The First Wafer-fused AlGaAs-GaAs-GaN Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe describe the use of wafer fusion to form a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), with an AlGaAs-GaAs emitter-base fused to a GaN collector. In this way, we hope to make use of both the high breakdown voltage of the GaN and the high mobility of the technologically more mature GaAs-based materials. This paper reports the first dc device characteristics of a wafer-fused transistor, and demonstrates the potential of wafer fusion for forming electronically active, lattice-mismatched heterojunctions. Devices utilized a thick base (0.15um) and exhibited limited common-emitter current gain (0.2–0.5) at an output current density of ∼100A/cm2. Devices were operated to VCE greater than 20V, with a low VCE offset (1V). Improvements in both device structure and wafer fusion conditions should provide further improvements in HBT performance. The HBT was wafer-fused at 750°C for one hour. Current-voltage characteristics of wafer-fused p-GaAs/n-GaN diodes suggest that the fusion temperature could be reduced to 500°C. Such a reduction in process temperature should mitigate detrimental diffusion effects in future HBTs.