Degradation of AlGaN/GaN Schottky diodes on silicon: Role of defects at the AlGaN/GaN interface

Abstract

We report on a detailed investigation of the degradation of AlGaN/GaN Schottky diodes grown on silicon, submitted to high reverse-bias. The analyzed devices have a vertical structure; thanks to this feature, it was possible (i) to characterize the effects of stress by means of capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements, therefore, identifying and localizing the trap states generated as a consequence of the stress tests; (ii) to accurately control the intensity and distribution of the electric field over stress time. Results indicate that stress induces an increase in the leakage current, which is well correlated to the increase of a new capacitance peak in the C-V characteristics. Based on experimental data and bidimensional simulations, degradation is ascribed to the generation of donor traps in the GaN buffer, close to the AlGaN/GaN interface.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 22, 2013
Source ID
10.1063/1.4802011

Entities

People

  • Alessandro Chini
  • Antonio Stocco
  • Denis Marcon
  • E. Zanoni
  • Gabriele Dal Santo
  • Gaudenzio Meneghesso
  • Marco Bertin
  • Matteo Meneghini
  • Pawel E. Malinowski

Organizations

  • Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre
  • Office of Naval Research
  • University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
  • University of Padua

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Materials science

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Semiconductor Device Technology