WO2014179808A1 - Resurf iii-n high electron mobility transistor - Google Patents
Resurf iii-n high electron mobility transistor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2014179808A1 WO2014179808A1 PCT/US2014/036838 US2014036838W WO2014179808A1 WO 2014179808 A1 WO2014179808 A1 WO 2014179808A1 US 2014036838 W US2014036838 W US 2014036838W WO 2014179808 A1 WO2014179808 A1 WO 2014179808A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- layer
- semiconductor device
- low
- type
- gallium nitride
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 59
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 239000002800 charge carrier Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 230000005533 two-dimensional electron gas Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 229910002601 GaN Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 82
- JMASRVWKEDWRBT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Gallium nitride Chemical compound [Ga]#N JMASRVWKEDWRBT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 53
- 239000002019 doping agent Substances 0.000 claims description 43
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000005669 field effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052732 germanium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N germanium atom Chemical compound [Ge] GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 description 4
- ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Boron Chemical group [B] ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910052581 Si3N4 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910052796 boron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- HQVNEWCFYHHQES-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon nitride Chemical compound N12[Si]34N5[Si]62N3[Si]51N64 HQVNEWCFYHHQES-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- GYHNNYVSQQEPJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Gallium Chemical compound [Ga] GYHNNYVSQQEPJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- AUCDRFABNLOFRE-UHFFFAOYSA-N alumane;indium Chemical compound [AlH3].[In] AUCDRFABNLOFRE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- RNQKDQAVIXDKAG-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminum gallium Chemical compound [Al].[Ga] RNQKDQAVIXDKAG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PMHQVHHXPFUNSP-UHFFFAOYSA-M copper(1+);methylsulfanylmethane;bromide Chemical compound Br[Cu].CSC PMHQVHHXPFUNSP-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052733 gallium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910052738 indium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium atom Chemical compound [In] APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000005468 ion implantation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004518 low pressure chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000623 plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005641 tunneling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006677 Appel reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000004429 atom Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- NWAIGJYBQQYSPW-UHFFFAOYSA-N azanylidyneindigane Chemical compound [In]#N NWAIGJYBQQYSPW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007943 implant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000004433 nitrogen atom Chemical group N* 0.000 description 1
- TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Al]O[Al]=O TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000012239 silicon dioxide Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- MAKDTFFYCIMFQP-UHFFFAOYSA-N titanium tungsten Chemical compound [Ti].[W] MAKDTFFYCIMFQP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/02—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/12—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by the materials of which they are formed
- H01L29/20—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by the materials of which they are formed including, apart from doping materials or other impurities, only AIIIBV compounds
- H01L29/2003—Nitride compounds
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/02—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/06—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions
- H01L29/0603—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions characterised by particular constructional design considerations, e.g. for preventing surface leakage, for controlling electric field concentration or for internal isolations regions
- H01L29/0607—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions characterised by particular constructional design considerations, e.g. for preventing surface leakage, for controlling electric field concentration or for internal isolations regions for preventing surface leakage or controlling electric field concentration
- H01L29/0611—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions characterised by particular constructional design considerations, e.g. for preventing surface leakage, for controlling electric field concentration or for internal isolations regions for preventing surface leakage or controlling electric field concentration for increasing or controlling the breakdown voltage of reverse biased devices
- H01L29/0615—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions characterised by particular constructional design considerations, e.g. for preventing surface leakage, for controlling electric field concentration or for internal isolations regions for preventing surface leakage or controlling electric field concentration for increasing or controlling the breakdown voltage of reverse biased devices by the doping profile or the shape or the arrangement of the PN junction, or with supplementary regions, e.g. junction termination extension [JTE]
- H01L29/063—Reduced surface field [RESURF] pn-junction structures
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/40—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/41—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape, relative sizes or dispositions
- H01L29/417—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape, relative sizes or dispositions carrying the current to be rectified, amplified or switched
- H01L29/41725—Source or drain electrodes for field effect devices
- H01L29/41766—Source or drain electrodes for field effect devices with at least part of the source or drain electrode having contact below the semiconductor surface, e.g. the source or drain electrode formed at least partially in a groove or with inclusions of conductor inside the semiconductor
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/66—Types of semiconductor device ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/68—Types of semiconductor device ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor controllable by only the electric current supplied, or only the electric potential applied, to an electrode which does not carry the current to be rectified, amplified or switched
- H01L29/76—Unipolar devices, e.g. field effect transistors
- H01L29/772—Field effect transistors
- H01L29/778—Field effect transistors with two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel, e.g. HEMT ; with two-dimensional charge-carrier layer formed at a heterojunction interface
- H01L29/7786—Field effect transistors with two-dimensional charge carrier gas channel, e.g. HEMT ; with two-dimensional charge-carrier layer formed at a heterojunction interface with direct single heterostructure, i.e. with wide bandgap layer formed on top of active layer, e.g. direct single heterostructure MIS-like HEMT
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/02—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/06—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions
- H01L29/10—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions with semiconductor regions connected to an electrode not carrying current to be rectified, amplified or switched and such electrode being part of a semiconductor device which comprises three or more electrodes
- H01L29/107—Substrate region of field-effect devices
- H01L29/1075—Substrate region of field-effect devices of field-effect transistors
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/02—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/06—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions
- H01L29/10—Semiconductor bodies ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape; characterised by the shapes, relative sizes, or dispositions of the semiconductor regions ; characterised by the concentration or distribution of impurities within semiconductor regions with semiconductor regions connected to an electrode not carrying current to be rectified, amplified or switched and such electrode being part of a semiconductor device which comprises three or more electrodes
- H01L29/107—Substrate region of field-effect devices
- H01L29/1075—Substrate region of field-effect devices of field-effect transistors
- H01L29/1079—Substrate region of field-effect devices of field-effect transistors with insulated gate
- H01L29/1087—Substrate region of field-effect devices of field-effect transistors with insulated gate characterised by the contact structure of the substrate region, e.g. for controlling or preventing bipolar effect
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/40—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/41—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape, relative sizes or dispositions
- H01L29/423—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape, relative sizes or dispositions not carrying the current to be rectified, amplified or switched
- H01L29/42312—Gate electrodes for field effect devices
- H01L29/42316—Gate electrodes for field effect devices for field-effect transistors
- H01L29/4232—Gate electrodes for field effect devices for field-effect transistors with insulated gate
- H01L29/42356—Disposition, e.g. buried gate electrode
- H01L29/4236—Disposition, e.g. buried gate electrode within a trench, e.g. trench gate electrode, groove gate electrode
Definitions
- This relates in general to semiconductor devices, and in particular to RESURF III-N high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs).
