• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.161-166
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• 2013

AlN buffer layers have been used for the growth of GaN layers on Si substrates. However, the doping of high concentration of carriers into AlN layers is still not easy, therefore it may cause the increase of series resistance when it is used for the electrical or optical devices. In this work, to improve such a problem, the growth of GaN layers on Si substrates were performed using metal buffer layers instead of AlN buffer layer. We tried combinations of Ti, Al, Cr and Au as metal buffer layers for the growth of GaN on Si substrates. Surface morphology was measured by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and optical properties and crystalline quality were measured by photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively. Electrical resistances for both cases of AlN and metal buffer layer were compared by current-voltage (I-V) measurement.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2020

In this research, 50 nm thick AlN thin films were deposited on the patterned sapphire (0001) substrate by using HVPE (Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy) system and then epitaxial layer structure was grown by MOCVD (metal organic chemical vapor deposition). The surface morphology of the AlN buffer layer film was observed by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and AFM (atomic force microscope), and then the crystal structure of GaN films of the epitaxial layer structure was investigated by HR-XRC (high resolution X-ray rocking curve). The XRD peak intensity of GaN thin film of epitaxial layer structure deposited on AlN buffer layer film and sapphire substrate was rather higher in case of that on PSS than normal sapphire substrate. In AFM surface image, the epitaxial layer structure formed on AlN buffer layer showed rather low pit density and less defect density. In the optical output power, the epitaxial layer structure formed on AlN buffer layer showed very high intensity compared to that of the epitaxial layer structure without AlN thin film.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2013

Self-heating effects during operation of high current AlGaN/GaN power transistors degrade the current-voltage characteristics. In particular, this problem becomes serious when a low thermal conductivity Si substrate is used. In this work, AlGaN/GaN-on-Si devices were fabricated with various channel widths and Si substrate thicknesses in which the structure dependent self-heating effects were investigated by temperature dependent measurements as well as thermal simulation. Accordingly, a device structure that can effectively dissipate the heat was proposed in order to achieve the maximum current in a multi-channel, large area device. Employing via-holes and common electrodes with a 100 ${\mu}m$ Si substrate thickness improved the current level by 75% reducing the channel temperature by 68%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.391-392
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• 2012

In these days, the desire for the precise and tiny displays in mobile application has been increased strongly. Currently, laser displays ranging from large-size laser TV to mobile projectors, are commercially available or due to appear on the market [1]. In order to achieve a mobile projectors, the semiconductor laser diodes should be used as a laser source due to their size and weight. In this presentation, the continuous etch characteristics of Pd and AlGaN/GaN superlattice for the fabrication of blue laser diodes were investigated by using inductively coupled $CHF_3$ and $Cl_2$ -based plasma. The GaN laser diode samples were grown on the sapphire (0001) substrate using a metal organic chemical vapor deposition system. A Si-doped GaN layer was grown on the substrate, followed by growth of LD structures, including the active layers of InGaN/GaN quantum well and barriers layer, as shown in other literature [2], and the palladium was used as a p-type ohmic contact metal. The etch rate of AlGaN/GaN superlattice (2.5/2.5 nm for 100 periods) and n-GaN by using $Cl_2$ (90%)/Ar (10%) and $Cl_2$ (50%)/$CHF_3$ (50%) plasma chemistry, respectively. While when the $Cl_2$/Ar plasma were used, the etch rate of AlGaN/GaN superlattice shows a similar etch rate as that of n-GaN, the $Cl_2/CHF_3$ plasma shows decreased etch rate, compared with that of $Cl_2$/Ar plasma, especially for AlGaN/GaN superlattice. Furthermore, it was also found that the Pd which is deposited on top of the superlattice couldn't be etched with $Cl_2$/Ar plasma. It was indicating that the etching step should be separated into 2 steps for the Pd etching and the superlattice etching, respectively. The etched surface of stacked Pd/superlattice as a result of 2-step etching process including Pd etching ($Cl_2/CHF_3$) and SLs ($Cl_2$/Ar) etching, respectively. EDX results shows that the etched surface is a GaN waveguide free from the Al, indicating the SLs were fully removed by etching. Furthermore, the optical and electrical properties will be also investigated in this presentation. In summary, Pd/AlGaN/GaN SLs were successfully etched exploiting noble 2-step etching processes.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.125-129
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• 2016

