We have systematically investigated effects of plasma processing, formation of Si-based dielectrics, and formation of a thin Al 2 O 3 film on the chemical and electronic properties of GaN and GaN/ AlGaN heterostructure surfaces. The surface treatment in H 2 -plasma excited by electron-cyclotron-resonance ͑ECR͒ source, produced nitrogen-vacancy-related defect levels at GaN and AlGaN surfaces, while the ECR-N 2 -plasma treatment improved electronic properties of the surfaces. The deposition of a SiO 2 film on GaN and AlGaN surfaces was found to induce high-density interface states, due to unexpected and uncontrollable oxidation reactions on the surfaces during the deposition process. In comparison, the SiN x /GaN passivation structure prepared by ECR-plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition showed good interface properties with the minimum D it value of 1ϫ10 11 cm Ϫ2 eV Ϫ1 . However, excess leakage currents governed by FowlerNordheim tunneling were observed in the SiN x /Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 N structure, due to a relatively small conduction band offset of 0.7 eV between SiN x and Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 N. A novel Al 2 O 3 -based passivation structure was proposed and fabricated by molecular beam deposition of Al and subsequent ECR O 2 -plasma oxidation. In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed successful formation of the Al 2 O 3 layer with a thickness of 3.5 nm and a large conduction band offset of 2.1 eV between Al 2 O 3 and A 0.3 Ga 0.7 N. The GaN/AlGaN insulated-gate heterostructure field-effect transistors ͑IG HFETs͒ having the Al 2 O 3 -based passivation structure showed a good gate control of drain currents up to V GS ϭϩ3 V and achieved drain saturation current of 0.8 A/mm. The observed maximum g m value is 120 mS/mm. No current collapse was observed in the Al 2 O 3 IG HFETs, indicating a remarkable advantage of the present Al 2 O 3 -based passivation structure.