Magnetotransport properties of two-dimensional electron gas in AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructures

Magnetotransport measurements are carried out on the AlGaN/AlN/GaN in an SiC heterostructure, which demonstrates the existence of the high-quality two-dimensional electron gas (2DGE) at the AlN/GaN interface. While the carrier concentration reaches 1.32 × 10¹³ cm ^{- 2} and stays relatively unchanged with the decreasing temperature, the mobility of the 2DEG increases to 1.21 × 10⁴ cm²/(V·s) at 2 K. The Shubnikov—de Haas (SdH) oscillations are observed in a magnetic field as low as 2.5 T at 2 K. By the measurements and the analyses of the temperature-dependent SdH oscillations, the effective mass of the 2DEG is determined. The ratio of the transport lifetime to the quantum scattering time is 9 in our sample, indicating that small-angle scattering is predominant.     

高温AlN插入层对AlGaN/GaN异质结材料和HEMTs器件电学特性的影响

研究了在GaN缓冲层中插入40 nm厚高温AlN层的GaN外延层和AlGaN/GaN异质结材料, AlN插入层可以增加GaN层的面内压应力并提高AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管（HEMTs）的电学特性. 在精确测量布拉格衍射角的基础上定量计算了压应力的大小. 增加的压应力一方面通过增强GaN层的压电极化电场, 提高了AlGaN/GaN异质结二维电子气（2DEG）面密度, 另一方面使AlGaN势垒层对2DEG面密度产生的两方面影响相互抵消. 同时, 这种AlN插入层的采用降低了GaN与AlGaN层之间的 关键词： 高温AlN插入层 AlGaN/GaN异质结 二维电子气 应力     

使用AlN/GaN超晶格势垒层生长高Al组分AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构

在蓝宝石衬底上生长了以AlN/GaN超晶格准AlGaN合金作为势垒的HEMT结构材料,并与传统AlGaN合金势垒样品进行了对比.在高Al组分(≥40%)情况下,超晶格势垒样品的表面形貌明显改进,电学性能特别是2DEG面电子浓度也有所改进.对超晶格势垒生长参数进行了初步优化,使得HEMT结构薄层电阻进一步降低,最后获得了251 Ω/□的薄层电阻. 关键词： AlGaN/GaN 结构 AlN/GaN超晶格 二维电子气 高电子迁移率晶体管     

AlGaN/AlN/GaN结构中二维电子气的输运特性

对使用金属有机物汽相沉积法生长的AlGaN/AlN/GaN结构进行的变温霍尔测量，测量结果指出在AlN/GaN界面处有二维电子气存在且迁移率和浓度在2K时分别达到了1.4×10⁴cm²·V^-1·s^-1和9.3×10¹²cm^-2，且在200K到2K范围内二维电子气的浓度基本不变，变磁场霍尔测量发现只有一种载流子(电子)参与导电.在2K温度下，观察到量子霍尔效应，Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) 振荡在磁场约为3T时出现，证明了此结构呈现了典型的二维电子气行为.通过实验数据对二维电子气散射过程的半定量分析，推出量子散射时间为0.23ps，比以往报道的AlGaN/GaN结构中的散射时间长，说明引入AlN层可以有效减小合金散射，进一步的推断分析发现低温下以小角度散射占主导地位.     

纤锌矿AlGaN/AlN/GaN异质结构中光学声子散射影响的电子迁移率

对含有AlN插入层纤锌矿Al_xGa_1-xN/AlN/GaN异质结构,考虑有限厚势垒和导带弯曲的实际 异质结势,同时计入自发极化和压电极化效应产生的内建电场作用,采用数值自洽求解薛定谔方程和泊松方程, 获得二维电子气(2DEG)中电子的本征态和本征能级.依据介电连续模型和Loudon单轴晶体模型, 用转移矩阵法分析该体系中可能存在的光学声子模及三元混晶效应.进一步, 在室温下计及各种可能存在的光学声子散射,推广雷-丁平衡方程方法,讨论2DEG分布及二维电子迁移率的 尺寸效应和三元混晶效应.结果显示: AlN插入层厚度和Al_xGa_1-xN势垒层中Al组分的增加均会 增强GaN层中的内建电场强度,致使2DEG的分布更靠近异质结界面,使界面光学声子强于其他类型的 光学声子对电子的散射作用而成为影响电子迁移率的主导因素.适当调整AlN插入层的厚度和Al组分, 可获得较高的电子迁移率.     

