Effect of the source field plate on AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors during off-state stress

L. Liu, T. S. Kang, D. A. Cullen, L. Zhou, J. Kim, C. Y. Chang, E. A. Douglas, S. Jang, D. J. Smith, S. J. Pearton, W. J. Johnson, F. Ren

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

    1 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The effects of source field plates on AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor reliability under off-state stress conditions were investigated using step-stress cycling. The source field plate enhanced the drain breakdown voltage from 55V to 155V and the critical voltage for off-state gate stress from 40V to 65V, relative to devices without the field plate. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine the degradation of the gate contacts and revealed the presence of cracking due to the inverse piezoelectric effect that appeared on both source and drain side of the gate edges. A thin oxide layer was observed between the Ni gate contact and the Semiconductor, and both Ni and oxygen diffused into the AlGaN layer after stress.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationState-of-the-Art Program on Compound Semiconductors 53, SOTAPOCS 53
    PublisherElectrochemical Society Inc.
    Pages41-49
    Number of pages9
    Edition6
    ISBN (Electronic)9781607682608
    ISBN (Print)9781566779067
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2011
    EventState-of-the-Art Program on Compound Semiconductors 53, SOTAPOCS 53 - 220th ECS Meeting - Boston, MA, United States
    Duration: Oct 9 2011Oct 14 2011

    Publication series

    NameECS Transactions
    Number6
    Volume41
    ISSN (Print)1938-5862
    ISSN (Electronic)1938-6737

    Conference

    ConferenceState-of-the-Art Program on Compound Semiconductors 53, SOTAPOCS 53 - 220th ECS Meeting
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityBoston, MA
    Period10/9/1110/14/11

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