XTEM and TFXRD investigations of ohmic Ti/Al/Ti/Au/WSiN contacts on AlGaN/GaN HFET layer systems
(2002)
The microstructural features of the high-temperature-stable ohmic contact system Ti/Al/Ti/Au/WSiN on AlGaN/GaN were investigated using analytical transmission electron microscopy and thin film x-ray diffraction. For two typical rapid thermal annealing steps at 750 °C (non-ohmic behaviour) and 850 °C (ohmic behaviour) the intermetallic phases at the metal-semiconductor interface are presented. Increased annealing leads to the transformation of an Al2Au-AlAuTi phase mixture to a mixture of Al2Au-Al3Au8 phases and the formation of Ti-Al-nitride layers at the interfaces. In light of these results the electrical contact properties are discussed.
XTEM and TFXRD investigations of ohmic Ti/Al/Ti/Au/WSiN contacts on AlGaN/GaN HFET layer systems
(2002)
The microstructural features of the high-temperature-stable ohmic contact system Ti/Al/Ti/Au/WSiN on AlGaN/GaN were investigated using analytical transmission electron microscopy and thin film x-ray diffraction.
For two typical rapid thermal annealing steps at 750 ◦C (non-ohmic behaviour) and 850 ◦C (ohmic behaviour) the intermetallic phases at the metal–semiconductor interface are presented. Increased annealing leads to the transformation of an Al2Au-AlAuTi phase mixture to a mixture of Al2Au-Al3Au8 phases and the formation of Ti-Al-nitride layers at the interfaces. In light of these results the electrical contact properties are discussed.
Recent progress in the development of A1GaN/GaN heterostructure field effect transistors (HFETs) Shows the great potential towards high temperature / high power electronics. Nevertheless investigations on reliability properties of GaN-based devices are still at the beginning. The frequently used Ti/A1 based ohmic and Pt based Schottky contacts suffer from strong Degradation after aging at elevated temperatures. Therefore new contact systems have to be employed. Concerning the source and drain metallization we used an amorphous WSiN barrier layer as applied for GaAs on top of the Ti/Al-based ohmic contact. This technique significantly reduces the in-diffusion of the Au-containing overlayer, furthermore the barrier layer guaranties smooth contact morphology after RTA and aging, respectively. For the Schottky metallization the Ir/Au system was used. Reliability studies performed on HFET devices containing refractory Ti/A1/Ti/Au/WSiN ohmic and Ir/Au Schottky contacts demonstrate stable conditions during 120h aging at 500°C.
Multi-layer ohmic contact systems such as Au/Pt/Ti/Pt on III-V double layers such as n-InGaP/p+-GaAs are of considerable technological relevance, e.g. for heterojunction bipolar transistors. The paper shows that such contacts can be effectively reacted through the InGaP layer and exhibit very good contact resistances (0.1 O mm) to the base layer if the thickness of the first Pt layer is properly matched to the thickness of the contacted InGaP layer. Interdiffusion and phase formation associated with the annealing processes are studied by cross-sectional analytical transmission electron microscopy, thin-film x-ray diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling. Thermal ageing experiments up to 400 °C show good electrical stability. Device related reliability tests do not show any degradation effect related to this novel base contact.