Degradation mechanism of two-dimensional electron gas density in high Al-content AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

This paper finds that the two-dimensional electron gas density in high Al-content AlGaN/GaN heterostructures exhibits an obvious time-dependent degradation after the epitaxial growth. The degradation mechanism was investigated in depth using Hall effect measurements, high resolution x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The results reveal that the formation of surface oxide is the main reason for the degradation, and the surface oxidation always occurs within the surface hexagonal defects for high Al-content AlGaN/GaN heterostructures.     

N极性GaN/AlGaN异质结二维电子气模拟

通过自洽求解薛定谔方程和泊松方程,较系统地研究了GaN沟道层、AlGaN背势垒层、Si掺杂和AlN插入层对N极性GaN/AlGaN异质结中二维电子气(2DEG)的影响,分析表明,GaN沟道层厚度、AlGaN背势垒层厚度及Al组分变大都能一定程度上提高二维电子气面密度,AlGaN背势垒层的厚度和Al组分变大也可提高二维电子气限阈性,且不同的Si掺杂形式对二维电子气的影响也有差异,而AlN插入层在提高器件二维电子气面密度、限阈性等方面表现都较为突出,在模拟中GaN沟道层厚度小于5nm时无法形成二维电子气,超过20nm后二维电子气面密度趋于饱和,而AlGaN背势垒厚度超过40nm后二维电子气也有饱和趋势,对均匀掺杂和delta掺杂而言AlGaN背势垒层Si掺杂浓度超过5×10~(19)cm~(-3)后2DEG面密度开始饱和,而厚度为2nmAlN插入层的引入会使2DEG面密度从无AlN插入层时的0.93×10~(13)cm~(-2)提高到1.17×10~(13)cm~(-2)。     

The low-temperature mobility of two-dimensional electron gas in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

To reveal the internal physics of the low-temperature mobility of two-dimensional electron gas （2DEG） in Al- GaN/GaN heterostructures, we present a theoretical study of the strong dependence of 2DEG mobility on Al content and thickness of AlGaN barrier layer. The theoretical results are compared with one of the highest measured of 2DEG mobility reported for AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. The 2DEG mobility is modelled as a combined effect of the scat- tering mechanisms including acoustic deformation-potential, piezoelectric, ionized background donor, surface donor, dislocation, alloy disorder and interface roughness scattering. The analyses of the individual scattering processes show that the dominant scattering mechanisms are the alloy disorder scattering and the interface roughness scattering at low temperatures. The variation of 2DEG mobility with the barrier layer parameters results mainly from the change of 2DEG density and distribution. It is suggested that in AlGaN/GaN samples with a high Al content or a thick AlGaN layer, the interface roughness scattering may restrict the 2DEG mobility significantly, for the AlGaN/GaN interface roughness increases due to the stress accumulation in AlGaN layer.     

Electron mobility in the linear region of an AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistor

We simulate the current-voltage （I-V） characteristics of AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors （HFETs） with different gate lengths using the quasi-two-dimensional （quasi-2D） model. The calculation results obtained using the modified mobility model are found to accord well with the experimental data. By analyzing the variation of the electron mobility for the two-dimensional electron gas （213EG） with the electric field in the linear region of the AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFET I-V output characteristics, it is found that the polarization Coulomb field scattering still plays an important role in the electron mobility of AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFETs at the higher drain voltage and channel electric field. As drain voltage and channel electric field increase, the 2DEG density reduces and the polarization Coulomb field scattering increases, as a result, the 2DEG electron mobility decreases.     

Electric field driven plasmon dispersion in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

We present a theoretical study on the electric field driven plasmon dispersion of the two-dimensional electron gas(2DEG)in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors(HEMTs).By introducing a drifted Fermi–Dirac distribution,we calculate the transport properties of the 2DEG in the AlGaN/GaN interface by employing the balance-equation approach based on the Boltzmann equation.Then,the nonequilibrium Fermi–Dirac function is obtained by applying the calculated electron drift velocity and electron temperature.Under random phase approximation(RPA),the electric field driven plasmon dispersion is investigated.The calculated results indicate that the plasmon frequency is dominated by both the electric field and the angle between wavevector and electric field.Importantly,the plasmon frequency could be tuned by the applied source–drain bias voltage besides the gate voltage(change of the electron density).     

