Compound semiconductor transistor with self aligned gate

1. A method of manufacturing a transistor device, comprising:

providing a compound semiconductor body having first surface and a two-dimensional charge carrier gas disposed below the first surface in the compound semiconductor body;

forming a source in contact with the two-dimensional charge carrier gas;

forming a drain spaced apart from the source and in contact with the two-dimensional charge carrier gas;

forming a first passivation layer having a first surface in contact with the first surface of the compound semiconductor body and a second surface facing away from the first surface;

forming a second passivation layer in contact with the first passivation layer, the second passivation layer having a different etch selectivity than the first passivation layer;

forming an etched opening in the second passivation layer, the etched opening extending through the second passivation layer and stopping at the second surface;

forming a further etched opening in the first passivation layer beneath the etched opening, the further etched opening extending from the second surface towards the compound semiconductor body;

forming a gate in the etched opening and in the further etched opening; and

forming a field plate spaced apart from the gate in the second passivation layer and disposed on the first passivation layer,

wherein forming the etched opening and forming the further etched opening comprises two different etching processes, and

wherein forming the gate and the field plate comprises:

forming first and second laterally spaced apart openings extending through the second passivation layer to the first passivation layer, wherein the first opening corresponds to the etched opening;

forming a mask layer on a region of the second passivation layer so that the second opening is protected by the mask layer and the first opening is unprotected;

extending the first opening through the first passivation layer and into the compound semiconductor body while the second opening is protected by the mask layer thereby forming the further etched opening;

depositing an electrically conductive material on the second passivation layer after the first opening is extended through the first passivation layer and the mask layer is removed so that the first and second openings are at least partly filled with the electrically conductive material; and

removing the electrically conductive material from a side of the second passivation layer facing away from the compound semiconductor material.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the gate comprises:

forming an opening extending through the second passivation layer to the first passivation layer;

depositing a hard mask on sidewalk of the opening;

isotropically etching an opening with tapered sidewalls into the first passivation layer that is aligned with the opening in the second passivation layer;

removing the hard mask from the sidewalk of the opening in the second passivation layer;

depositing an electrically conductive material on the second passivation layer after the hard mask is removed so that the opening in the second passivation layer and the opening in the first passivation layer are at least partly filled with the electrically conductive material; and

removing the electrically conductive material from a side of the second passivation layer facing away from the compound semiconductor material.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein isotropically etching an opening with tapered sidewalls into the first passivation layer comprises:

implanting non-reactive ions into an exposed part of the first passivation layer; and

etching the exposed part of the first passivation layer with an isotropic component after the ion implantation.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

electrically connecting the field plate to the drain.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the gate comprises:

forming an opening extending through the second passivation layer and at least into the first passivation layer;

depositing a conformal electrically conductive material on the second passivation layer so that sidewalls and a bottom of the opening are lined with the electrically conductive material;

filling an inner part of the opening adjacent the sidewalls and the bottom with an electrically insulating material;

removing the electrically conductive material from a side of the second passivation layer facing away from the compound semiconductor material and from an upper part of the opening sidewalls; and

removing the electrically insulating material from the inner part of the opening after the electrically conductive material is removed from the upper part of the opening sidewalls.

6. A method of manufacturing a transistor device, comprising:

providing a compound semiconductor body having a first surface and a two-dimensional charge carrier gas disposed below the first surface in the compound semiconductor body;

forming a source in contact with the two-dimensional charge carrier gas;

forming a drain spaced apart from the source and in contact with the two-dimensional charge carrier gas;

forming a first passivation layer having a first surface in contact with the first surface of the compound semiconductor body and a second surface facing away from the first surface;

forming a second passivation layer in contact with the first passivation layer, the second passivation layer having a different etch rate selectivity than the first passivation layer;

forming an etched opening in the second passivation layer, the etched opening extending through the second passivation layer and stopping at the second surface;

forming a further etched opening in the first passivation layer beneath the etched opening, the further etched opening extending from the second surface towards the compound semiconductor body;

forming a gate in the etched opening and in the further etched opening; and

forming a field plate spaced apart from the gate in the second passivation layer and disposed on the first passivation layer,

wherein forming the etched opening and forming the further etched opening comprises two different etching processes, and

wherein forming the gate and the field plate comprises:

forming first and second laterally spaced apart openings extending through the second passivation layer to the first passivation layer, wherein the first corresponds to the etched opening;

forming a mask layer on a region of the second passivation layer so that the second opening is protected by the mask layer and the first opening is unprotected;

extending the first opening into the first passivation layer while the second opening is protected by h mask layer so that part of the first passivation layer remains under the first opening thereby forming the further etched opening;

depositing an electrically conductive material on the second passivation layer after the first opening is extended into the first passivation layer and the mask layer is removed so that the first and second openings are at least partly filled with the electrically conductive material; and

removing the electrically conductive material from a side of the second passivation layer facing away from the compound semiconductor material.