A novel Si-rich SiN bilayer passivation with thin-barrier AlGaN/GaN HEMTs for high performance millimeter-wave applications

We demonstrate a novel Si-rich SiN bilayer passivation technology for AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with thin-barrier to minimize surface leakage current to enhance the breakdown voltage. The bilayer SiN with 20-nm Si-rich SiN and 100-nm Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ was deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) after removing 20-nm SiO$_{2}$ pre-deposition layer. Compared to traditional Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ passivation for thin-barrier AlGaN/GaN HEMTs, Si-rich SiN bilayer passivation can suppress the current collapse ratio from 18.54% to 8.40%. However, Si-rich bilayer passivation leads to a severer surface leakage current, so that it has a low breakdown voltage. The 20-nm SiO$_{2}$ pre-deposition layer can protect the surface of HEMTs in fabrication process and decrease Ga-O bonds, resulting in a lower surface leakage current. In contrast to passivating Si-rich SiN directly, devices with the novel Si-rich SiN bilayer passivation increase the breakdown voltage from 29 V to 85 V. Radio frequency (RF) small-signal characteristics show that HEMTs with the novel bilayer SiN passivation leads to $f_{\rm T}/f_{\rm max}$ of 68 GHz/102 GHz. At 30 GHz and $V_{\rm DS} = 20$ V, devices achieve a maximum $P_{\rm out}$ of 5.2 W/mm and a peak power-added efficiency (PAE) of 42.2%. These results indicate that HEMTs with the novel bilayer SiN passivation can have potential applications in the millimeter-wave range.     

AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors with transparent gates by Al-doped ZnO

AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors （HEMTs） with Al-doped ZnO （AZO） transparent gate electrodes are fabricated, and Ni/Au/Ni-gated HEMTs are produced in comparison. The AZO-gated HEMTs show good DC characteristics and Schottky rectifying characteristics, and the gate electrodes achieve excellent transparencies. Compared with Ni/Au/Ni-gated HEMTs, AZO-gated HEMTs show a low saturation current, high threshold voltage, high Schottky barrier height, and low gate reverse leakage current. Due to the higher gate resistivity, AZO-gated HEMTs exhibit a current-gain cutoff frequency （fT） of 10 GHz and a power gain cutoff frequency （fmax） of 5 GHz, and lower maximum oscillation frequency than Ni/Au/Ni-gated HEMTs. Moreover, the C-V characteristics are measured and the gate interface characteristics of the AZO-gated devices are investigated by a C-V dual sweep.     

DLTS characterization of silicon nitride passivated AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

Passivating the ungated surface of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with silicon nitride (SiN) is effective in improving the microwave output power performances of these devices. However, very little information is available about surface states in GaN-based HEMTs after SiN passivation. In this work we investigate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs structures having either metal–semiconductor or metal–SiN–semiconductor gate contacts. In short gate devices conductance DLTS measurements point out a hole-like peak that shows an anomalous behaviour and can be ascribed to surface states in the access regions of the device. In insulated gate HEMTs a band of levels is detected and ascribed to surface states, whose energy ranges from 0.14 to 0.43 eV. Capacitance–voltage measurements allow us to point out the existence of a second band of interface states deeper in energy than the former one. This band is responsible for slow transients observed in the characteristics of the insulated gate FAT-HEMT.     

Ni/Au Schottky gate oxidation and BCB passivation for high-breakdown-voltage AlGaN/GaN HEMT

A new AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) employing Ni/Au Schottky gate oxidation and benzocyclobutene (BCB) passivation is fabricated in order to increase a breakdown voltage and forward drain current. The Ni/Au Schottky gate metal with a thickness of 50/300 nm is oxidized under oxygen ambient at 500 C and the highly resistive NiO is formed at the gate edge. The leakage current of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs is decreased from 4.94 μA to 3.34 nA due to the formation of NiO. The BCB, which has a low dielectric constant, successfully passivates AlGaN/GaN HEMTs by suppressing electron injection into surface states. The BCB passivation layer has a low capacitance, so BCB passivation increases the switching speed of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs compared with silicon nitride passivation, which has a high dielectric constant. The forward drain current of a BCB-passivated device is 199 mA /mm, while that of an unpassivated device is 172 mA /mm due to the increase in two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) charge.     

Effects of SiNx on two-dimensional electron gas and current collapse of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

SiN_x is commonly used as a passivation material for AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). In this paper, the effects of SiN_x passivation film on both two-dimensional electron gas characteristics and current collapse of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs are investigated. The SiN_x films are deposited by high- and low-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, and they display different strains on the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure, which can explain the experiment results.     

