Publications

Al_0.85Ga_0.15N/Al_0.70Ga_0.30N High Electron Mobility Transistors with Schottky Gates and Large On/Off Current Ratio over Temperature

Baca, A.G.; Klein, Brianna A.; Allerman, A.A.; Armstrong, Andrew A.; Douglas, Erica A.; Stephenson, Chad A.; Fortune, Torben R.; Kaplar, Robert K.

AlGaN-channel high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) are among a class of ultra wide-bandgap transistors that are promising candidates for RF and power applications. Long-channel Al_xGa_1-xN HEMTs with x = 0.7 in the channel have been built and evaluated across the -50°C to +200°C temperature range. These devices achieved room temperature drain current as high as 46 mA/mm and were absent of gate leakage until the gate diode forward bias turn-on at ~2.8 V, with a modest -2.2 V threshold voltage. A very large I_on/I_off current ratio, of 8 × 10⁹ was demonstrated. A near ideal subthreshold slope that is just 35% higher than the theoretical limit across the temperature range was characterized. The ohmic contact characteristics were rectifying from -50°C to +50°C and became nearly linear at temperatures above 100°C. An activation energy of 0.55 eV dictates the temperature dependence of off-state leakage.