A highly integrable p-GaN MSM photodetector with GaN n-channel MISFET for UV image sensor system

A metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) ultraviolet (UV) photodetector (PD) is proposed as an effective UV sensing device for integration with a GaN n-channel MISFET on auto-doped p-type GaN grown on a silicon substrate. Due to the high hole barrier of the metal-p-GaN contact, the dark current density of the fabricated MSM PD was less than $3\;nA/cm^2$ at a bias of up to 5 V. Meanwhile, the UV/visible rejection ratio was 400 and the cutoff wavelength of the spectral responsivity was 365 nm. However, the UV/visible ratio was limited by the sub-bandgap response, which was attributed to defectrelated deep traps in the p-GaN layer of the MSM PD. In conclusion, an MSM PD has a high process compatibility with the n-channel GaN Schottky barrier MISFET fabrication process and epitaxy on a silicon substrate.