GaN HEMT栅边缘电容用于缺陷的研究

本文对GaN HEMT栅漏电容的频率色散特性进行分析,认为栅边缘电容的色散是导致栅漏电容频率色散特性不同于圆肖特基二极管电容的主要原因. 通过对不同栅偏置条件下缺陷附加电容与频率关系的拟合,发现小栅压下的缺陷附加电容仅满足单能级缺陷模型,而强反向栅压下的缺陷附加电容同时满足单能级和连续能级缺陷模型. 实验中栅边缘电容的频率色散现象在钝化工艺后出现,其反映的缺陷很可能是钝化工艺引入,且位于源漏间栅金属未覆盖区域的表面. 最后通过低频噪声技术进一步验证栅边缘电容提取缺陷参数的可行性. 低频噪声技术获得的单能级 关键词： HEMT 边缘电容 缺陷 低频噪声     

基于原位等离子体氮化及低压化学气相沉积-Si_3N_4栅介质的高性能AlGaN/GaN MIS-HEMTs器件的研究

通过对低压化学气相沉积(LPCVD)系统进行改造,实现在沉积Si_3N_4薄膜前的原位等离子体氮化处理,氮等离子体可以有效地降低器件界面处的氧含量和悬挂键,从而获得了较低的LPCVD-Si_3N_4/GaN界面态,通过这种技术制作的MIS-HEMTs器件,在扫描栅压范围V_(G-sweep)=(-30 V,+24 V)时,阈值回滞为186 mV,据我们所知为目前高扫描栅压V_(G+)(20 V)下的最好结果.动态测试表明,在400 V关态应力下,器件的导通电阻仅仅上升1.36倍(关态到开态的时间间隔为100μs).     

High-electric-field-stress-induced degradation of SiN passivated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) are fabricated by employing SiN passivation, this paper investigates the degradation due to the high-electric-field stress. After the stress, a recoverable degradation has been found, consisting of the decrease of saturation drain current I_Dsat, maximal transconductance g_m, and the positive shift of threshold voltage V_TH at high drain-source voltage V_DS. The high-electric-field stress degrades the electric characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs because the high field increases the electron trapping at the surface and in AlGaN barrier layer. The SiN passivation of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs decreases the surface trapping and 2DEG depletion a little during the high-electric-field stress. After the hot carrier stress with V_DS=20 V and V_GS=0 V applied to the device for 10⁴ sec, the SiN passivation decreases the stress-induced degradation of I_Dsat from 36% to 30%. Both on-state and pulse-state stresses produce comparative decrease of I_Dsat, which shows that although the passivation is effective in suppressing electron trapping in surface states, it does not protect the device from high-electric-field degradation in nature. So passivation in conjunction with other technological solutions like cap layer, prepassivation surface treatments, or field-plate gate to weaken high-electric-field degradation should be adopted.     

增强型AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管高温退火研究

深入研究了两种增强型AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)高温退火前后的直流特性变化.槽栅增强型AlGaN/GaN HEMT在500 ℃ N₂中退火5 min后,阈值电压由0.12 V正向移动到0.57 V,器件Schottky反向栅漏电流减小一个数量级.F注入增强型AlGaN/GaN HEMT在 400 ℃ N₂中退火2 min后,器件阈值电压由0.23 V负向移动到-0.69 V,栅泄漏电流明显增大.槽栅增强型器件退火过程中Schottky有效势垒     

C-V characterization of Schottky- and MIS-gate SiGe/Si HEMT structures

Electrical properties of Schottky- and metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS)-gate SiGe/Si high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were investigated with capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. The MIS-gate HEMT structure was fabricated using a SiN gate insulator formed by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD). The Cat-CVD SiN thin film (5 nm) was found to be an effective gate insulator with good gate controllability and dielectric properties. We previously investigated device characteristics of sub-100-nm-gate-length Schottky- and MIS-gate HEMTs, and reported that the MIS-gate device had larger maximum drain current density and transconductance (g_m) than the Schottky-gate device. The radio frequency (RF) measurement of the MIS-gate device, however, showed a relatively lower current gain cutoff frequency f_T compared with that of the Schottky-gate device. In this study, C-V characterization of the MIS-gate HEMT structure demonstrated that two electron transport channels existed, one at the SiGe/Si buried channel and the other at the SiN/Si surface channel.     

