlGaN/GaN HEMT with a drain field plate and floating field plates

In this paper, a novel Al Ga N/Ga N HEMT with a Schottky drain and a compound field plate(SD-CFP HEMT) is presented for the purpose of better reverse blocking capability. The compound field plate(CFP) consists of a drain field plate(DFP) and several floating field plates(FFPs). The physical mechanisms of the CFP to improve the reverse breakdown voltage and to modulate the distributions of channel electric field and potential are investigated by two-dimensional numerical simulations with Silvaco-ATLAS. Compared with the HEMT with a Schottky drain(SD HEMT) and the HEMT with a Schottky drain and a DFP(SD-FP HEMT), the superiorities of SD-CFP HEMT lie in the continuous improvement of the reverse breakdown voltage by increasing the number of FFPs and in the same fabrication procedure as the SD-FP HEMT.Two useful optimization laws for the SD-CFP HEMTs are found and extracted from simulation results. The relationship between the number of the FFPs and the reverse breakdown voltage as well as the FP efficiency in SD-CFP HEMTs are discussed. The results in this paper demonstrate a great potential of CFP for enhancing the reverse blocking ability in Al Ga N/Ga N HEMT and may be of great value and significance in the design and actual manufacture of SD-CFP HEMTs.     

An AlGaN/GaN HEMT with enhanced breakdown and near-zero breakdown voltage temperature coefficient

An AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) with a novel source-connected air-bridge field plate (AFP) is experimentally verified. The device features a metal field plate that jumps from the source over the gate region and lands between the gate and drain. When compared to a similar size HEMT device with conventional field plate (CFP) structure, the AFP not only minimizes the parasitic gate to source capacitance, but also exhibits higher OFF-state breakdown voltage and one order of magnitude lower drain leakage current. In a device with a gate to drain distance of 6 μm and a gate length of 0.8 μm, three times higher forward blocking voltage of 375 V was obtained at V_GS=-5 V. In contrast, a similar sized HEMT with CFP can only achieve a breakdown voltage no higher than 125 V using this process, regardless of device dimensions. Moreover, a temperature coefficient of 0 V/K for the breakdown voltage is observed. However, devices without field plate (no FP) and with optimized conventional field plate (CFP) exhibit breakdown voltage temperature coefficients of -0.113 V/K and -0.065 V/K, respectively.     

An AlGaN/GaN HEMT with reduced surface electric field and improved breakdown voltage

A reduced surface electric field in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is investigated by employing a localized Mg-doped layer under the two-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) channel as an electric field shaping layer. The electric field strength around the gate edge is effectively relieved and the surface electric field is distributed evenly as compared with those of HEMTs with conventional source-connected field plate and double field plate structures with the same device physical dimensions. Compared with the HEMTs with conventional source-connected field plate and double field plate, the HEMT with Mg-doped layer also shows that the breakdown location shifts from the surface of the gate edge to the bulk Mg-doped layer edge. By optimizing both the length of Mg-doped layer, L_m, and the doping concentration, a 5.5 times and 3 times the reduction in the peak electric field near the drain side gate edge is observed as compared with those of the HEMTs with source-connected field plate structure and double field plate structure, respectively. In a device with V_GS=-5 V, L_m=1.5 μm, a peak Mg doping concentration of 8× 10¹⁷ cm^-3 and a drift region length of 10 μm, the breakdown voltage is observed to increase from 560 V in a conventional device without field plate structure to over 900 V without any area overhead penalty.     

An AlGaN/GaN HEMT with a reduced surface electric field and an improved breakdown voltage

A reduced surface electric field in an AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor(HEMT) is investigated by employing a localized Mg-doped layer under the two-dimensional electron gas(2-DEG) channel as an electric field shaping layer.The electric field strength around the gate edge is effectively relieved and the surface electric field is distributed evenly as compared with those of HEMTs with conventional source-connected field plate and double field plate structures with the same device physical dimensions.Compared with the HEMTs with conventional sourceconnected field plates and double field plates,the HEMT with a Mg-doped layer also shows that the breakdown location shifts from the surface of the gate edge to the bulk Mg-doped layer edge.By optimizing both the length of Mg-doped layer,L m,and the doping concentration,a 5.5 times and 3 times the reduction in the peak electric field near the drain side gate edge is observed as compared with those of the HEMTs with source-connected field plate structure and double field plate structure,respectively.In a device with V GS = -5 V,L m = 1.5 μm,a peak Mg doping concentration of 8×10 17cm-3 and a drift region length of 10 μm,the breakdown voltage is observed to increase from 560 V in a conventional device without field plate structure to over 900 V without any area overhead penalty.     

