Effects of gate length on GaN HEMT performance at room temperature

• Published in: The Journal of physics and chemistry of solids 2022-02, Vol.161, p.110418, Article 110418
• Main Authors: Saadaoui, Salah, Fathallah, Olfa, Maaref, Hassen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: (Al,Ga)N; GaN; Gate length; Kink current; Leakage current; Schottky barrier height; Self-heating; Transconductance
• ISSN: 0022-3697; 1879-2553
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpcs.2021.110418

We report the electrical characteristics at room temperature of (Al,Ga)N/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors with different gate lengths Lg ranging from 0.15 to 2 μm. Static measurements demonstrate an increase of leakage current, whereas the maximum drain–source current and maximum transconductance decrease with increase of the gate length. In addition, drain current–voltage measurements for gate voltage Vgs = −3 V reveal a kink effect, which is pronounced for Lg = 0.15, 0.25, and 0.5 μm and is absent for Lg = 1 and 2 μm. Furthermore, a self-heating effect on the drain current is observed at Vgs = 0 V for a short gate length. By means of deep level transient spectroscopy, we detected one hole trap H1, which is considered to be the main cause of the observed kink effect. Also, the effect of gate length on the static output characteristics and the deep level transient spectroscopy results for Al0.25Ga0.75N/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors is also discussed. •The effects of gate length on device parameters such as the ideality factor, barrier height maximum transconductance, pinch voltage and maximum drain current were investigated at room temperature.•Use of a short gate length seems to be a suitable key to achieve a homogeneous Schottky barrier and improve electron transport in (Al,Ga)N/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors.•The drain current–voltage characteristics revealed two abnormal effects, a kink effect and a self-heating effect, which disappear when the gate length increases and the transistors reach their ideal state.•Using by means of deep level transient spectroscopy, we found that the hole trap H1, possibly corresponding to the carbon substitution on the N site, should be the main cause of the kink effect.