Influence of the structural and compositional properties of PECVD silicon nitride layers on the passivation of AIGaN/GaN HEMTs

F. Karouta, M.C.J.C.M. Krämer, J.J.M. Kwaspen, A. Grzegorczyk, P.R. Hageman, B. Hoex, W.M.M. Kessels, J.H. Klootwijk, E.C. Timmering, M.K. Smit

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have investigated the influence of the structural and compositional properties of silicon nitride layers on the passivation of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs grown on sapphire substrates by assessing their continuous wave (CW) and pulsed current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. We have looked at the effect of various PECVD parameters like gas composition (SiH4/NH3 ratio and ammoniafree SiNx), process pressure, plasma power and deposition temperature. The best SiNx layer is Si-rich and has a refractive index of 2.01, an extinction coefficient of 0.03 at 3.44 eV and an optical band gap of 2.87eV. The best device performance was only achieved when the optimized SiNx layer was used in conjunction with a low-power Ar-plasma after the metallization of the ohmic contacts and cleaning using an ammonia dip just before the Schottky gate metallization. The latter treatment accounted for a substantial reduction of the gate and drain leakage currents densities from 6.7 mA/mm to 400 µA/mm. © The Electrochemical Society.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationproceedings of the. ECS Fall Meeting, Symposium Nitrides and Wide-bandgap Semiconductors (E7), October 12 - October 17, 2008, Honolulu, Hawaii
EditorsJ. Wang, K. Shiojima
PublisherECS
Pages181-191
ISBN (Print)978-1-56677-653-0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
EventECS Fall Meeting, Symposium Nitrides and Wide-bandgap Semiconductors (E7), October 12-17, 2008, Honolulu, HI, USA - Honolulu, HI, United States
Duration: 12 Oct 200817 Oct 2008

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
Volume16
ISSN (Print)1938-6737

Conference

ConferenceECS Fall Meeting, Symposium Nitrides and Wide-bandgap Semiconductors (E7), October 12-17, 2008, Honolulu, HI, USA
Abbreviated title214th ECS Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu, HI
Period12/10/0817/10/08
Other214th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society : State-of-the-Art Program on Compound Semiconductors 49(SOTAPOCS 49) -and- Nitrides and Wide Bandgap Semiconductors for Sensors, Photonics, and ...

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