- HEMTs high electron mobility transistors
- a gallium nitride field effect transistor may have traps in semiconductor layers below the two-dimensional electron gas, which cause undesirable instabilities during operation.
- a semiconductor device containing a GaN FET has n-type doping in at least one III-N semiconductor layer below a two-dimensional electron gas forming a channel of the GaN FET.
- a sheet charge carrier density of the n-type doping shields the two-dimensional electron gas from trapped changes and image charges below the two-dimensional electron gas.
- FIGS. 1-4 are cross sections of exemplary semiconductor devices containing GaN FETs.
- a semiconductor device containing a GaN FET has n-type doping in at least one III-N semiconductor layer below a two-dimensional electron gas forming a channel of the GaN FET.
- a sheet charge carrier density of the n-type doping shields the two-dimensional electron gas from trapped changes and image charges below the two-dimensional electron gas.
- Ill-Nitride (III-N) semiconductor materials are materials in which Group III (boron group) elements (boron, aluminum, gallium, indium) provide a portion of the atoms in the semiconductor material and nitrogen atoms provide the remainder.
- III-N semiconductor materials are gallium nitride, boron gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, indium nitride, and indium aluminum gallium nitride.
- III-N materials may be written with variable subscripts to denote a range of possible stoichiometries.
- aluminum gallium nitride may be written as Al x Gai_ x N and indium aluminum gallium nitride may be written as In x Al y Gai_ x _ y N.
- GaN FET is an example of a field effect transistor that includes III-N semiconductor materials.
- sheet charge carrier density is a net areal density of free charge carriers per unit of top surface area for a structure of interest (e.g., charge carriers per square centimeter).
- the sheet charge carrier density of a two-dimensional electron gas is a number of electrons in the two-dimensional electron gas under a square centimeter at a top surface of a barrier layer that generates the two-dimensional electron gas.
- the sheet charge carrier density of an n-type doped layer is a number of electrons in a conduction band of the n-type doped layer under a square centimeter at a top surface of the n-type doped layer.
- the sheet charge carrier density of a doped layer may be estimated by integrating the doping density (e.g., charge carriers per cubic centimeter) along a vertical axis, perpendicular to the top surface of the doped layer, from a bottom surface of the doped layer to the top surface.
- doping density e.g., charge carriers per cubic centimeter
- a reduced surface field (RESURF) region is useful for reducing an electric field in an adjacent semiconductor region.
- RESURF region is a semiconductor region with an opposite conductivity type from the adjacent semiconductor region. RESURF structures are described in Appels, et.al, "Thin Layer High Voltage Devices,” Philips J, Res. 35 1-13, 1980.
- FIGS. 1-4 are cross sections of exemplary semiconductor devices containing GaN FETs.
- a semiconductor device 100 is formed on a substrate 102, which may be, for example, a silicon wafer, or other substrate appropriate for fabrication of GaN FETs.
- a mismatch isolation layer 104 is formed on the substrate 102.
- the mismatch isolation layer 104 may be, for example, 100 to 300 nanometers of aluminum nitride.
- a buffer layer 106 is formed on the mismatch isolation layer 104.
- the buffer layer 106 may be, for example, 1 to 7 microns thick and include a stack of graded layers of Al x Gai_ x N which is aluminum rich at the mismatch isolation layer 104 and gallium rich at a top surface of the buffer layer 106.
- An electrical isolation layer 108 is formed on the buffer layer 106.
- the electrical isolation layer 108 may be, for example, 300 to 2000 nanometers of semi-insulating gallium nitride.
- the electrical isolation layer 108 may be, for example, semi-insulating to provide a desired level of electrical isolation between layers below the electrical isolation layer 108 and layers above the electrical isolation layer 608.
- the electrical isolation layer 108 may be doped with n-type or p-type dopants to reduce undesired effects of charge trapping on current density in the semiconductor device 100.
- a low-defect layer 110 is formed on the electrical isolation layer 108.
- the low-defect layer 110 may be, for example, 25 to 1000 nanometers of gallium nitride.
- the low-defect layer 110 may be formed so as to minimize crystal defects which may have an adverse effect on electron mobility.
- the method of formation of the low-defect layer 110 may result in the low-defect layer 110 being doped with carbon, iron or other dopant species, for example with a doping density less than 10 17 cm "3 .
- a barrier layer 112 is formed on the low-defect layer 110.
- the barrier layer 112 may be, for example, 2 to 30 nanometers of Al x Gai_ x N or In x Al y Gai_ x _ y N.
- a composition of group III elements in the barrier layer 112 may be, for example, 24 to 28 percent aluminum nitride and 72 to 76 percent gallium nitride.
- An optional cap layer 114 may be formed on the barrier layer 112.
- the cap layer 114 may be, for example, 2 to 5 nanometers of gallium nitride.
- An optional gate dielectric layer 116 may be formed over the barrier layer 112, and the cap layer 114 if present, to provide a desired threshold voltage.
- the gate dielectric layer 116 may include, for example, silicon nitride.
- n-type dopants are added so that a sheet charge carrier density of the electrical isolation layer 108 and the low-defect layer 110 provides a screen for trapped charges and image charges below the two-dimensional electron gas.
- the sheet charge carrier density of the electrical isolation layer 108 and the low-defect layer 110 may be 10 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the two-dimensional electron gas.
- the added n-type dopants may include, for example, mostly silicon and/or germanium dopants.
- the added n-type dopants may be added during epitaxial growth of the electrical isolation layer 108 and/or the low-defect layer 110.
- the added n-type dopants may be added by ion implantation after the electrical isolation layer 108 and/or the low-defect layer 110 is formed.
- An average doping density of the added n-type dopants may be, for example, l x lO 16 cm "3 to l x lO 17 cm "3 .
- a distribution of the added n-type dopants may be substantially uniform, or may be graded so that a doping density is higher at a bottom of the doped region than at a top of the doped region.
