Reduction in Gate Leakage Current of AlGaN/GaN HEMT by Rapid Thermal Oxidation

Abstract

Rapid Thermal Oxidation (RTO) of AlGaN barrier has been employed to reduce the gate leakage current in AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors. Current Voltage (I -V) and Capacitance Voltage (C -V) characteristics of Schottky Barrier diodes and Metal Oxide Semiconductor diodes are compared. At room temperature, reduction in gate leakage current over an order of magnitude in reverse bias and four orders of magnitude in forward bias is achieved upon oxidation. While the gate current reduces upon RTO, gate capacitance does not change indicating gate control over the channel is not compromised. I -V and C -V characterization have been carried out at different temperatures to get more insight into the device operation.