Publisher：IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices  

Nearly ideal vertical AlxGa-{{1}-{x}}text{N} ({0.7} leq {x} < {1.0} ) p-n diodes are fabricated on an aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate. Distributed polarization doping (DPD) was employed for both p-type and n-type layers of the p-n junction, instead of conventional impurity doping, to overcome the major bottleneck of AlN-based material: the control of conductivity. Capacitance-voltage measurements revealed that the net charge concentration agreed well with the DPD charge concentration expected from the device layer structure. The fabricated devices exhibited a low turn-on voltage of 6.5 V, a low differential specific on-resistance of 3 text{M}Omega cm2, electroluminescence (maximum at 5.1 eV), and an ideality factor of 2 for a wide range of temperatures (room temperature - 573 K). Moreover, the breakdown electric field was 7.3 MV cm-1, which was almost twice as high as the reported critical electric field of GaN at the same doping concentration. These results clearly demonstrate the usefulness of DPD in the fabrication of high-performance AlN-based power devices.

DOI： 10.1109/TED.2024.3367314

Web of Science

Scopus

Publisher：IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices  

The p+-n-n - n+ structure, known as Hi-Lo structure, was investigated in gallium nitride (GaN) single-drift-region (SDR) impact ionization avalanche transit-time (IMPATT) diodes to improve the output power and efficiency. The 15 GHz GaN Hi-Lo IMPATT diode was designed according to the Scharfetter and Gummel model under realistic conditions, suppressing the tunneling current (<10-4 cm2) and breakdown voltage (< 400 V). Even in such conditions, the calculated efficiency was higher than that of the p+-n abrupt junction structure and the improvement of RF characteristics was expected. The fabricated GaN Hi-Lo IMPATT diodes showed a clear avalanche breakdown and a pulsed microwave oscillation in the frequency range from 15 to 17 GHz. The maximum peak output power of 25.5 W and the efficiency of 2% were achieved, showing the highest values on microwave band GaN IMPATT diodes, and we confirmed that the Hi-Lo structure is effective for the high-power and high-efficiency operation of GaN IMPATT diodes.

DOI： 10.1109/TED.2023.3345822

Web of Science

Scopus

Publisher：IEEE Electron Device Letters  

An experimental study on the effects of junction capacitance and current density on the oscillation characteristics of GaN single-drift-region (SDR) impact ionization avalanche transit-time (IMPATT) diodes were carried out using GaN p+-n abrupt junction diodes of various diameters, 200, 150, and 100 μ m , with a depletion layer width of 2 μ m. The fabricated diodes showed a clear avalanche breakdown at 315 V and a pulsed microwave oscillation with a peak output power exceeding 30 dBm. The oscillation frequency depended on junction diameter and current density. It was widely modulated from 8.56 to 21.1 GHz with decreasing junction diameter and increasing current density. The highest oscillation frequency was obtained with a current density of 13.8 kA/cm2 and a junction diameter of 100 μ m. A numerical calculation based on Read-type small-signal theory was carried out and found to well explain the experimental results.

DOI： 10.1109/LED.2023.3285938

Web of Science

Scopus

Publisher：Technical Digest - International Electron Devices Meeting, IEDM  

Nearly ideal AlN-based vertical p-n diodes are demonstrated on an AIN substrate utilizing dopant-free distributed-polarization doping (DPD). Capacitance-voltage measurements revealed that the effective doping concentration agreed well with the designed DPD charge concentration. The fabricated devices exhibited a low tum-on voltage of 6.5 V, a low differential specific ON-resistance of 3 mO cm2, and an ideality factor of 2 for a wide range of temperatures (room temperature-573 K). Moreover, the breakdown electric field was 7.3 MV/cm, which was almost twice as high as the reported critical electric field of 4H-SÌC and GaN. These results clearly demonstrate the usefulness of DPD in the fabrication of high-performance AlN-based power devices.

DOI： 10.1109/IEDM45741.2023.10413866

Scopus

Publisher：Applied Physics Express  

We report the first experimental demonstration of microwave oscillation in GaN impact ionization avalanche time transit (IMPATT) diodes at the X-band. The device used in this study is a single drift diode with a p+–n simple abrupt junction and vertical mesa termination. The reverse I–V characteristic of the diode shows low leakage current, clear avalanche breakdown, and high avalanche capability, as required for IMPATT operation. Microwave testing is performed in an X-band waveguide circuit with a reduced-height waveguide resonant cavity. Oscillations are observed at 9.52 GHz at a power of ∼56 mW.

DOI： 10.35848/1882-0786/abe3dc

Web of Science

Scopus

Event date： 2020.9

Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

DOI： 10.1109/ISPSD46842.2020.9170099

Scopus