- a gate 118 is formed over the barrier layer 112, and on the gate dielectric layer 116 if present.
- the gate 118 may include, for example, III-N semiconductor material to provide a depletion mode FET. other types of gates are within the scope of the instant example.
- a source contact 120 is formed extending into the barrier layer 112, so as to form a tunneling connection to the two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 110.
- a drain contact 122 is formed extending into the barrier layer 112, so as to form a tunneling connection to the two-dimensional electron gas.
- the gate 118, the source contact 120 and the drain contact 122 are part of a GaN FET 124 of the semiconductor device 100.
- the semiconductor device 100 may contain other active components such as transistors or diodes besides the GaN FET 124.
- the GaN FET 124 may be the only active components of the semiconductor device 100.
- the source contact 120 may be laterally separated from the gate 118 by, for example, 500 to 1500 nanometers.
- the drain contact 122 is laterally separated from the gate 118 by a distance which depends on a maximum operating voltage of the GaN FET 124. For example, in a GaN FET 124 designed for a maximum operating voltage of 200 volts, the drain contact 122 may be laterally separated from the gate 118 by 1 to 8 microns.
- the drain contact 122 may be laterally separated from the gate 118 by 8 to 20 microns.
- the GaN FET 124 may be formed in and on a different layer structure that that depicted in FIG. 1.
- a semiconductor device 200 is formed on a substrate 202, a mismatch isolation layer 204 is formed on the substrate 202, a buffer layer 206 is formed on the mismatch isolation layer 204, and an electrical isolation layer 208 is formed on the buffer layer 206, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- the electrical isolation layer 208 is free of the added n-type dopants discussed in reference to FIG. 1.
- a p-type gallium nitride layer 226 is formed on the electrical isolation layer 208.
- the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 may be, for example, 200 nanometers to 1200 nanometers thick, and may include a low fraction of aluminum and/or indium to match a stoichiometry of the electrical isolation layer 208.
- the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 is doped with p-type dopants such as magnesium with an exemplary doping density of
- the p-type dopants may be added during epitaxial growth of the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 or may be added by ion implantation after the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 is formed.
- a low-defect layer 210 is formed on the p-type gallium nitride layer 226.
- the low-defect layer 210 may be, for example, 50 to 1000 nanometers of gallium nitride.
- N-type dopants are added to the low-defect layer 210 so that a sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 210 is 1 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of a subsequently generated two-dimensional electron gas.
- the doping density of the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 is selected to provide a sheet charge carrier density of 70 percent to 140 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 210.
- a barrier layer 212 is formed on the low-defect layer 210, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. Forming the barrier layer 212 on the low-defect layer 210 generates the two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 210 as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- An optional cap layer 214 may be formed on the barrier layer 212.
- An optional gate recess 228 may be formed in the barrier layer 212.
- the cap layer 214 is formed in the gate recess 228.
- a gate 218, for example a metal gate 218 of titanium tungsten, is formed on the cap layer 214 in the gate recess 228 to provide a depletion mode FET. Forming the gate 218 in the gate recess 228 may provide a desired threshold voltage. Other types of gates are within the scope of the instant example.
- a drain contact 222 is formed in the barrier layer 212, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- a source contact 220 is formed in the barrier layer 212 to make electrical contact with the two-dimensional electron gas.
- the source contact 220 may optionally also make electrical contact to the p-type gallium nitride layer 226.
- the gate 218, the source contact 220 and the drain contact 222 are part of a GaN FET 224 of the semiconductor device 200.
- electrons provided by the added n-type dopants in the low-defect layer 210 may advantageously fill a portion of traps in the low-defect layer 210.
- the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 may provide a RESURF layer to advantageously lower an electric field from the gate 218 and so reduce movement of electrons into and out of the traps.
- a semiconductor device 300 is formed on a substrate 302, a mismatch isolation layer 304 is formed on the substrate 302, a buffer layer 306 is formed on the mismatch isolation layer 304, and an electrical isolation layer 308 is formed on the buffer layer 306, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- a patterned p-type gallium nitride layer 326 is formed on the electrical isolation layer 308, extending from a source contact area past a gate area, and stopping before a drain area.
- a thickness and doping characteristics of the patterned p-type gallium nitride layer 326 is as described in reference to FIG. 2.
- the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 may be formed by ion implanting p-type dopants through an implant mask into a top portion of the electrical isolation layer 308 to convert it to p-type with the desired doping density.
- a blanket p-type gallium nitride layer may be grown using an epitaxial growth process, and subsequently patterned with an etch process.
- a low-defect layer 310 is formed on the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 and the electrical isolation layer 308.
- the low-defect layer 310 may be, for example, 50 to 1000 nanometers of gallium nitride.
- n-type dopants are added so that a sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 310 and the electrical isolation layer 308 is 1 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of a subsequently generated two-dimensional electron gas.
- the doping density of the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 is selected to provide a sheet charge carrier density of 70 percent to 140 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 310.
- a barrier layer 312 is formed on the low-defect layer 310, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. Forming the barrier layer 312 on the low-defect layer 310 generates the two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 310 as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- An optional cap layer 314 may be formed on the barrier layer 312.
- An optional gate recess 328 may be formed in the barrier layer 312. The cap layer 314 is formed in the gate recess 328.
- a gate dielectric layer 316 is formed over the cap layer 314 if present and over the barrier layer 312.
- the gate dielectric layer 316 may be, for example, 10 to 20 nanometers of silicon nitride formed by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). In other version of the instant example, the gate dielectric layer 316 may include one or more layers of silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, silicon oxynitride and/or aluminum oxide.
- the gate dielectric layer 316 is formed in the gate recess 328.
- a metal gate 318 is formed on the gate dielectric layer 316 in the gate recess 328 to provide an enhancement mode FET. Forming the gate 318 in the gate recess 328 may provide a desired threshold voltage. Other types of gates are within the scope of the instant example.
- a source contact 320 is formed in the barrier layer 312 to make electrical contact with the two-dimensional electron gas and the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 as described in reference to FIG. 2.
- a drain contact 322 is formed in the barrier layer 312, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- the gate 318, the source contact 320 and the drain contact 322 are part of a GaN FET 324 of the semiconductor device 300.