In this study, we have investigated a high-temperature AlN nucleation layer and AlGaN epilayers on c-plane sapphire substrate by low-pressure metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (LP-MOCVD). High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Raman scattering measurements have been exploited to study the crystal quality, surface morphology, and residual strain of the HT-AlN nucleation layer. These analyses reveal that the insertion of an LT-AlN nucleation layer can improve the crystal quality, smooth the surface morphology of the HT-AlN nucleation layer and further reduce the threading dislocation density of AlGaN epifilms. The mechanism of inserting an LT-AlN nucleation layer to enhance the optical properties of HT-AlN nucleation layer and AlGaN epifilm are discussed from the viewpoint of driving force of reaction in this paper.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.722-727
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• 2022

In this paper, we present the design and characterization of a power amplifier (PA) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) in the X-band. The device is designed using a 0.25 ㎛ gate length AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) on SiC process. The developed X-band AlGaN/GaN power amplifier MMIC achieves small signal gain of over 21.6 dB and output power more than 46.11 dBm (40.83 W) in the entire band of 9 GHz to 10 GHz. Its power added efficiency (PAE) is 43.09% ~ 44.47% and the chip dimensions are 3.6 mm × 4.3 mm. The generated output power density is 2.69 W/mm². It seems that the developed AlGaN/GaN power amplifier MMIC could be applicable to various X-band radar systems operating X-band.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2000

In this paper, we present n-channel GaAs MOSFET having $Al_2O_3$ as gate in insulator fabricated on a semi-insulating GaAs substrate. 1 ${\mu}$m thick undoped GaAs buffer layer, 1500 ${\AA}$ thick n-type GaAs, undoped 500 ${\AA}$ thick AlAs layer, and 50 ${\AA}$ GaAs caplayer were subsequently grown by molecular beam epitaxy(MBE) on (100) oriented semi-insulating GaAs substrate oxidized. When it was wet oxidized, AlAs layer was fully converted $Al_2O_3$. The I-V, $g_m$, breakdown charateristics of the fabricated GaAs MOSFET showed that wet thermal oxidation of AlAs/GaAs epilayer/S${\cdot}$I GaAs was suitable in realizing depletion mode GaAs MOSFET.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.554-562
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• 2015

This paper presents the design and analysis of gate-recessed AlGaN/GaN Fin-type Field-Effect Transistor (FinFET). The three-dimensional (3-D) technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations were performed to analyze the direct-current (DC) and radio-frequency (RF) characteristics for AlGaN/GaN FinFETs. The fin width ($W_{fin}$) and the height of GaN layer ($H_{GaN}$) are the design parameters used to improve the electrical performances of gate-recessed AlGaN/GaN FinFET.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2019

Hydrogen energy has positive effects as an alternative energy source to overcome the energy shortage issues. On the other hand, since stability is very important in use, sensor technology that enables accurate and rapid detection of hydrogen gas is highly required. In this study, hydrogen sensor was developed on AlGaN/GaN heterostructure platform using Pd catalyst where a recess structure was employed to improve the sensitivity. Temperature and bias voltage dependencies on sensitivity were carefully investigated using a hydrogen concentration of 4% that is the safety threshold concentration. Due to the excellent properties of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure in conjunction with the recess structure, a very high sensitivity of 56% was achieved with a fast response speed of 0.75 sec.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.348-352
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• 2016

In this paper, GaN film was grown on AlN/PSS by hydride vapor phase epitaxy compared with GaN on planar sapphire. Thin AlN layer for buffer layer was deposited on patterned sapphire substrate (PSS) by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Surface roughness of GaN/AlN on PSS was remarkably decreased from 28.31 to 5.53 nm. Transmittance of GaN/AlN grown on PSS was lower than that of planar sapphire at entire range. XRD spectra of GaN/AlN grown on PSS corresponded the wurzite structure and c-axis oriented. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) values of ${\omega}$-scan X-ray rocking curve (XRC) for GaN/AlN grown on PSS were 196 and 208 arcsec for symmetric (0 0 2) and asymmetric (1 0 2), respectively. FWHM of GaN on AlN/PSS was improved more than 50% because of lateral overgrowth and AlN buffer effect.