Improvement of the off-state breakdown voltage with field plate and low-density drain in AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors

We present an AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor(HEMT) device with both field plate(FP) and lowdensity drain(LDD). The LDD is realized by the injection of negatively charged fluorine(F-) ions under low power in the space between the gate and the drain electrodes. With a small-size FP and a LDD length equal to only 31% of the gate-drain spacing, the device effectively modifies the electric field distribution and achieves a breakdown voltage enhancement up to two times when compared with a device with only FP.     

The effect of a HfO2 insulator on the improvement of breakdown voltage in field-plated GaN-based HEMT

A GaN/Al_0.3Ga_0.7N/AlN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor utilizing a field plate (with a 0.3 μm overhang towards the drain and a 0.2 μm overhang towards the source) over a 165-nm sputtered HfO₂ insulator (HfO₂-FP-HEMT) is fabricated on a sapphire substrate. Compared with the conventional field-plated HEMT, which has the same geometric structure but uses a 60-nm SiN insulator beneath the field plate (SiN-FP-HEMT), the HfO₂-FP-HEMT exhibits a significant improvement of the breakdown voltage (up to 181 V) as well as a record field-plate efficiency (up to 276 V/μm). This is because the HfO₂ insulator can further improve the modulation of the field plate on the electric field distribution in the device channel, which is proved by the numerical simulation results. Based on the simulation results, a novel approach named the proportional design is proposed to predict the optimal dielectric thickness beneath the field plate. It can simplify the field-plated HEMT design significantly.     

AlGaN/GaN场板结构高电子迁移率晶体管的场板尺寸优化分析

对不同场板尺寸的AlGaN/GaN 场板结构高电子迁移率晶体管进行了研究,建立简化模型分析场板长度对沟道电场分布的影响.结果表明,调整钝化层厚度和场板长度都可以调制沟道电场的分布形状,当场板长度较小时,随着长度的增大器件击穿电压随之增加,而当长度增大到一定程度后器件击穿电压不再增加.通过优化场板长度,器件击穿电压提高了64%,且实验结果与模拟结果相符. 关键词： AlGaN/GaN 击穿电压 场板长度     

Operational improvement of AlGaN/GaN HEMT on SiC substrate with the amended depletion region

In this paper, a high performance AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) on SiC substrates is presented to improve the electrical operation with the amended depletion region using a multiple recessed gate (MRG–HEMT). The basic idea is to change the gate depletion region and a better distribution of the electric field in the channel and improve the device breakdown voltage. The proposed gate consists of lower and upper gate to control the channel thickness. Also, the charge of the depletion region will change due to the optimized gate. In addition, a metal between the gate and drain including the horizontal and vertical parts is used to better control the thickness of the channel. The breakdown voltage, maximum output power density, cut-off frequency, maximum oscillation frequency, minimum noise figure, maximum available gain (MAG), and maximum stable gain (MSG) are some parameters for designers which are considered and are improved in this paper.     

Influence of a drain field plate on the forward blocking characteristics of an AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor

In this paper,the influence of a drain field plate(FP)on the forward blocking characteristics of an AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor(HEMT)is investigated.The HEMT with only a gate FP is optimized,and breakdown voltage VBRis saturated at 1085 V for gate–drain spacing LGD≥8μm.On the basis of the HEMT with a gate FP,a drain FP is added with LGD=10μm.For the length of the drain FP LDF≤2μm,VBRis almost kept at 1085 V,showing no degradation.When LDFexceeds 2μm,VBRdecreases obviously as LDFincreases.Moreover,the larger the LDF,the larger the decrease of VBR.It is concluded that the distance between the gate edge and the drain FP edge should be larger than a certain value to prevent the drain FP from affecting the forward blocking voltage and the value should be equal to the LGDat which VBR begins to saturate in the first structure.The electric field and potential distribution are simulated and analyzed to account for the decrease of VBR.     

具有部分本征GaN帽层新型AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管特性分析

为了优化传统Al GaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(high electron mobility transistors,HEMTs)器件的表面电场,提高击穿电压,本文提出了一种具有部分本征GaN帽层的新型Al GaN/GaN HEMTs器件结构.新型结构通过在Al GaN势垒层顶部、栅电极到漏电极的漂移区之间引入部分本征GaN帽层,由于本征GaN帽层和Al GaN势垒层界面处的极化效应,降低了沟道二维电子气(two dimensional electron gas,2DEG)的浓度,形成了栅边缘低浓度2DEG区域,使得沟道2DEG浓度分区,由均匀分布变为阶梯分布.通过调制沟道2DEG的浓度分布,从而调制了Al GaN/GaN HEMTs器件的表面电场.利用电场调制效应,产生了新的电场峰,且有效降低了栅边缘的高峰电场,Al GaN/GaN HEMTs器件的表面电场分布更加均匀.利用ISE-TCAD软件仿真分析得出:通过设计一定厚度和长度的本征GaN帽层,Al GaN/GaN HEMTs器件的击穿电压从传统结构的427 V提高到新型结构的960 V.由于沟道2DEG浓度减小,沟道电阻增加,使得新型Al GaN/GaN HEMTs器件的最大输出电流减小了9.2%,截止频率几乎保持不变,而最大振荡频率提高了12%.     