- the added n-type dopants in the low-defect layer 310 may advantageously fill a portion of traps as described in reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
- the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 may provide a RESURF layer to advantageously lower an electric field from the gate 318 as described in reference to FIG. 2.
- Forming the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 terminate before the drain region may increase a drain-source breakdown voltage of the GaN FET 324 compared to the GaN FET 224 of FIG. 2.
- a semiconductor device 400 is formed on a substrate 402, a mismatch isolation layer 404 is formed on the substrate 402, and a buffer layer 406 is formed on the mismatch isolation layer 404, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- a p-type gallium nitride layer 426 is formed on the buffer layer 406.
- a thickness and doping characteristics of the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 is as described in reference to FIG. 2.
- a low-defect layer 410 is formed on the p-type gallium nitride layer 426.
- the low-defect layer 410 may be, for example, 50 to 1000 nanometers of gallium nitride.
- n-type dopants are added so that a sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 410 and the electrical isolation layer 408 is 1 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of a subsequently generated two-dimensional electron gas.
- the doping density of the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 is selected to provide a sheet charge carrier density of 70 percent to 140 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 410.
- a barrier layer 412 is formed on the low-defect layer 410, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. Forming the barrier layer 412 on the low-defect layer 410 generates the two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 410 as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- An optional cap layer 414 may be formed on the barrier layer 412.
- a p-type III-N semiconductor gate 418 is formed on the cap layer 414 to provide an enhancement mode FET.
- the p-type III-N semiconductor gate 418 may include, for example, one or more layers of Al x Gai_ x N or In x Al y Gai_ x _ y N.
- the p-type III-N semiconductor gate 418 may include a metal layer over the semiconductor material.
- a source contact 420 is formed in the barrier layer 412 to make electrical contact with the two-dimensional electron gas and the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 as described in reference to FIG. 2.
- a drain contact 422 is formed in the barrier layer 412, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1.
- the gate 418, the source contact 420 and the drain contact 422 are part of a GaN FET 424 of the semiconductor device 400.
- the added n-type dopants in the low-defect layer 410 may advantageously fill a portion of traps as described in reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
- the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 may provide a RESURF layer to advantageously lower an electric field from the gate 418 as described in reference to FIG. 2. Forming the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 on the buffer layer 406 may advantageously reduce a fabrication cost and complexity of the semiconductor device 400.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- Junction Field-Effect Transistors (AREA)
Abstract
A semiconductor device (100) containing a GaN FET (124) has n-type doping in at least one III-N semiconductor layer of a low-defect layer (110) and an electrical isolation layer (108) below a barrier layer (112). A sheet charge carrier density of the n-type doping is 1 percent to 200 percent of a sheet charge carrier density of the two-dimensional electron gas.
Description
RESURF III-N HIGH ELECTRON MOBILITY TRANSISTOR
[0001] This relates in general to semiconductor devices, and in particular to RESURF III-N high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs).
BACKGROUND
[0002] A gallium nitride field effect transistor (GaN FET) may have traps in semiconductor layers below the two-dimensional electron gas, which cause undesirable instabilities during operation.
SUMMARY
[0003] A semiconductor device containing a GaN FET has n-type doping in at least one III-N semiconductor layer below a two-dimensional electron gas forming a channel of the GaN FET. A sheet charge carrier density of the n-type doping shields the two-dimensional electron gas from trapped changes and image charges below the two-dimensional electron gas.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIGS. 1-4 are cross sections of exemplary semiconductor devices containing GaN FETs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0001] The following describe related subject matter and are hereby incorporated by reference: Application No. US 13/886,378; US 2014/0042452 Al; Application No. US 13/886,429 (TI-71209WO corresponding PCT application filed simultaneously herewith); Application No. US 13/886,652 (TI-71492WO corresponding PCT application filed simultaneously herewith); Application No. US 13/886,709; and Application No. US 13/886,744 (TI-72605WO corresponding PCT application filed simultaneously herewith).
[0005] A semiconductor device containing a GaN FET has n-type doping in at least one III-N semiconductor layer below a two-dimensional electron gas forming a channel of the GaN FET. A sheet charge carrier density of the n-type doping shields the two-dimensional electron gas from trapped changes and image charges below the two-dimensional electron gas.
[0002] Ill-Nitride (III-N) semiconductor materials are materials in which Group III (boron group) elements (boron, aluminum, gallium, indium) provide a portion of the atoms in the semiconductor material and nitrogen atoms provide the remainder. Examples of III-N semiconductor materials are gallium nitride, boron gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, indium nitride, and indium aluminum gallium nitride. III-N materials may be written with variable subscripts to denote a range of possible stoichiometries. For example, aluminum gallium nitride may be written as AlxGai_xN and indium aluminum gallium nitride may be written as InxAlyGai_x_yN. GaN FET is an example of a field effect transistor that includes III-N semiconductor materials.
[0006] In one embodiment, "sheet charge carrier density" is a net areal density of free charge carriers per unit of top surface area for a structure of interest (e.g., charge carriers per square centimeter). In a first example, the sheet charge carrier density of a two-dimensional electron gas is a number of electrons in the two-dimensional electron gas under a square centimeter at a top surface of a barrier layer that generates the two-dimensional electron gas. In a second example, the sheet charge carrier density of an n-type doped layer is a number of electrons in a conduction band of the n-type doped layer under a square centimeter at a top surface of the n-type doped layer. The sheet charge carrier density of a doped layer may be estimated by integrating the doping density (e.g., charge carriers per cubic centimeter) along a vertical axis, perpendicular to the top surface of the doped layer, from a bottom surface of the doped layer to the top surface.
[0007] A reduced surface field (RESURF) region is useful for reducing an electric field in an adjacent semiconductor region. In one example, a RESURF region is a semiconductor region with an opposite conductivity type from the adjacent semiconductor region. RESURF structures are described in Appels, et.al, "Thin Layer High Voltage Devices," Philips J, Res. 35 1-13, 1980.
[0008] FIGS. 1-4 are cross sections of exemplary semiconductor devices containing GaN FETs. Referring to FIG. 1, a semiconductor device 100 is formed on a substrate 102, which may be, for example, a silicon wafer, or other substrate appropriate for
fabrication of GaN FETs. A mismatch isolation layer 104 is formed on the substrate 102. The mismatch isolation layer 104 may be, for example, 100 to 300 nanometers of aluminum nitride. A buffer layer 106 is formed on the mismatch isolation layer 104. The buffer layer 106 may be, for example, 1 to 7 microns thick and include a stack of graded layers of AlxGai_xN which is aluminum rich at the mismatch isolation layer 104 and gallium rich at a top surface of the buffer layer 106.
[0009] An electrical isolation layer 108 is formed on the buffer layer 106. The electrical isolation layer 108 may be, for example, 300 to 2000 nanometers of semi-insulating gallium nitride. The electrical isolation layer 108 may be, for example, semi-insulating to provide a desired level of electrical isolation between layers below the electrical isolation layer 108 and layers above the electrical isolation layer 608. Alternatively, the electrical isolation layer 108 may be doped with n-type or p-type dopants to reduce undesired effects of charge trapping on current density in the semiconductor device 100.
[0010] A low-defect layer 110 is formed on the electrical isolation layer 108. The low-defect layer 110 may be, for example, 25 to 1000 nanometers of gallium nitride. The low-defect layer 110 may be formed so as to minimize crystal defects which may have an adverse effect on electron mobility. The method of formation of the low-defect layer 110 may result in the low-defect layer 110 being doped with carbon, iron or other dopant species, for example with a doping density less than 1017 cm"3.
[0011] A barrier layer 112 is formed on the low-defect layer 110. The barrier layer 112 may be, for example, 2 to 30 nanometers of AlxGai_xN or InxAlyGai_x_yN. A composition of group III elements in the barrier layer 112 may be, for example, 24 to 28 percent aluminum nitride and 72 to 76 percent gallium nitride. Forming the barrier layer 112 on the low-defect layer 110 generates a two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 110 just below the barrier layer 112 with an electron density, that is a sheet charge carrier density, for example, l x lO12 to 2>< 1013 cm"2. An optional cap layer 114 may be formed on the barrier layer 112. The cap layer 114 may be, for example, 2 to 5 nanometers of gallium nitride. An optional gate dielectric layer 116 may be formed
over the barrier layer 112, and the cap layer 114 if present, to provide a desired threshold voltage. The gate dielectric layer 116 may include, for example, silicon nitride.
[0012] During formation of the electrical isolation layer 108 and/or the low-defect layer 110, n-type dopants are added so that a sheet charge carrier density of the electrical isolation layer 108 and the low-defect layer 110 provides a screen for trapped charges and image charges below the two-dimensional electron gas. In one version of the instant example, the sheet charge carrier density of the electrical isolation layer 108 and the low-defect layer 110 may be 10 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the two-dimensional electron gas.
[0013] The added n-type dopants may include, for example, mostly silicon and/or germanium dopants. The added n-type dopants may be added during epitaxial growth of the electrical isolation layer 108 and/or the low-defect layer 110. Alternatively, the added n-type dopants may be added by ion implantation after the electrical isolation layer 108 and/or the low-defect layer 110 is formed. An average doping density of the added n-type dopants may be, for example, l x lO16 cm"3 to l x lO17 cm"3. A distribution of the added n-type dopants may be substantially uniform, or may be graded so that a doping density is higher at a bottom of the doped region than at a top of the doped region.
[0014] A gate 118 is formed over the barrier layer 112, and on the gate dielectric layer 116 if present. The gate 118 may include, for example, III-N semiconductor material to provide a depletion mode FET. other types of gates are within the scope of the instant example. A source contact 120 is formed extending into the barrier layer 112, so as to form a tunneling connection to the two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 110. Similarly, a drain contact 122 is formed extending into the barrier layer 112, so as to form a tunneling connection to the two-dimensional electron gas. The gate 118, the source contact 120 and the drain contact 122 are part of a GaN FET 124 of the semiconductor device 100. In one version of the instant example, the semiconductor device 100 may contain other active components such as transistors or diodes besides the GaN FET 124. In another version, the GaN FET 124 may be the only active components of the semiconductor device 100. The source contact 120 may be laterally separated
from the gate 118 by, for example, 500 to 1500 nanometers. The drain contact 122 is laterally separated from the gate 118 by a distance which depends on a maximum operating voltage of the GaN FET 124. For example, in a GaN FET 124 designed for a maximum operating voltage of 200 volts, the drain contact 122 may be laterally separated from the gate 118 by 1 to 8 microns. In a GaN FET 124 designed for a maximum operating voltage of 600 volts, the drain contact 122 may be laterally separated from the gate 118 by 8 to 20 microns. The GaN FET 124 may be formed in and on a different layer structure that that depicted in FIG. 1.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, a semiconductor device 200 is formed on a substrate 202, a mismatch isolation layer 204 is formed on the substrate 202, a buffer layer 206 is formed on the mismatch isolation layer 204, and an electrical isolation layer 208 is formed on the buffer layer 206, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. In the instant example, the electrical isolation layer 208 is free of the added n-type dopants discussed in reference to FIG. 1.
[0016] A p-type gallium nitride layer 226 is formed on the electrical isolation layer 208. The p-type gallium nitride layer 226 may be, for example, 200 nanometers to 1200 nanometers thick, and may include a low fraction of aluminum and/or indium to match a stoichiometry of the electrical isolation layer 208. The p-type gallium nitride layer 226 is doped with p-type dopants such as magnesium with an exemplary doping density of
17 3 19 3
l x lO1 ' cm° to 8 l0iy cm" . The p-type dopants may be added during epitaxial growth of the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 or may be added by ion implantation after the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 is formed.
[0017] A low-defect layer 210 is formed on the p-type gallium nitride layer 226. The low-defect layer 210 may be, for example, 50 to 1000 nanometers of gallium nitride. N-type dopants are added to the low-defect layer 210 so that a sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 210 is 1 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of a subsequently generated two-dimensional electron gas. The doping density of the p-type gallium nitride layer 226 is selected to provide a sheet charge carrier density of 70 percent to 140 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 210.
