• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2003

Both MgO and $Sc_2O_3$ are shown to provide low interface state densities (in the $10^{11}{\;}eV^{-1}{\;}cm{\;}^{-2}$ range)on n-and p-GaN, making them useful for gate dielectrics for metal-oxide semiconductor(MOS) devices and also as surface passivation layers to mitigate current collapse in GaN/AlGaN high electron mobility transistors(HEMTs).Clear evidence of inversion has been demonstrated in gate-controlled MOS p-GaN diodes using both types of oxide. Charge pumping measurements on diodes undergoing a high temperature implant activation anneal show a total surface state density of $~3{\;}{\times}{\;}10^{12}{\;}cm^{-2}$. On HEMT structures, both oxides provide effective passivation of surface states and these devices show improved output power. The MgO/GaN structures are also found to be quite radiation-resistant, making them attractive for satellite and terrestrial communication systems requiring a high tolerance to high energy(40MeV) protons.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.131-135
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• 2005

The effect of different surface passivation films on blue or green (465-505 nm) InGaN/GaN multi-quantum well light-emitting diodes (LEDs) die were examined. $SiO_2$ or $SiN_x$ deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, or $Sc_2O_3$ or MgO deposited by rf plasma enhanced molecular beam epitaxy all show excellent passivation qualities. The forward current-voltage (I-V) characteristics were all independent of the passivation film used, even though the MBE-deposited films have lower interface state densities ($3-5{\times}10^{12}\;eV^{-1}\;cm^{-2}$) compared to the PECVD films (${\sim}10^{12}\;eV^{-1}\;cm^{-2}$), The reverse I-V characteristics showed more variation, hut there was no systematic difference for any of the passivation films, The results suggest that simple PECVD processes are effective for providing robust surface protection for InGaN/GaN LEDs.