具有纵向漏极场板的低导通电阻绝缘体上硅横向双扩散金属氧化物半导体器件新结构

为降低绝缘体上硅(SOI)横向双扩散金属氧化物半导体(LDMOS)器件的导通电阻,同时提高器件击穿电压,提出了一种具有纵向漏极场板的低导通电阻槽栅槽漏SOI-LDMOS器件新结构.该结构特征为采用了槽栅槽漏结构,在纵向上扩展了电流传导区域,在横向上缩短了电流传导路径,降低了器件导通电阻;漏端采用了纵向漏极场板,该场板对漏端下方的电场进行了调制,从而减弱了漏极末端的高电场,提高了器件的击穿电压.利用二维数值仿真软件MEDICI对新结构与具有相同器件尺寸的传统SOI结构、槽栅SOI结构、槽栅槽漏SOI结构进行了比较.结果表明:在保证各自最高优值的条件下,与这三种结构相比,新结构的比导通电阻分别降低了53%,23%和提高了87%,击穿电压则分别提高了4%、降低了9%、提高了45%.比较四种结构的优值,具有纵向漏极场板的槽栅槽漏SOI结构优值最高,这表明在四种结构中新结构保持了较低导通电阻,同时又具有较高的击穿电压.     

Investigation of trap states in Al_2O_3 InAlN/GaN metal–oxide–semiconductor high-electron-mobility transistors

In this paper the trapping effects in Al2O3/In0.17Al0.83N/Ga N MOS-HEMT(here, HEMT stands for high electron mobility transistor) are investigated by frequency-dependent capacitance and conductance analysis. The trap states are found at both the Al2O3/In Al N and In Al N/Ga N interface. Trap states in In Al N/Ga N heterostructure are determined to have mixed de-trapping mechanisms, emission, and tunneling. Part of the electrons captured in the trap states are likely to tunnel into the two-dimensional electron gas(2DEG) channel under serious band bending and stronger electric field peak caused by high Al content in the In Al N barrier, which explains the opposite voltage dependence of time constant and relation between the time constant and energy of the trap states.     

具有p-GaN岛状埋层耐压结构的横向AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管

GaN基高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)相对较低的击穿电压严重限制了其大功率应用.为了进一步改善器件的击穿特性,通过在n-GaN外延缓冲层中引入六个等间距p-GaN岛掩埋缓冲层(PIBL)构成p-n结,提出一种基于p-GaN埋层结构的新型高耐压AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件结构.Sentaurus TCAD仿真结果表明,在关态高漏极电压状态下,p-GaN埋层引入的多个反向p-n结不仅能够有效调制PIBL AlGaN/GaN HEMT的表面电场和体电场分布,而且对于缓冲层泄漏电流有一定的抑制作用,这保证了栅漏间距为10μm的PIBL HEMT能够达到超过1700 V的高击穿电压(BV),是常规结构AlGaN/GaN HEMT击穿电压(580 V)的3倍.同时,PIBL结构AlGaN/GaN HEMT的特征导通电阻仅为1.47 m?·cm~2,因此获得了高达1966 MW·cm~(-2)的品质因数(FOM=BV~2/R_(on,sp)).相比于常规的AlGaN/GaN HEMT,基于新型p-GaN埋岛结构的HEMT器件在保持较低特征导通电阻的同时具有更高的击穿电压,这使得该结构在高功率电力电子器件领域具有很好的应用前景.     

Breakdown mechanisms in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors with different GaN channel thickness values

In this paper,the off-state breakdown characteristics of two different AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors（HEMTs）,featuring a 50-nm and a 150-nm GaN thick channel layer,respectively,are compared.The HEMT with a thick channel exhibits a little larger pinch-off drain current but significantly enhanced off-state breakdown voltage(SV_off).Device simulation indicates that thickening the channel increases the drain-induced barrier lowering（DIBL） but reduces the lateral electric field in the channel and buffer underneath the gate.The increase of BV_off in the thick channel device is due to the reduction of the electric field.These results demonstrate that it is necessary to select an appropriate channel thickness to balance DIBL and BV_off in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs.     

