• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.601-609
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• 2017

Gallium nitride (GaN) power switching devices are promising candidates for high switching frequency and high efficiency power conversion due to their fast switching, low on-state resistance, and high-temperature operation capability. In order to facilitate the use of these new devices better, it is required to investigate the device characteristics and performance in detail preferably by comparing with various conventional silicon (Si) devices. This paper presents a comprehensive study of GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) based non-isolated point-of-load (POL) synchronous buck converter operating at 2.7 MHz with a high step-down ratio (24 V to 3.3 V). The characteristics and performance of GaN HEMT and three different Si devices are analytically investigated and the optimal operating point for GaN HEMT is discussed. Zero-voltage switching (ZVS) is implemented to minimize switching loss in high switching frequency operation. The prototype circuit and experimental data support the validity of analytical and simulation results.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.649-657
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• 2008

This paper describes the optimized output performances such as output power and the third order intermodulation in GaN high power transistor packages which consist of chip die, chip capacitors, and wire bonding. The optimized output power according to wire bonding techniques, and third order intermodulation performances according to wire bonding and bias conditions are discussed. In addition, it is shown through the nonlinear simulation that how the output performances are sensitive to the inductance values which are realized by wire bonding for matching network in the limited package area.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2019

An active clamp flyback (ACF) converter applies a clamp circuit and circulates the energy of leakage inductance to the input side, thereby achieving a zero-voltage switching (ZVS) operation and greatly reducing switching losses. The switching losses are further reduced by applying a gallium nitride field effect transistor (GaN-FET) with excellent switching characteristics, and ZVS operation can be accomplished under light load with boundary conduction mode (BCM) operation. Optimal design is performed on the basis of loss analysis by selecting magnetization inductance based on BCM operation and a clamp capacitor for loss reduction. Therefore, the size of the reactive element can be reduced through high-frequency operation, and a high-efficiency and high-power-density converter can be achieved. This study proposes an optimal design for a high-efficiency and high-power-density BCM ACF converter based on GaN-FETs and verifies it through experimental results of a 65 W-rated prototype.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.326-329
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• 2019

Gallium nitride(GaN) has been a superior candidate for the next generation power electronics. As GaN-on-Si substrate technology is mature, there has been new demand for monolithic integration of GaN technology with Si CMOS devices. In this work, (110)Si CMOS process was developed and the fabricated devices were evaluated in order to confirm the feasibility of utilizing domestic foundry facility for monolithic integration of Si CMOS and GaN power devices.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.9-15
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• 2018

This paper shows the principles and characteristics of the transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding technology for power modules packaging. The power module is semiconductor parts that change and manage power entering electronic devices, and demand is increasing due to the advent of the fourth industrial revolution. Higher operation temperatures and increasing current density are important for the performance of power modules. Conventional power modules using Si chip have reached the limit of theoretical performance development. In addition, their efficiency is reduced at high temperature because of the low properties of Si. Therefore, Si is changed to silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). Various methods of bonding have been studied, like Ag sintering and Sn-Au solder, to keep up with the development of chips, one of which is TLP bonding. TLP bonding has the advantages in price and junction temperature over other technologies. In this paper, TLP bonding using various materials and methods is introduced. In addition, new TLP technologies that are combined with other technologies such as metal powder mixing and ultrasonic technology are also reviewed.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2021

GaN has shown good potential owing to its better chemical stability than other materials and tunable bandgap with materials such as InN and AlN. Tunable bandgap allows GaN to make the maximum utilization of the solar spectrum, thus improves the solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency. In addition, GaN band gap contains the oxidation and reduction level of water, so it can split water without external voltage. However, STH efficiency using GaN itself is low and has been actively studied recently to improve it. In this thesis, we have summarized the studies related to the use of GaN as a photoelectrode for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2022

We analyzed the effects of the interface trap on the output characteristics of an inversion mode n-channel GaN Schottky barrier (SB)-MOSFET based on the N_it distribution using TCAD simulation. As interface trap number density (N_it) increased, the threshold voltage increased while the drain current density decreased. Under N_it=5.0×10¹⁰ cm^-2 condition, the threshold voltage was 3.2 V for V_DS=1 V, and the drain current density reduced to 2.4 mA/mm relative to the non-trap condition. Regardless of the N_it distribution type, there was an increase in the subthreshold swing (SS) following an increase in N_it. Under U-shaped N_it distribution, it was confirmed that the SS varied depending on the gate voltage. The interface fixed charge (Q_f) caused an shift in the threshold voltage and increased the off-state current collectively with the surface trap. In summary, GaN SB-MOSFET can be a building block for high power UV optoelectronic circuit provided the surface state is significantly reduced.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.11-21
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• 2022

GaN (Gallium-Nitride) is a promising candidate material in various radio frequency applications due to its inherent properties including wide bandgap, high carrier concentration, and high electron mobility/saturation velocity. Notably, AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field effect transistor exhibits high operating voltage and high power-density/power at high frequency. In next-generation radar systems, GaN power transistors and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) are significant components of transmitting and receiving modules. In this paper, we introduce technological trends for C-/X-/Ku-band GaN MMICs including power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers and switch MMICs, focusing on the status of GaN MMIC fabrication technology and GaN foundry service. Additionally, we review the research for the localization of C-/X-/Ku-band GaN MMICs using in-house GaN transistor and MMIC fabrication technology. We also discuss the results of C-/X-/Ku-band GaN MMICs developed at Defense Materials and Components Convergence Research Department in ETRI.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.467-478
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• 2019

This paper describes the development and measurement results of a wide-band planar active phase array antenna system for an electronic warfare jamming transmitter. The system is designed as an $8{\times}8$ triangular lattice array using a $45^{\circ}$ slant wide-band antenna. The 64-element transmission channel is composed of a wide-band gallium nitride(GaN) solid state power amplifier and a gallium arsenide(GaAs) multi-function core chip(MFC). Each GaAs MFC includes a true-time delay circuit to avoid a wide-band beam squint, a digital attenuator, and a GaAs drive amplifier to electronically steer the transmitted beam over a ${\pm}45^{\circ}$ azimuth angle and ${\pm}25^{\circ}$ elevation angle scan. Measurement of the transmitted beam pattern is conducted using a near-field measurement facility. The EIRP of the designed system, which is 9.8 dB more than the target EIRP performance(P), and the ${\pm}45^{\circ}$ azimuth and ${\pm}25^{\circ}$ elevation beam steering fulfill the desired specifications.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.101-104
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• 2008

GaN films were grown on the vertical and horizontal reactors by the hydride vapour phase epitaxy (HVPE). The structural and optical characteristics of the GaN films were investigated depending on the reactor-type. GaN epilayers were characterized by double crystal X-ray diffraction (DC-XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL). Surface defects of two kinds of the GaN films were revealed by the wet chemical etching method, using $H_3PO_4$ acid at $200^{\circ}C$ for 8 minutes. Hexagonal etch pits were analyzed by optical microscopy and SEM. Etch pit densities were calculated to be approximately $1.4{\times}10^7$ and $1.2{\times}10^6\;cm^{-2}$ for GaN layers grown on horizontal and vertical reactors, respectively. Those results show GaN grown in the vertical reactor having a better quality of optical properties and crystallinity than that in the horizontal reactor.