Surface Leakage Currents in SiN and Al_2O_3 Passivated AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors

Surface leakage currents of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors are investigated by utihzing a circular double-gate structure to eliminate the influence of mesa leakage current.Different mechanisms are found under various passivation conditions.The mechanism of the surface leakage current with Al_2O_3 passivation follows the two-dimensional variable range hopping model,while the mechanism of the surface leakage current with SiN passivation follows the Frenkel-Poole trap assisted emission.Two trap levels are found in the trap-assisted emission.One trap level has a barrier height of 0.22 eV for the high electric Geld,and the other trap level has a barrier height of 0.12 eV for the low electric field.     

中子辐照对AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管器件电特性的影响

本文采用能量为1 MeV的中子对SiN钝化的AlGaN/GaN HEMT(高电子迁移率晶体管)器件进行了最高注量为1015cm-2的辐照.实验发现:当注量小于1014cm-2时,器件特性退化很小,其中栅电流有轻微变化(正向栅电流IF增加,反向栅电流IR减小),随着中子注量上升,IR迅速降低.而当注量达到1015cm-2时,在膝点电压附近,器件跨导有所下降.此外,中子辐照后,器件欧姆接触的方块电阻退化很小,而肖特基特性退化却相对明显.通过分析发现辐照在SiN钝化层中引入的感生缺陷引起了膝点电压附近漏电流和反向栅泄漏电流的减小.以上结果也表明,SiN钝化可以有效地抑制中子辐照感生表面态电荷,从而屏蔽了绝大部分的中子辐照影响.这也证明SiN钝化的AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件很适合在太空等需要抗位移损伤的环境中应用.     

基于脉冲方法的超短栅长GaN基高电子迁移率晶体管陷阱效应机理

陷阱效应导致的电流崩塌是制约GaN基微波功率电子器件性能提高的一个重要因素,研究深能级陷阱行为对材料生长和器件开发具有非常重要的意义.随着器件频率的提升,器件尺寸不断缩小,对小尺寸器件中深能级陷阱的表征变得越发困难.本文制备了超短栅长（L_g=80 nm）的AlGaN/GaN金属氧化物半导体高电子迁移率晶体管（MOSHEMT）,并基于脉冲I-V测试和二维数值瞬态仿真对器件的动态特性进行了深入研究,分析了深能级陷阱对AlGaN/GaN MOSHEMT器件动态特性的影响以及相关陷阱效应的内在物理机制.结果表明,AlGaN/GaN MOSHEMT器件的电流崩塌随着栅极静态偏置电压的增加呈非单调变化趋势,这是由栅漏电注入和热电子注入两种陷阱机制共同作用的结果.根据研究结果推断,可通过改善栅介质的质量以减小栅漏电或提高外延材料质量以减少缺陷密度等措施达到抑制陷阱效应的目的,从而进一步抑制电流崩塌.     

Impact of oxygen in electrical properties and hot-carrier stress-induced degradation of GaN high electron mobility transistors

The role of the oxygen in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) before and after semi-on state stress was discussed. Comparing with the electrical characteristics of the devices in vacuum, air, and oxygen atmosphere, it is revealed that the oxygen has significant influence on the electric characteristics and the hot-carrier-stress-induced degradation of the device. Comparing with the situation in vacuum, the gate leakage increased an order of magnitude in oxygen and air atmosphere. Double gate structure was used to separate the barrier leakage and surface leakage of AlGaN/GaN HEMT it is found that surface leakage is the major influencing factor in gate leakage of SiN-passivated devices before and after semi-on state stress. During semi-on state stress in the oxygen atmosphere, the electric-field-driven oxidation process promoted the oxidation of the nitride layer, and the oxidation layer in the SiN/AlGaN interface leads to the decreasing of the surface leakage.     

Fabrication and characterization of V-gate AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors

V-gate GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are fabricated and investigated systematically. A V-shaped recess geometry is obtained using an improved Si3N4 recess etching technology. Compared with standard HEMTs, the fabricated V-gate HEMTs exhibit a 17% higher peak extrinsic transconductance due to a narrowed gate foot. Moreover, both the gate leakage and current dispersion are dramatically suppressed simultaneously, although a slight degradation of frequency response is observed. Based on a two-dimensional electric field simulation using Silvaco "ATLAS" for both standard HEMTs and V-gate HEMTs, the relaxation in peak electric field at the gate edge is identified as the predominant factor leading to the superior performance of V-gate HEMTs.     