Influence of drain bias on the electron mobility in AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors

Using measured capacitance-voltage curves and current-voltage characteristics for the AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors with different gate lengths and drain-to-source distances,the influence of drain bias on the electron mobility is investigated.It is found that below the knee voltage the longitudinal optical(LO) phonon scattering and interface roughness scattering are dominant for the sample with a large ratio of gate length to drain-to-source distance(here 4/5),and the polarization Coulomb field scattering is dominant for the sample with a small ratio(here 1/5).However,the above polarization Coulomb field scattering is weakened in the sample with a small drain-to-source distance(here 20 μm) compared with the one with a large distance(here 100 μm).This is due to the induced strain in the AlGaN layer caused by the drain bias.     

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.     

晶格匹配InAlN/GaN和InAlN/AlN/GaN材料二维电子气输运特性研究

文章研究了InAlN/GaN和引入AlN界面插入层形成的InAlN/AlN/GaN材料的输运性质. 样品均在蓝宝石上以脉冲金属有机物化学气相淀积法生长,霍尔迁移率变温特性具有典型的二维电子气(2DEG)特征. 综合各种散射机理包括声学形变势散射、压电散射、极性光学声子散射、位错散射、合金无序散射和界面粗糙度散射,理论分析了温度对迁移率的影响,发现室温下两种材料中2DEG支配性的散射机理都是极性光学波散射和界面粗糙度散射;AlN插入层对InAlN/GaN材料迁移率的改善作用一方面是免除2DEG的合金无序散射,另外还显著改善异质界面,抑制了界面粗糙度散射. 考虑到2DEG密度也是影响其迁移率的重要因素,结合实验数据给出了晶格匹配InAlN/GaN和InAlN/AlN/GaN材料的2DEG迁移率随电子密度变化的理论上限. 关键词： InAlN/GaN 二维电子气 迁移率     

Normally-off AlGaN/GaN heterojunction field-effect transistors with in-situ AlN gate insulator

AlGaN/GaN heterojunction field-effect transistors (HFETs) with p-GaN cap layer are developed for normally-off operation, in which an in-situ grown AlN layer is utilized as the gate insulator. Compared with the SiN_x gate insulator, the AlN/p-GaN interface presents a more obvious energy band bending and a wider depletion region, which helps to positively shift the threshold voltage. In addition, the relatively large conduction band offset of AlN/p-GaN is beneficial to suppress the gate leakage current and enhance the gate breakdown voltage. Owing to the introduction of AlN layer, normally-off p-GaN capped AlGaN/GaN HFET with a threshold voltage of 4 V and a gate swing of 13 V is realized. Furthermore, the field-effect mobility is approximately 1500 cm²·V^-1·s^-1 in the 2DEG channel, implying a good device performance.     

Investigating gate metal induced reduction of surface donor density in GaN/AlGaN/GaN heterostructure by electroreflectance spectroscopy

The internal field of GaN/AlGaN/GaN heterostructure on Si-substrate was investigated by varying the thickness of an undoped-GaN capping layer using electroreflectance spectroscopy. The four samples investigated are AlGaN/GaN heterostructure without a GaN cap layer (reference sample) and three other samples with GaN/AlGaN/GaN heterostructures in which the different thickness of GaN cap layer (2.7 nm, 7.5 nm, and 12.4 nm) has been considered. The sheet carrier density (n_s) of a two-dimensional electron gas has decreased significantly from 4.66 × 10¹² cm⁻² to 2.15 × 10¹² cm⁻² upon deposition of a GaN capping layer (12.4 nm) over the reference structure. Through the analysis of internal fields in each GaN capping and AlGaN barrier layers, it has been concluded that the undiminished surface donor states (n_s) of a reference structure and the reduced n_s caused by the Au gate metal are approximately 5.66 × 10¹² cm⁻² and 1.08 × 10¹² cm⁻², respectively.     

