• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.345-355
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• 2011

GaAs-based metamorphic high electron mobility transistors (MHEMTs) and InP-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) have good microwave and millimeter-wave frequency performance with lower minimum noise figure. MHEMTs have some advantages, especially for cost, compared with InP-based ones. In this paper, InAlAs/InxGa1-xAs/GaAs MHEMTs are simulated for DC/RF small-signal analysis. The hydrodynamic simulation parameters are calibrated to a fabricated 0.1-${\mu}m$ ${\Gamma}$-gate MHEMT device having the modulation-doped $In_{0.52}Al_{0.48}As/In_{0.53}Ga_{0.47}As$ heterostructure on the GaAs substrate, and the simulations for RF small-signal characteristics are performed, compared with the measured data, and analyzed for the devices. In addition, the simulations for the DC/RF characteristics of the MHEMTs with different gate-recess structures are performed, compared and analyzed.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 2013

In this paper, a manufacturing process was developed for fabricating high-quality AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) on silicon carbide (SiC) substrates. Various conditions and processing methods regarding the ohmic contact and pre-metal-deposition $BCl_3$ etching processes were evaluated in terms of the device performance. In order to obtain a good ohmic contact performance, we tested a Ti/Al/Ta/Au ohmic contact metallization scheme under different rapid thermal annealing (RTA) temperature and time. A $BCl_3$-based reactive-ion etching (RIE) method was performed before the ohmic metallization, since this approach was shown to produce a better ohmic contact compared to the as-fabricated HEMTs. A HEMT with a 0.5 ${\mu}m$ gate length was fabricated using this novel manufacturing process, which exhibits a maximum drain current density of 720 mA/mm and a peak transconductance of 235 mS/mm. The X-band output power density was 6.4 W/mm with a 53% power added efficiency (PAE).

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2010

Microstructural origins of leakage current and physical degradation during operation in product-quality AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) devices were investigated using photon emission microscopy (PEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). AlGaN/GaN HEMTs were fabricated with metal organic chemical vapor deposition on semi-insulating SiC substrates. Photon emission irregularity, which is indicative of gate leakage current, was measured by PEM. Site specific TEM analysis assisted by a focused ion beam revealed the presence of threading dislocations in the channel below the gate at the position showing strong photon emissions. Observation of electrically degraded devices after life tests revealed crack/pit shaped defects next to the drain in the top AlGaN layer. The morphology of the defects was three-dimensionally investigated via electron tomography.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.148-151
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• 2011

We designed and fabricated aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN)/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with stable reverse blocking characteristics established by employing a selective fluoride plasma treatment on the drainside gate edge region where the electric field is concentrated. Implanted fluoride ions caused a depolarization in the AlGaN layer and introduced an extra depletion region. The overall contour of the depletion region was expanded along the drift region. The expanded depletion region distributed the field more uniformly and reduced the field intensity peak. Through this field modulation, the leakage current was reduced to 9.3 nA and the breakdown voltage ($V_{BR}$) improved from 900 V to 1,400 V.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

We present simulation results on DC characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMT having stair-type gate electrodes, in comparison with those of the conventional single gate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs and field-plate enhanced AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. In order to reduce the internal electric field near the gate electrode of conventional HEMT and thereby to increase their DC characteristics, we applied three-layered stacking electrode schemes to the standard AlGaN/GaN HEMT structure. As a result, we found that the internal electric field was decreased by 70% at the same drain bias condition and the transconductance (gm) was improved by 11.4% for the proposed stair-type gate AlGaN/GaN HEMT, compared with those of the conventional single gate and field-plate enhanced AlGaN/GaN HEMTs.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2011

GaAs-based and InP-based HEMTs(High Electron Mobility Transistors) have good microwave and millimeter-wave frequency performance with lower minimum noise figure. GaAs-based MHEMTs(Metamorphic HEMTs) have some advantages, especially for cost, compared with InP-based ones. In this paper, the RF small-signal circuits of MHEMTs are simulated and analyzed for the design of millimeter-wave application systems. The simulation analysis for RF small-signal frequency can help and give some insights about the MHEMTs for the design of millimeter-wave application and communication systems.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.436-440
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• 2021

The impact of the gate length (L_g) on the DC and high-frequency characteristics of indium-rich In_0.8Ga_0.2As channel high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) on a 3-inch InP substrate was inverstigated. HEMTs with a source-to-drain spacing (L_SD) of 0.8 ㎛ with different values of L_g ranging from 1 ㎛ to 19 nm were fabricated, and their DC and RF responses were measured and analyzed in detail. In addition, a T-shaped gate with a gate stem height as high as 200 nm was utilized to minimize the parasitic gate capacitance during device fabrication. The threshold voltage (V_T) roll-off behavior against L_g was observed clearly, and the maximum transconductance (g_{m_max}) improved as L_g scaled down to 19 nm. In particular, the device with an L_g of 19 nm with an L_SD of 0.8 mm exhibited an excellent combination of DC and RF characteristics, such as a g_{m_max} of 2.5 mS/㎛, On resistance (R_ON) of 261 Ω·㎛, current-gain cutoff frequency (f_T) of 738 GHz, and maximum oscillation frequency (f_max) of 492 GHz. The results indicate that the reduction of L_g to 19 nm improves the DC and RF characteristics of InGaAs HEMTs, and a possible increase in the parasitic capacitance component, associated with T-shap, remains negligible in the device architecture.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.272-278
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• 2007

In this paper, we report on the 2D (two-dimensional) simulation result of the DC (direct current) electrical and thermal characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs (high electron mobility transistors) grown on Si substrate, in comparison with those grown on sapphire and SiC (silicon carbide) substrate, respectively. In general, the electrical properties of HEMT are affected by electron mobility and thermal conductivity, which depend on substrate material. For this reason, the substrates of GaN-based HEMT have been widely studied today. The simulation results are compared and studied by applying general Drift-Diffusion and thermal model altering temperature as 300, 400 and 500 K, respectively. With setting T=300 K and $V_{GS}$=1 V, the $I_{D,max}$ (drain saturation current) were 189 mA/mm for sapphire, 293 mA/mm for SiC, and 258 mA/mm for Si, respectively. In addition, $G_{m,max}$ (maximum transfer conductance) of sapphire, SiC, Si was 38, 50, 31 mS/mm, respectively, at T=500 K.

• 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.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.223-229
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• 2017

This paper analyzes the effect of a dual-metal-gate structure on the electrical characteristics of AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors. These structures have two gate metals of different work function values (${\Phi}$), with the metal of higher ${\Phi}$ in the source-side gate, and the metal of lower ${\Phi}$ in the drain-side gate. As a result of the different ${\Phi}$ values of the gate metals in this structure, both the electric field and electron velocity in the channel become better distributed. For this reason, the transconductance, current collapse phenomenon, breakdown voltage, and radio frequency characteristics are improved. In this work, the devices were designed and analyzed using a 2D technology computer-aided design simulation tool.