Au/β-Ga2O3 Schottky contacts
deposited
at room temperature via electron-beam evaporation are characterized
electrically with current density–voltage (J–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements. The ideality
factor and Schottky barrier heights measured from J–V and C–V are determined to be 1.32, 1.37 eV, and 1.98 eV, respectively.
Due to the peculiarities of the electrical properties of the Au/β-Ga2O3 Schottky contacts, scanning transmission electron
microscopy (STEM) was performed. High-angle annular dark-field (HAADF)-STEM
imaging reveals an inhomogeneous chemical reaction occurred at the
metal–semiconductor interface. The reaction is signified by
void formation 5–20 nm below the interface, Ga diffusion into
Au at the interface, and Ga interstitial diffusion toward the interface.
Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping shows Ga diffusion
into the Au contact region accompanied by a transitional region of
4–5 nm.