Ohmic contact formation between metal and AlGaN/GaN heterostructure via graphene insertion

Abstract

A simple method for the creation of Ohmic contact to 2D electron gas in AlGaN/GaN high electron-mobility transistors using Cr/graphene layer is demonstrated. A weak temperature dependence of this Ohmic contact observed in the range 77 to 300 K precludes thermionic emission or trap-assisted hopping as possible carrier-transport mechanisms. It is suggested that the Cr/graphene combination acts akin to a doped n-type semiconductor in contact with AlGaN/GaN heterostructure, and promotes carrier transport along percolating Al-lean paths through the AlGaN layer. This use of graphene offers a simple method for making Ohmic contacts to AlGaN/GaN heterostructures, circumventing complex additional processing steps involving high temperatures. These results could have important implications for the fabrication and manufacturing of AlGaN/GaN-based microelectronic and optoelectronic devices/sensors of the future.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 15, 2013
Source ID
10.1063/1.4801940

Entities

People

  • Digbijoy N. Nath
  • K. M. Reddy
  • Nitin P Padture
  • Pil Sung Park
  • Siddharth Rajan
  • Zhichao Yang

Organizations

  • Brown University
  • National Science Foundation
  • Office of Naval Research
  • Ohio State University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Semiconductor Device Technology
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene