Skip to main content
Log in

Ohmic contact using the Si nano-interlayer for undoped-AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

  • Published:
Journal of Electronic Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Excellent ohmic characteristics for undoped-AlGaN/GaN heterostructures have been achieved by using a Si nano-interlayer: a 1-nm Si layer has been evaporated followed by Ti/Al/Mo/Au evaporation. A contact transfer resistance of 0.18 Ω-mm and a specific contact resistivity of 1 × 10−6 Ω-cm2 have been achieved along with excellent surface morphology at an optimized annealing temperature (800°C). Both ohmic contact characteristics and surface morphology are significantly better than those obtained without the Si nano-interlayer. Auger depth profiles and temperature-dependent current-voltage characteristics were investigated to understand ohmic formation. It is suggested that titanium silicide formation at the interface during rapid thermal annealing lowers the barrier height and enhances thermionic emission current.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. N.A. Papanicolaou, A. Edwards, M.V. Rao, J. Mittereder, and W.T. Anderson, J. Appl. Phys. 87, 380 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. S. Noor Mohammad, J. Appl. Phys. 95, 4856 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. C.-J. Youn and K.-Y. Kang, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 39, 3955 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. V. Desmaris, J. Eriksson, N. Rorsman, and H. Zirath, Electrochem. Solid-State Lett. 7, G72 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  5. V. Kumar, L. Zhou, D. Selvanathan, and I. Adesida, J. Appl. Phys. 92, 1712 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. B.P. Luther, S.E. Mohney, T.N. Jackson, M.A. Khan, Q. Chen, and J.W. Wang, Appl. Phys. Lett. 70, 57 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. R.C. Fitch et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 1495 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. D. Selvanathan, L. Zhou, V. Kumar, and I. Adesida, Phys. Status Solidi 194, 583 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. H. Yu, L. McCarthy, S. Rajan, S. Keller, S. Denbaars, J. Speck, and U. Mishra, IEEE Electron Dev. Lett 26, 283 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. H.W. Jang, J.J. Kim, C.M. Jeon, and J.-L. Lee, MRS Internet J. Nitride Semiconduct. Res. 6, 1 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  11. D.-W. Kim and H.K. Baik, Appl. Phys. Lett. 77, 1011 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Y. Sun, X. Chen, and L.F. Eastman, J. Appl. Phys. 98, 053701 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. C. Osburn, Rapid Thermal Processing, Science and Technology, ed. R.B. Fair (Boston, MA: Academic Press, Inc., 1993), p. 227–310.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cha, HY., Chen, X., Wu, H. et al. Ohmic contact using the Si nano-interlayer for undoped-AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. J. Electron. Mater. 35, 406–410 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02690526

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02690526

Key words

Navigation