[0018] A barrier layer 212 is formed on the low-defect layer 210, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. Forming the barrier layer 212 on the low-defect layer 210 generates the two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 210 as described in reference to FIG. 1. An optional cap layer 214 may be formed on the barrier layer 212. An optional gate recess 228 may be formed in the barrier layer 212. The cap layer 214 is formed in the gate recess 228. A gate 218, for example a metal gate 218 of titanium tungsten, is formed on the cap layer 214 in the gate recess 228 to provide a depletion mode FET. Forming the gate 218 in the gate recess 228 may provide a desired threshold voltage. Other types of gates are within the scope of the instant example.
[0019] A drain contact 222 is formed in the barrier layer 212, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. A source contact 220 is formed in the barrier layer 212 to make electrical contact with the two-dimensional electron gas. The source contact 220 may optionally also make electrical contact to the p-type gallium nitride layer 226. The gate 218, the source contact 220 and the drain contact 222 are part of a GaN FET 224 of the semiconductor device 200.
[0020] During operation of the semiconductor device 200, electrons provided by the added n-type dopants in the low-defect layer 210 may advantageously fill a portion of traps in the low-defect layer 210. The p-type gallium nitride layer 226 may provide a RESURF layer to advantageously lower an electric field from the gate 218 and so reduce movement of electrons into and out of the traps.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, a semiconductor device 300 is formed on a substrate 302, a mismatch isolation layer 304 is formed on the substrate 302, a buffer layer 306 is formed on the mismatch isolation layer 304, and an electrical isolation layer 308 is formed on the buffer layer 306, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1.
[0022] A patterned p-type gallium nitride layer 326 is formed on the electrical isolation layer 308, extending from a source contact area past a gate area, and stopping before a drain area. A thickness and doping characteristics of the patterned p-type gallium nitride layer 326 is as described in reference to FIG. 2. In one version of the instant example, the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 may be formed by ion
implanting p-type dopants through an implant mask into a top portion of the electrical isolation layer 308 to convert it to p-type with the desired doping density. In another version, a blanket p-type gallium nitride layer may be grown using an epitaxial growth process, and subsequently patterned with an etch process.
[0023] A low-defect layer 310 is formed on the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 and the electrical isolation layer 308. The low-defect layer 310 may be, for example, 50 to 1000 nanometers of gallium nitride. During formation of the low-defect layer 310, and possibly the electrical isolation layer 308, n-type dopants are added so that a sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 310 and the electrical isolation layer 308 is 1 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of a subsequently generated two-dimensional electron gas. The doping density of the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 is selected to provide a sheet charge carrier density of 70 percent to 140 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 310.
[0024] A barrier layer 312 is formed on the low-defect layer 310, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. Forming the barrier layer 312 on the low-defect layer 310 generates the two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 310 as described in reference to FIG. 1. An optional cap layer 314 may be formed on the barrier layer 312. An optional gate recess 328 may be formed in the barrier layer 312. The cap layer 314 is formed in the gate recess 328. A gate dielectric layer 316 is formed over the cap layer 314 if present and over the barrier layer 312. The gate dielectric layer 316 may be, for example, 10 to 20 nanometers of silicon nitride formed by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). In other version of the instant example, the gate dielectric layer 316 may include one or more layers of silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, silicon oxynitride and/or aluminum oxide. The gate dielectric layer 316 is formed in the gate recess 328. A metal gate 318 is formed on the gate dielectric layer 316 in the gate recess 328 to provide an enhancement mode FET. Forming the gate 318 in the gate recess 328 may provide a desired threshold voltage. Other types of gates are within the scope of the instant example.
[0025] A source contact 320 is formed in the barrier layer 312 to make electrical contact with the two-dimensional electron gas and the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 as described in reference to FIG. 2. A drain contact 322 is formed in the barrier layer 312, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. The gate 318, the source contact 320 and the drain contact 322 are part of a GaN FET 324 of the semiconductor device 300.
[0026] During operation of the semiconductor device 300, the added n-type dopants in the low-defect layer 310 may advantageously fill a portion of traps as described in reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 may provide a RESURF layer to advantageously lower an electric field from the gate 318 as described in reference to FIG. 2. Forming the partial p-type gallium nitride layer 326 terminate before the drain region may increase a drain-source breakdown voltage of the GaN FET 324 compared to the GaN FET 224 of FIG. 2.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a semiconductor device 400 is formed on a substrate 402, a mismatch isolation layer 404 is formed on the substrate 402, and a buffer layer 406 is formed on the mismatch isolation layer 404, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1.
[0028] A p-type gallium nitride layer 426 is formed on the buffer layer 406. A thickness and doping characteristics of the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 is as described in reference to FIG. 2. A low-defect layer 410 is formed on the p-type gallium nitride layer 426. The low-defect layer 410 may be, for example, 50 to 1000 nanometers of gallium nitride. During formation of the low-defect layer 410 n-type dopants are added so that a sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 410 and the electrical isolation layer 408 is 1 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of a subsequently generated two-dimensional electron gas. The doping density of the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 is selected to provide a sheet charge carrier density of 70 percent to 140 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer 410.
[0029] A barrier layer 412 is formed on the low-defect layer 410, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. Forming the barrier layer 412 on the low-defect layer
410 generates the two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer 410 as described in reference to FIG. 1. An optional cap layer 414 may be formed on the barrier layer 412. A p-type III-N semiconductor gate 418 is formed on the cap layer 414 to provide an enhancement mode FET. The p-type III-N semiconductor gate 418 may include, for example, one or more layers of AlxGai_xN or InxAlyGai_x_yN. The p-type III-N semiconductor gate 418 may include a metal layer over the semiconductor material.
[0030] A source contact 420 is formed in the barrier layer 412 to make electrical contact with the two-dimensional electron gas and the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 as described in reference to FIG. 2. A drain contact 422 is formed in the barrier layer 412, for example as described in reference to FIG. 1. The gate 418, the source contact 420 and the drain contact 422 are part of a GaN FET 424 of the semiconductor device 400.
[0031] During operation of the semiconductor device 400, the added n-type dopants in the low-defect layer 410 may advantageously fill a portion of traps as described in reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The p-type gallium nitride layer 426 may provide a RESURF layer to advantageously lower an electric field from the gate 418 as described in reference to FIG. 2. Forming the p-type gallium nitride layer 426 on the buffer layer 406 may advantageously reduce a fabrication cost and complexity of the semiconductor device 400.