The physical process analysis of the capacitance-voltage characteristics of AlGaN/AlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

This paper deduces the expression of the Schottky contact capacitance of AlGaN/AlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), which will help to understand the electron depleting process. Some material parameters related with capacitance-voltage profiling are given in the expression. Detailed analysis of the forward-biased capacitance has been carried on. The gate capacitance of undoped AlGaN/AlN/GaN HEMT will fall under forward bias. If a rising profile is obviously observed, the donor-like impurity or trap is possibly introduced in the barrier.     

GaN基HEMT器件的缺陷研究综述

GaN基高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)因具有高输出功率密度、高工作频率、高工作温度等优良特性,在高频大功率等领域具有广泛应用前景。目前,HEMT器件在材料生长和工艺制备方面都取得了巨大的进步。但是,由缺陷产生的陷阱效应一直是限制其发展的重要原因。本文首先论述了HEMT器件中的表面态、界面缺陷和体缺陷所在位置及其产生的原因。然后,阐述了由陷阱效应引起的器件电流崩塌、栅延迟、漏延迟、Kink效应等现象,从器件结构设计和工艺设计角度,总结提出了改善缺陷相关问题的主要措施,其中着重总结了器件盖帽层、表面处理、钝化层和场板结构4个方面的最新研究进展。最后,探索了GaN基HEMT器件在缺陷相关问题上的未来优化方向。     

AlGaN/GaN 高电子迁移率晶体管漏电流退化机理研究

本文首先制备了与AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管 (HEMT) 结构与特性等效的AlGaN/GaN异质结肖特基二极管, 采用步进应力测试比较了不同栅压下器件漏电流的变化情况, 然后基于电流-电压和电容-电压测试验证了退化前后漏电流的传输机理, 并使用失效分析技术光发射显微镜 (EMMI) 观测器件表面的光发射, 研究了漏电流的时间依赖退化机理. 实验结果表明: 在栅压高于某临界值后, 器件漏电流随时间开始增加, 同时伴有较大的噪声. 将极化电场引入电流与电场的依赖关系后, 器件退化前后的 log(I_FT/E)与√E 都遵循良好的线性关系, 表明漏电流均由电子Frenkel-Poole (FP) 发射主导. 退化后 log(I_FT/E)与√E 曲线斜率的减小, 以及利用EMMI在栅边缘直接观察到了与缺陷存在对应关系的“热点”, 证明了漏电流退化的机理是: 高电场在AlGaN层中诱发了新的缺陷, 而缺陷密度的增加导致了FP发射电流I_FT的增加. 关键词： AlGaN/GaN 高电子迁移率晶体管 漏电流 退化机理     

Reverse blocking enhancement of drain field plate in Schottky-drain AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors

In this paper, we present the combination of drain field plate(FP) and Schottky drain to improve the reverse blocking capability, and investigate the reverse blocking enhancement of drain FP in Schottky-drain AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors(HEMTs). Drain FP and gate FP were employed in a two-dimensional simulation to improve the reverse blocking voltage(VRB) and the forward blocking voltage(VFB). The drain-FP length, the gate-FP length and the passivation layer thickness were optimized. VRBand VFBwere improved from-67 V and 134 V to-653 V and 868 V respectively after optimization. Simulation results suggest that the combination of drain FP and Schottky drain can enhance the reverse blocking capability significantly.     

Direct-current and radio-frequency characteristics of passivated AlGaN/GaN/Si high electron mobility transistors

AlGaN/GaN/Si HEMTs grown by molecular beam epitaxy have been investigated using spectroscopy capacitance, direct and pulse current–voltage and small-signal microwave measurements. Passivation of the HEMT devices by SiO₂/SiN with NH₃ and N₂O pretreatments is made in order to reduce the trapping effects. As has been found from DLTS data, some of electron traps are eliminated after passivation. This has led to an improvement in the drain current. To describe the electron transport, we have developed a charge-control model by including the deep traps observed from DLTS experiments. The thermal and trapping effects have been, on the other hand, studied from a comparison between direct-current and pulsed conditions. As a result, a gate-lag and a drain-lag were revealed indicating the presence of deep lying centers in the gate-drain spacing. Finally, small-signal microwave results have shown that the radio-frequency parameters of the AlGaN/GaN/Si transistors are improved by SiO₂/SiN passivation and more increasingly with N₂O pretreatment.