Hanawa H., Satoh Y., Horio K.
Shibaura Institute of Technology, JP
Keywords: breakdown voltage, GaN, HEMT, high-k passivation layer
A two-dimensional analysis of breakdown characteristics in AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) is performed by considering a deep donor and a deep acceptor in a buffer layer. The dependence of an off-state breakdown voltage on the relative permittivity of the passivation layer εr is studied. It is shown that as εr increases, the off-state breakdown voltage increases. This is because the electric field at the drain edge of the gate is weakened as εr increases. This occurs because in the insulator the applied voltage tends to drop uniformly in general, and hence when the insulator is attached to the semiconductor, the voltage drop along the semiconductor becomes smoother at the drain edge of the gate if εr of the insulator is higher and the effect of the insulator becomes more significant. It is concluded that AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with a high-k passivation layer should have high breakdown voltages.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 4, Advanced Manufacturing, Electronics and Microsystems: TechConnect Briefs 2015
Published: June 14, 2015
Pages: 266 - 269
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: Informatics, Modeling & Simulation
ISBN: 978-1-4987-4730-1