[0032] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the described embodiments, and also that many other embodiments are possible, within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A semiconductor device, comprising:
a substrate;
an electrical isolation layer formed over the substrate, the electrical isolation layer comprising mostly gallium nitride;
a low-defect layer formed over the electrical isolation layer, the low-defect layer comprising mostly gallium nitride;
a barrier layer of III-N semiconductor material formed on the low-defect layer; and
a gate of a gallium nitride field effect transistor (GaN FET) formed over the barrier layer;
wherein at least one of the electrical isolation layer and the low-defect layer includes added n-type dopants so that a sheet charge carrier density of the added n-type dopants is 1 percent to 200 percent of a sheet charge carrier density of a two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer, the two-dimensional electron gas being generated by formation of the barrier layer on the low-defect layer.
2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, and comprising a p-type gallium nitride layer formed between the electrical isolation layer and the low-defect layer, the p-type gallium nitride layer extending under a source contact of the GaN FET and under the gate, the p-type gallium nitride layer having a sheet charge carrier density of 70 percent to 140 percent of a sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer.
3. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein the p-type gallium nitride layer does not extend under a drain contact of the GaN FET.
4. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein a p-type dopant species of the p-type gallium nitride layer is mostly magnesium.
5. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein a source contact of the GaN FET makes electrical contact to the p-type gallium nitride layer.
6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the electrical isolation layer is substantially free of the added n-type dopants.
7. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the low-defect layer is substantially free of the added n-type dopants.
8. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein an n-type dopant species of a majority of the added n-type dopants is selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium.
9. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein an n-type dopant species of the added n-type dopants is mostly carbon.
10. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the sheet charge carrier density of the added n-type dopants is 10 percent to 200 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the two-dimensional electron gas.
11. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein an average doping density of the added n-type dopants is l lO16 cm"3 to l lO17 cm"3.
12. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the added n-type dopants are substantially uniformly distributed.
13. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the added n-type dopants is graded so as to have a higher doping density at a bottom of added n-type dopants than at a top of the added n-type dopants.
14. A semiconductor device, comprising:
a substrate;
a p-type gallium nitride layer formed over the substrate;
a low-defect layer formed over the p-type gallium nitride layer , the low-defect layer comprising mostly gallium nitride;
a barrier layer of III-N semiconductor material formed on the low-defect layer; and
a gate of a gallium nitride field effect transistor (GaN FET) formed over the barrier layer;
wherein:
the low-defect layer includes added n-type dopants so that a sheet charge carrier density of the added n-type dopants is 1 percent to 200 percent of a sheet charge carrier density of a two-dimensional electron gas in the low-defect layer, the two-dimensional electron gas being generated by formation of the barrier layer on the low-defect layer; and
the p-type gallium nitride layer has a sheet charge carrier density of 70 percent to 140 percent of the sheet charge carrier density of the low-defect layer.
15. The semiconductor device of claim 14, wherein a p-type dopant species of the p-type gallium nitride layer is mostly magnesium.
16. The semiconductor device of claim 14, wherein a source contact of the GaN FET makes electrical contact to the p-type gallium nitride layer.
17. The semiconductor device of claim 14, wherein an n-type dopant species of the added n-type dopants is mostly silicon.
18. The semiconductor device of claim 14, wherein an n-type dopant species of the added n-type dopants is mostly carbon.
19. The semiconductor device of claim 14, wherein an average doping density of the added n-type dopants is l lO16 cm"3 to l lO17 cm"3.
20. The semiconductor device of claim 14, wherein the added n-type dopants are substantially uniformly distributed.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP14791236.4A EP2992559A4 (en) | 2013-05-03 | 2014-05-05 | Resurf iii-n high electron mobility transistor |
CN201480024429.2A CN105190896B (en) | 2013-05-03 | 2014-05-05 | RESURF III-N high electron mobility transistor |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/886,688 | 2013-05-03 | ||
US13/886,688 US8759879B1 (en) | 2013-05-03 | 2013-05-03 | RESURF III-nitride HEMTs |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2014179808A1 true WO2014179808A1 (en) | 2014-11-06 |
Family
ID=50944046
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2014/036838 WO2014179808A1 (en) | 2013-05-03 | 2014-05-05 | Resurf iii-n high electron mobility transistor |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US8759879B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2992559A4 (en) |
CN (1) | CN105190896B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014179808A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (21)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9054027B2 (en) | 2013-05-03 | 2015-06-09 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | III-nitride device and method having a gate isolating structure |
US9443969B2 (en) * | 2013-07-23 | 2016-09-13 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. | Transistor having metal diffusion barrier |
US9559161B2 (en) | 2014-11-13 | 2017-01-31 | Infineon Technologies Austria Ag | Patterned back-barrier for III-nitride semiconductor devices |
US9590087B2 (en) * | 2014-11-13 | 2017-03-07 | Infineon Technologies Austria Ag | Compound gated semiconductor device having semiconductor field plate |
US9583607B2 (en) | 2015-07-17 | 2017-02-28 | Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. | Semiconductor device with multiple-functional barrier layer |
US9876102B2 (en) | 2015-07-17 | 2018-01-23 | Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. | Semiconductor device with multiple carrier channels |
US9685545B2 (en) * | 2015-11-25 | 2017-06-20 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Isolated III-N semiconductor devices |
KR102402771B1 (en) | 2015-12-11 | 2022-05-26 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same |
US10192980B2 (en) | 2016-06-24 | 2019-01-29 | Cree, Inc. | Gallium nitride high-electron mobility transistors with deep implanted p-type layers in silicon carbide substrates for power switching and radio frequency applications and process for making the same |
