Energy band engineering toward hardened electronics in ionizing radiation environments via quantum gettering

Abstract

Ionizing radiation has the potential to cause operational disruptions and destroy microelectronic devices. This paper introduces and demonstrates a method of hardening microelectronic devices for sustained use in applications where exposure to ionizing radiation exists. By incorporating quantum structures below active regions of devices, gettering of charges created by ionizing radiation becomes possible. The gettering of electrons and holes forces recombination of carriers, thus eliminating photocurrent surges and trap filling which would otherwise disrupt device operation. Experimental results discussed here show a reduction in photocurrent of over two orders of magnitude when utilizing energy band engineering to create quantum structures for charge gettering. In this work, a nitride-based high electron mobility two-dimensional electron gas demonstrates the method. However, the theory utilized pertains not only to nitride-based devices, but transfers to other materials as well.