Analyses of hetero-interface trapping properties in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor heterostructures grown on silicon with thick buffer layers

We report on the analyses of trapping properties of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition grown AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) heterostructures on silicon with increasing buffer thickness (Tbuff). An exact exponential dependence of AlGaN/GaN hetero-interface trap time constants with gate bias was observed in the vicinity of threshold voltage. A low hetero-interface state density (Dit) value of ∼2.5 × 1010 cm−2 eV−1 was achieved for heterostructures grown by using thick Tbuff ∼ 5 μm against a Dit value of ∼1 × 1011 cm−2 eV−1 for a similar heterostructures grown with thin Tbuff ∼ 1.25 μm. Further, the high resolution x-ray rocking curve and Van der Pauw-Hall measurements also confirmed that increasing the Tbuff improves the AlGaN/GaN HEMT heterostructures with reduced edge dislocation densities and enhanced carrier transport properties.