Exploring the warped bulk

In this study, a gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) with recessed insulator and barrier is reported. In the proposed structure, insulator is recessed into the barrier at the drain side and barrier is recessed into the buffer layer at the source side. We study important device characteristics such as electric field, breakdown voltage, drain current, maximum output power density, gate-drain capacitance, short channel effects and DC transconductance using two-dimensional and two-carrier device simulator. Recessed insulator in the drain side of the proposed structure reduces maximum electric field in the channel and therefore increases the breakdown voltage and maximum output power density compared to the conventional counterpart. Also, gate-drain capacitance value in the proposed structure is less than that of the conventional structure. Overall, the proposed structure reduces short channel effects. Because of the recessed regions at both the source and the drain sides, the average barrier thickness of the proposed structure is not changed. Thus, the drain current of the proposed structure is almost equivalent to that of the conventional transistor. In this work, length (L _r) and thickness (T _r) of the recessed region of the barrier at the source side are the same as those of the insulator at the drain side.     

磷化铟复合沟道高电子迁移率晶体管击穿特性研究

用密度梯度量子模型定量研究了磷化铟(InP)复合沟道高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)的击穿特性，考虑了复合沟道内碰撞电离以及沟道量子效应，重点研究了器件击穿电压随In_0.7Ga_0.3As沟道厚度的变化关系，提出了提高击穿电压的方法，采用商用器件模拟软件Sentaurus模拟了器件的开态击穿电压，对比了实验和模拟的结果. 研究表明：适当减小In_0.7Ga_0.3As沟道层的厚度可以在保持器件饱和电流基本不变的前提下大幅度提高开态击穿电压，这对于提高InP基HEMT的功率性能具有重要意义. 关键词： 磷化铟 高电子迁移率晶体管 密度梯度模型 击穿     

A new analytical model for the surface electric field distribution and breakdown voltage of the SOI trench LDMOS

A new analytical model for the surface electric field distribution and breakdown voltage of the silicon on insulator (SOI) trench lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) is presented. Based on the two-dimensional Laplace solution and Poisson solution, the model considers the influence of structure parameters such as the doping concentration of the drift region, and the depth and width of the trench on the surface electric field. Further, a simple analytical expression of the breakdown voltage is obtained, which offers an effective way to gain an optimal high voltage. All the analytical results are in good agreement with the simulation results.     

具有L型源极场板的双槽绝缘体上硅高压器件新结构

为了提高小尺寸绝缘体上硅(SOI)器件的击穿电压,同时降低器件比导通电阻,提出了一种具有L型源极场板的双槽SOI高压器件新结构.该结构具有如下特征:首先,采用了槽栅结构,使电流纵向传导面积加宽,降低了器件的比导通电阻;其次,在漂移区引入了Si O2槽型介质层,该介质层的高电场使器件的击穿电压显著提高;第三,在槽型介质层中引入了L型源极场板,该场板调制了漂移区电场,使优化漂移区掺杂浓度大幅增加,降低了器件的比导通电阻.二维数值仿真结果表明:与传统SOI结构相比,在相同器件尺寸时,新结构的击穿电压提高了151%,比导通电阻降低了20%;在相同击穿电压时,比导通电阻降低了80%.与相同器件尺寸的双槽SOI结构相比,新结构保持了双槽SOI结构的高击穿电压特性,同时,比导通电阻降低了26%.     

阶梯AlGaN外延新型Al_(0.25)Ga_(0.75)N/GaNHEMTs击穿特性分析

为了优化AlGaN/GaN HEMTs器件表面电场,提高击穿电压,本文首次提出了一种新型阶梯AlGaN/GaN HEMTs结构.新结构利用AlGaN/GaN异质结形成的2DEG浓度随外延AlGaN层厚度降低而减小的规律,通过减薄靠近栅边缘外延的AlGaN层,使沟道2DEG浓度分区,形成栅边缘低浓度2DEG区,低的2DEG使阶梯AlGaN交界出现新的电场峰,新电场峰的出现有效降低了栅边缘的高峰电场,优化了AlGaN/GaN HEMTs器件的表面电场分布,使器件击穿电压从传统结构的446 V,提高到新结构的640 V.为了获得与实际测试结果一致的击穿曲线,本文在GaN缓冲层中设定了一定浓度的受主型缺陷,通过仿真分析验证了国际上外延GaN缓冲层时掺入受主型离子的原因,并通过仿真分析获得了与实际测试结果一致的击穿曲线.     

Dual-gate lateral double-diffused metal—oxide semiconductor with ultra-low specific on-resistance

A new high voltage trench lateral double-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) with ultra-low specific onresistance (R on,sp ) is proposed. The structure features a dual gate (DG LDMOS): a planar gate and a trench gate inset in the oxide trench. Firstly, the dual gate can provide a dual conduction channel and reduce R on,sp dramatically. Secondly, the oxide trench in the drift region modulates the electric field distribution and reduces the cell pitch but still can maintain comparable breakdown voltage (BV). Simulation results show that the cell pitch of the DG LDMOS can be reduced by 50% in comparison with that of conventional LDMOS at the equivalent BV; furthermore, R on,sp of the DG LDMOS can be reduced by 67% due to the smaller cell pitch and the dual gate.