Influence of Schottky drain contacts on the strained AlGaN barrier layer of AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors

Rectangular Schottky drain AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs) with different gate contact areas and conventional AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFETs as control were both fabricated with same size. It was found there is a significant difference between Schottky drain AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFETs and the control group both in drain series resistance and in two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) electron mobility in the gate-drain channel. We attribute this to the different influence of Ohmic drain contacts and Schottky drain contacts on the strained AlGaN barrier layer. For conventional AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFETs, annealing drain Ohmic contacts gives rise to a strain variation in the AlGaN barrier layer between the gate contacts and the drain contacts, and results in strong polarization Coulomb field scattering in this region. In Schottky drain AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFETs, the strain in the AlGaN barrier layer is distributed more regularly.     

AlGaN/GaN异质结载流子面密度测量的比较与分析

对MOCVD技术在蓝宝石衬底上生长的不同Al组分AlGaN/GaN异质结进行了范德堡法Hall测量和电容-电压(C-V)测量，发现Hall测量载流子面密度值大于C-V测量值，并且随着AlGaN层Al组分的增加，两种测量值都在增加，同时它们的差值也在增加.认为产生这一结果的原因有两方面.一方面，Ni/Au肖特基金属淀积在AlGaN/GaN异质结上，改变了AlGaN势垒层的表面状态，使得一部分二维电子气(2DEG)电子被抽取到空的施主表面态中，从而减小了AlGaN/GaN异质结界面势阱中的2DEG浓度.随着势垒层Al组分的增加，AlGaN层产生了更多的表面态，从而使得更多的电子被抽取到了空的表面态中.另一方面，由于C-V测量本身精确度受到串联电阻的影响，使得测量电容小于实际电容，从而低估了载流子浓度.     

High temperature characteristics of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

Direct current (DC) and pulsed measurements are performed to determine the degradation mechanisms of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) under high temperature. The degradation of the DC characteristics is mainly attributed to the reduction in the density and the mobility of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The pulsed measurements indicate that the trap assisted tunneling is the dominant gate leakage mechanism in the temperature range of interest. The traps in the barrier layer become active as the temperature increases, which is conducive to the electron tunneling between the gate and the channel. The enhancement of the tunneling results in the weakening of the current collapse effects, as the electrons trapped by the barrier traps can escape more easily at the higher temperature.     

3 MeV质子辐照对AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管的影响

研究了AlGaN/GaN 高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)的质子辐照效应. 在3 MeV质子辐照下, 当辐照剂量达到1× 10¹⁵ protons/cm²时, 漏极饱和电流下降了20%, 最大跨导降低了5%. 随着剂量增加, 阈值电压向正向漂移, 栅泄露电流增加. 在相同辐照剂量下, 1.8 MeV质子辐照要比3 MeV质子辐照退化严重. 从SRIM软件仿真中得到不同能量质子在AlGaN/GaN异质结中的辐射损伤区, 以及在一定深度形成的空位密度. 结合变频C-V测试结果进行分析, 表明了质子辐照引入空位缺陷可能是AlGaN/GaN HEMT器件电学特性退化的主要原因.     

Novel attributes of AlGaN/AlN/GaN/SiC HEMTs with the multiple indented channel

In this paper, a high performance AlGaN/AlN/GaN/SiC High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) with the multiple indented channel (MIC-HEMT) is proposed. The main focus of the proposed structure is based on reduction of the space around the gate, stop of the spread of the depletion region around the source–drain, and decrement of the thickness of the channel between the gate and drain. Therefore, the breakdown voltage increases, meanwhile the elimination of the gate depletion layer extension to source/drain decreases the gate–source and gate–drain capacitances. The optimized results reveal that the breakdown voltage and the drain saturation current increase about 178% and 46% compared with a conventional HEMT (C-HEMT), respectively. Therefore, the maximum output power density is improved by factor 4.1 in comparison with conventional one. Also, the cut-off frequency of 25.2 GHz and the maximum oscillation frequency of 92.1 GHz for the MIC-HEMT are obtained compared to 13 GHz and 43 GHz for that of the C-HEMT and the minimum figure noise decreased consequently of reducing the gate–drain and gate–source capacitances by about 42% and 40%, respectively. The proposed MIC-HEMT shows a maximum stable gain (MSG) exceeding 24.1 dB at 3.1 GHz which the greatest gain is yet reported for HEMTs, showing the potential of this device for high power RF applications.