Group III-nitride transistors with back barrier structures and buried p-type layers and methods thereof
An apparatus configured to reduce lag includes a substrate; a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate; a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer; a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer include a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer; a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer; a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer. Additionally, at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, an area between the gate and the drain.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate;
a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer;
a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer comprising a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer;
a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer,
wherein at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, and area between the gate and the drain; and
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels;
wherein the low background impurity levels are defined as impurities less than 1E15 per cubic cm;
wherein a part of a source side of the substrate is free of the p-region; and
wherein a part of a drain side of the substrate is free of the p-region.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises the low background impurity levels configured at least in part as a gate lag reduction structure.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the p-region is configured at least in part as a drain lag reduction structure; and wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is on a nucleation layer.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises the low background impurity levels configured at least in part as a gate lag reduction structure, the p-region is configured at least in part as a drain lag reduction structure, and the group III-Nitride back barrier layer and the p-region reduce overall lag.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels of the at least one of the following: silicon, oxygen, and carbon.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the group Nitride back barrier layer is configured as a sharp interface to the group III-Nitride channel layer and the sharp interface being configured to function as a barrier for electrons.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is arranged directly on a nucleation layer or directly on the substrate.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises AlGaN with an Al concentration of 1% to 4.5%.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is structured by epitaxial growth with low background impurity levels of at least one of the following: silicon (Si), oxygen (O), and carbon (C).
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a nucleation layer formed on the substrate,
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is arranged directly on the nucleation layer.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the p-region is structured and arranged such that no portion of the p-region is located vertically below the drain.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a field plate, wherein the field plate is electrically coupled to said source.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the p-region is arranged under and across a length of the gate and extends toward the source and the drain.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the p-region vertically overlaps the source.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the p-region extends toward the drain, but does not vertically overlap the drain.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the p-region comprises no direct electrical connections.
17. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate;
a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer:
a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer comprising a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer;
a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer:
a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer,
wherein at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, and area between the gate and the drain; and
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels;
wherein the low background impurity levels are defined as impurities less than 1E15 per cubic cm;
wherein a portion of the substrate includes the p-region located vertically below the source; and
wherein another portion of the substrate does not include the p-region located vertically below the source.
18. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate;
a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer;
a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer comprising a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer;
a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer,
wherein at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, and area between the gate and the drain; and
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels;
wherein the low background impurity levels are defined as impurities less than 1E15 per cubic cm;
wherein the substrate does not include the p-region located vertically below the source; and
wherein the substrate does not include the p-region located vertically below the drain.
19. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate;
a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer;
a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer comprising a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer;
a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer,
a field plate,
wherein the p-region is implanted;
wherein at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, and area between the gate and the drain; and
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels; and
wherein the low background impurity levels are defined as impurities less than 1E15 per cubic cm.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein:
a part of a source side of the substrate is free of the p-region; and
a part of a drain side of the substrate is free of the p-region.
21. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate;
a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer;
a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer comprising a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer;
a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a field plate, wherein the field plate is electrically coupled to said source,
wherein at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, and area between the gate and the drain;
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels;
wherein the low background impurity levels are defined as impurities less than 1E15 per cubic cm; and
wherein the p-region is structured and arranged to extend a limited length parallel to the group III-Nitride barrier layer such that the p-region is not located vertically below areas past the source and the drain.
22. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate;
a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer;
a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer comprising a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer;
a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a field plate, wherein the field plate is electrically coupled to said source,
wherein at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, and area between the gate and the drain;
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels;
wherein the low background impurity levels are defined as impurities less than 1E15 per cubic cm; and
wherein the p-region extends toward the source, but does not vertically overlap the source.
23. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate;
a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer;
a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer comprising a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer;
a source electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
a drain electrically coupled to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
a field plate, wherein the field plate is electrically coupled to said source,
wherein at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, and area between the gate and the drain;
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels;
wherein the low background impurity levels are defined as impurities less than 1E15 per cubic cm; and
wherein the p-region vertically overlaps the drain.
24. A method of making a device comprising:
providing a substrate;
providing a group III-Nitride back barrier layer on the substrate;
providing a group III-Nitride channel layer on the group III-Nitride back barrier layer;
providing a group III-Nitride barrier layer on the group III-Nitride channel layer, the group III-Nitride barrier layer comprising a higher bandgap than a bandgap of the group III-Nitride channel layer;
electrically coupling a source to the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
arranging a gate on the group III-Nitride barrier layer;
electrically coupling a drain to the group III-Nitride barrier layer; and
providing a p-region being arranged at or below the group III-Nitride barrier layer,
wherein at least a portion of the p-region is arranged vertically below at least one of the following: the source, the gate, and area between the gate and the drain;
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured with low background impurity levels;
wherein the low background impurity levels are defined as impurities less than 1E15 per cubic cm;
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is on a nucleation layer;
wherein the p-region is configured at least in part as a drain lag reduction structure; and
wherein the substrate does not include the p-region located vertically below the source.
25. The method of making the device of claim 24 ,
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises the low background impurity levels configured at least in part as a gate lag reduction structure; and
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises AlGaN with an Al concentration of 1% to 4.5%.
26. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises the low background impurity levels configured at least in part as a gate lag reduction structure, the p-region is configured at least in part as a drain lag reduction structure, and the group III-Nitride back barrier layer and the p-region reduce overall lag.
27. The method of making the device of claim 24 ,
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises the low background impurity levels configured with low background impurity levels of the following: silicon, oxygen, and carbon.
28. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is arranged directly on a nucleation layer or directly on the substrate.
29. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is configured as a sharp interface to the group III-Nitride channel layer.
30. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises AlGaN.
31. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer comprises AlGaN with an Al concentration of 1% to 6%.
32. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is structured by epitaxial growth with low background impurity levels of at least one of the following: silicon (Si), oxygen (O), and carbon (C).
33. The method of making the device of claim 24 , further comprising a nucleation layer formed on the substrate,
wherein the group III-Nitride back barrier layer is arranged on the nucleation layer.
34. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein:
a part of a source side of the substrate is free of the p-region; and
a part of a drain side of the substrate is free of the p-region.
35. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein:
a portion of the substrate includes the p-region located vertically below the source; and
another portion of the substrate does not include the p-region located vertically below the source.
36. The method of making the device of claim 24 , wherein:
the substrate does not include the p-region located vertically below the source; and
the substrate does not include the p-region located vertically below the drain.
37. The method of making the device of claim 24 , further comprising forming the p-region such that no portion of the p-region is located vertically below the drain.
38. The method of making the device of claim 24 , further comprising implanting the p-region.
39. The method of making the device of claim 24 , further comprising providing a field plate.
40. The method of making the device of claim 24 , further comprising providing a field plate, wherein the field plate is electrically coupled to said source.
41. The method of making the device of claim 40 , wherein the p-region is structured and arranged to extend a limited length parallel to the group III-Nitride barrier layer such that the p-region is not located vertically below areas past the source and the drain.
42. The method of making the device of claim 24 wherein the p-region is arranged under and across a length of the gate and extends toward the source and the drain.
43. The method of making the device of claim 24 wherein the p-region extends toward the source, but does not vertically overlap the source.
44. The method of making the device of claim 24 wherein the p-region vertically overlaps the source.
45. The method of making the device of claim 24 wherein the p-region extends toward the drain, but does not vertically overlap the drain.
46. The method of making the device of claim 24 wherein the p-region vertically overlaps the drain.
47. The method of making the device of claim 24 wherein the p-region comprises no direct electrical connections.
48. The method of making the device of claim 24 wherein the p-region is electrically connected to the source.