Effects of interface oxidation on the transport behavior of the two-dimensional-electron-gas in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures by plasma-enhanced-atomic-layer-deposited AlN passivation

Abstract

The effects of interface oxidation on the transport behavior of the 2-D electron gas (2DEG) in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures by plasma-enhanced-atomic-layer-deposited AlN (PEALD-AlN) passivation were investigated using temperature-dependent Hall-effect and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations. AlGaN/GaN heterostructure with a 4-nm-thick PEALD-AlN passivation exhibits good 2DEG transport behavior and stability at moderately high temperature (e.g., 275 °C). However, serious oxidation of the AlN/GaN (cap layer) interface occurs as the sample is heated up to 400 °C in low-pressure atmosphere, as verified by an increased Ga-O bond in Ga 3d core-level spectra. The oxidation leads to a significant reduction of 2.47 × 1012 cm−2 in the 2DEG density in the channel. A modified AlN passivation structure with Al2O3/AlN (10/4 nm) stack is shown to be able to effectively suppress the oxidation of the AlN/GaN interface, demonstrating an enhanced 2DEG density and high-temperature stability even when the sample is heated up to 500 °C. Based on XPS and 2DEG recovery experiments, it is suggested that acceptor-like deep levels have been generated in the near-surface region of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure because of the oxidation, and trapping of these deep levels results in significant depletion of the 2DEG in the channel. The effects of PEALD-AlN passivation on the strain in the AlGaN barrier of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures are also evaluated with high-resolution X-ray diffraction technique.