US10840334B2 (en) | 2016-06-24 | 2020-11-17 | Cree, Inc. | Gallium nitride high-electron mobility transistors with deep implanted p-type layers in silicon carbide substrates for power switching and radio frequency applications and process for making the same |
US11430882B2 (en) * | 2016-06-24 | 2022-08-30 | Wolfspeed, Inc. | Gallium nitride high-electron mobility transistors with p-type layers and process for making the same |
US10892356B2 (en) | 2016-06-24 | 2021-01-12 | Cree, Inc. | Group III-nitride high-electron mobility transistors with buried p-type layers and process for making the same |
JP2018026431A (en) * | 2016-08-09 | 2018-02-15 | 株式会社東芝 | Nitride semiconductor device |
CN106920844B (en) * | 2017-03-09 | 2019-11-29 | 电子科技大学 | A kind of RESURF HEMT device with N-type floating buried layer |
US11522078B2 (en) * | 2017-07-07 | 2022-12-06 | Indian Institute Of Science | High electron mobility transistor (HEMT) with RESURF junction |
US10553712B2 (en) * | 2017-07-12 | 2020-02-04 | Indian Institute Of Technology | High-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) |
US20210126120A1 (en) * | 2019-10-23 | 2021-04-29 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Modification of electric fields of compound semiconductor devices |
JP7258735B2 (en) * | 2019-12-13 | 2023-04-17 | 株式会社東芝 | semiconductor equipment |
JP2023551728A (en) * | 2020-12-02 | 2023-12-12 | アナログ ディヴァイスィズ インク | Compound semiconductor devices with conductive components to control electrical properties |
US11929428B2 (en) | 2021-05-17 | 2024-03-12 | Wolfspeed, Inc. | Circuits and group III-nitride high-electron mobility transistors with buried p-type layers improving overload recovery and process for implementing the same |
US20230078017A1 (en) * | 2021-09-16 | 2023-03-16 | Wolfspeed, Inc. | Semiconductor device incorporating a substrate recess |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2002076024A (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2002-03-15 | Sharp Corp | Iii-v nitride compound semiconductor device |
WO2003049193A1 (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2003-06-12 | Cree, Inc. | Strain balanced nitride heterojunction transistors and methods of fabricating strain balanced nitride heterojunction transistors |
US20040137761A1 (en) * | 2002-07-17 | 2004-07-15 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Method for fabricating semiconductor device |
US20100117118A1 (en) * | 2008-08-07 | 2010-05-13 | Dabiran Amir M | High electron mobility heterojunction device |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3751791B2 (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2006-03-01 | 日本電気株式会社 | Heterojunction field effect transistor |
JP2004006461A (en) * | 2002-05-31 | 2004-01-08 | Nec Corp | Semiconductor device |
JP4332720B2 (en) * | 2003-11-28 | 2009-09-16 | サンケン電気株式会社 | Method for manufacturing plate-like substrate for forming semiconductor element |
JP2007294769A (en) * | 2006-04-26 | 2007-11-08 | Toshiba Corp | Nitride semiconductor element |
JP2008130655A (en) * | 2006-11-17 | 2008-06-05 | Toshiba Corp | Semiconductor element |
US8564020B2 (en) * | 2009-07-27 | 2013-10-22 | The Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology | Transistors and rectifiers utilizing hybrid electrodes and methods of fabricating the same |
US8389977B2 (en) * | 2009-12-10 | 2013-03-05 | Transphorm Inc. | Reverse side engineered III-nitride devices |
JP5611653B2 (en) * | 2010-05-06 | 2014-10-22 | 株式会社東芝 | Nitride semiconductor device |
US8796738B2 (en) * | 2011-09-21 | 2014-08-05 | International Rectifier Corporation | Group III-V device structure having a selectively reduced impurity concentration |
-
2013
- 2013-05-03 US US13/886,688 patent/US8759879B1/en active Active
-
2014
- 2014-05-05 WO PCT/US2014/036838 patent/WO2014179808A1/en active Application Filing
- 2014-05-05 CN CN201480024429.2A patent/CN105190896B/en active Active
- 2014-05-05 EP EP14791236.4A patent/EP2992559A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2002076024A (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2002-03-15 | Sharp Corp | Iii-v nitride compound semiconductor device |
WO2003049193A1 (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2003-06-12 | Cree, Inc. | Strain balanced nitride heterojunction transistors and methods of fabricating strain balanced nitride heterojunction transistors |
US20040137761A1 (en) * | 2002-07-17 | 2004-07-15 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Method for fabricating semiconductor device |
US20100117118A1 (en) * | 2008-08-07 | 2010-05-13 | Dabiran Amir M | High electron mobility heterojunction device |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of EP2992559A4 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8759879B1 (en) | 2014-06-24 |
CN105190896A (en) | 2015-12-23 |
CN105190896B (en) | 2021-01-26 |
EP2992559A4 (en) | 2017-08-02 |
EP2992559A1 (en) | 2016-03-09 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8759879B1 (en) | RESURF III-nitride HEMTs | |
US10985270B2 (en) | Nitride power transistor and manufacturing method thereof | |
US10312361B2 (en) | Trenched vertical power field-effect transistors with improved on-resistance and breakdown voltage | |
US10868134B2 (en) | Method of making transistor having metal diffusion barrier | |
US9130026B2 (en) | Crystalline layer for passivation of III-N surface | |
US7935985B2 (en) | N-face high electron mobility transistors with low buffer leakage and low parasitic resistance | |
US9842922B2 (en) | III-nitride transistor including a p-type depleting layer | |
US9184258B2 (en) | GaN based semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same | |
US9214539B2 (en) | Gallium nitride transistor with a hybrid aluminum oxide layer as a gate dielectric | |
EP3520144A1 (en) | Doped gate dielectric materials | |
US20140042452A1 (en) | Iii-nitride enhancement mode transistors with tunable and high gate-source voltage rating | |
US9048304B2 (en) | Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device | |
US9640624B2 (en) | Semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor | |
WO2015175915A1 (en) | Trenched vertical power field-effect transistors with improved on-resistance and breakdown voltage | |
US11329148B2 (en) | Semiconductor device having doped seed layer and method of manufacturing the same | |
CN114175219A (en) | Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same | |
US8901609B1 (en) | Transistor having doped substrate and method of making the same | |
He et al. | The influence of Al composition in AlGaN back barrier layer on leakage current and dynamic RON characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs | |
US9865724B1 (en) | Nitride semiconductor device | |
US11152498B2 (en) | Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same | |
JP7512620B2 (en) | Nitride Semiconductor Device | |
EP3714489A1 (en) | Vertical gan transistor with insulating channel and the method of forming the same | |
CN109712888A (en) | GaNHEMT device and its manufacturing method | |
EP2747144A1 (en) | Gate leakage of GaN HEMTs and GaN diodes |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 201480024429.2 Country of ref document: CN |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 14791236 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2014791236 Country of ref document: EP |