The role of extended and point defects, and key impurities such as C, O, and H, on the electrical and optical properties of GaN is reviewed. Recent progress in the development of high reliability contacts, thermal processing, dry and wet etching techniques, implantation doping and isolation, and gate insulator technology is detailed. Finally, the performance of GaN-based electronic and photonic devices such as field effect transistors, UV detectors, laser diodes, and light-emitting diodes is covered, along with the influence of process-induced or grown-in defects and impurities on the device physics.

N- and p-type regions have been produced in GaN using Si+ and Mg+/P+ implantation, respectively, and subsequent annealing at ∼1100 °C. Carrier activation percentages of 93% for Si and 62% for Mg were obtained for implant doses of 5×1014 cm−2 of each element. Conversely, highly resistive regions (≳5×109 Ω/⧠) can be produced in initially n- or p- type GaN by N+ implantation and subsequent annealing at ∼750 °C. The activation energy of the deep states controlling the resistivity of these implant-isolated materials is in the range 0.8–0.9 eV. These process modules are applicable to the fabrication of a variety of different GaN-based electronic and photonic devices.

A survey of ohmic contact materials and properties to GaAs, InP, GaN will be presented along with critical issues pertaining to each semiconductor material. Au-based alloys (e.g. GeAuNi for n-type GaAs) are the most commonly used contacts for GaAs and InP materials for both n-and p-type contacts due to the excellent contact resistivity, reliability, and usefulness over a wide range of doping levels. Research into new contacting schemes for these materials has focused on addressing limitations of the conventional Au-alloys in thermal stability, propensity for spiking, poor edge definition, and new approaches for a non-alloyed contact. The alternative contacts to GaAs and InP include alloys with higher temperature stability, contacts based on solid phase regrowth, and contacts that react with the substrate to form lower bandgap semiconductors alloys at the interface. A

p- and n-type doping of GaN have been realized by ion implantation of Ca and O, respectively. Rapid thermal annealing at 1100 °C or higher is required to achieve p-type conduction in Ca or Ca+P implanted samples with an estimated ionization level of 169 meV and a corresponding activation efficiency of ∼100%. This is the first experimental report of an acceptor species in GaN, other than Mg, with an ionization energy level less than 180 meV. O-implanted GaN displays an ionization level of ∼29 meV but with an activation efficiency of only 3.6% after a 1050 °C anneal that may result from insufficient vacancy generation for the lighter O ion or from the existence of a second, deeper O energy level. Neither Ca or O displayed measurable redistribution, based on secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements, even after a 1125 °C anneal.

Selective area ion implantation doping has been used to fabricate GaN junction field effect transistors (JFETs). p-type and n-type doping was achieved with Ca and Si implantation, respectively, followed by a 1150 °C rapid thermal anneal. A refractory W gate contact was employed that allows the p-gate region to be self-aligned to the gate contact. A gate turn-on voltage of 1.84 V at 1 mA/mm of gate current was achieved. For a ∼1.7 μm×50 μm JFET with a −6 V threshold voltage, a maximum transconductance of 7 mS/mm at VGS=− 2V and saturation current of 33 mA/mm at VGS=0 V were measured. These results were limited by excess access resistance and can be expected to be improved with optimized n+ implants in the source and drain regions.