III-nitride devices with recessed gates

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/972,481 filed on Sep. 14, 2007. The disclosure of the prior application is considered part of and is incorporated by reference in the disclosure of this application.

[0002] This invention relates to enhancement mode III-nitride devices.

[0003] To date, modern power semiconductor devices including devices such as Si Power MOSFETs and Si Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT) have been typically fabricated with silicon (Si) semiconductor materials. More recently, silicon carbide (SiC) power devices have been researched due to their superior properties. Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor devices are now emerging as an attractive candidate to carry large currents and support high voltages providing very low on resistance and fast switching times. Standard GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMTs) and related devices are typically normally on, which means that they conduct current at 0 gate voltage.

[0004] FIG. 1 shows a standard Ga-face GaN HEMT structure. Substrate 10 may be GaN, SiC, sapphire, Si, or any other suitable substrate for GaN device technology. GaN layer 14 and Al_xGa_1-xN layer 18 are oriented in the [0 0 0 1] (C-plane) direction. The conducting channel consists of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) formed in the GaN layer 14 near the Al_xGa_1-xN/GaN interface. The region between the source and gate is referred to as the source access region, and the region between the drain and gate is referred to as the drain access region. This device is normally on or is a depletion mode device. At 0 gate voltage, the 2DEG channel extends from the source to the drain contact, and the device is in the ON state. A negative gate voltage must be applied to deplete the 2DEG under the gate and thus turn the device OFF.

[0005] Al_xGa_1-xN layer 18 is formed with at least a minimum thickness in order to induce the 2DEG channel. This minimum thickness depends on the Al composition in the AlGaN; lower Al composition increases the minimum thickness. FIG. 2 shows the 2DEG sheet charge density n_s versus AlGaN thickness for a number of different Al compositions in structures with and without an AlN layer. For thicknesses above the minimum thickness, n_s at first increases with thickness but eventually levels out. For structures in which the AlGaN thickness is less than the minimum thickness, applying a large enough positive gate voltage will induce a 2DEG underneath the gate, but not in the access regions. The sheet charge density n_s in this 2DEG increases as the gate voltage is further increased.

[0006] It is desirable in power electronics to have normally off devices that do not conduct at 0 gate voltage to avoid damage to the device or other circuit components by preventing any accidental turn on of the device. A desirable enhancement-mode (E-mode) GaN HEMT has two features. The source and drain access regions contain a 2DEG with conductivity at least as large as the conductivity of the channel region when the device is in the ON state. Preferably, the conductivity of the access regions is as large as possible, since this reduces the access resistance, thus reducing the ON-resistance Ron. Also, the channel region underneath the gate should have no 2DEG at 0 gate voltage. A positive gate voltage is therefore required to induce a 2DEG in this region and thus turn the device ON.

[0007] Further methods and devices that improve an e-mode GaN HEMT access region conductivity while maintaining a gate region with no 2DEG at 0 gate voltage are desirable.

[0008] In some aspects, an enhancement mode III-nitride device is described. The device has a first layer of GaN on a substrate; a layer of Al_xGaN on the layer of GaN; a second layer of GaN in an access region of the layer of AlxGaN, wherein the second layer of GaN is not in a gate region of the layer of Al_xGaN and the second layer of GaN is free of aluminum; a layer of Al_yGaN on the second layer of GaN; and a gate electrode on the gate region and a source and a drain, wherein a region between the source and the gate region and a region between the drain and the gate region is the access region.

[0009] Embodiments of the device can include one or more of the following features. The layer of Al_xGaN can be a p-type layer and the device can further include a layer of AlN between the first layer of GaN and the layer of Al_xGaN. The device can include a field plate connected to either the gate electrode or source.

[0010] In some aspects, a method of forming an enhancement mode III-nitride device is described. The first layer of GaN, the layer of Al_xGaN, the second layer of GaN and a layer of Al_yGaN are formed on the substrate. The source and the drain are formed. A recess is etched in the layer of Al_yGaN and partially through the second layer of GaN. A recess is etched in a remaining portion of the second layer of GaN, wherein the recess exposes the layer of Al_xGaN. The gate electrode is formed in the recess. Optionally, etching a recess in a remaining portion can include changing an etch chemistry.

[0011] In another aspect, a method of forming an enhancement mode III-nitride device is described. The first layer of GaN, the layer of Al_xGaN, and the second layer of GaN is formed on a substrate. A recess is etched in the second layer of GaN, wherein the recess exposes the layer of Al_xGaN. A regrowth mask is formed over the exposed layer of Al_xGaN. The layer of Al_yGaN on top is formed of the second layer of GaN. The source and the drain are formed. The gate electrode is formed in the recess. Optionally, the regrowth mask is removed prior to forming the gate electrode.

[0012] In yet another aspect, a method of forming an enhancement mode III-nitride device is described. A layer of GaN is formed on a substrate. A first portion of a layer of AlGaN is formed on the layer of GaN. A regrowth mask is formed over the gate region of the first portion of the layer of AlGaN. A second portion of the layer of AlGaN is formed in an access region of the device. A gate electrode is formed in a gate region of the device. A source and a drain are formed outside of the gate region and defining in part the access region.

[0013] Embodiments of the methods can include one or more of the following features or steps. The regrowth mask can be removed. The regrowth mask can be one of aluminum nitride, silicon nitride or silicon oxide. The method can include doping the second portion of the layer of AlGaN. The first portion of the layer of AlGaN can be Al_xGa_1-xN and the second portion of the layer of AlGaN can be Al_yGa_1-yN, where x≠y. X can be greater than y. A top surface of the gate region can have a flatness within 2 nanometers. The layer of AlGaN can have a uniform composition throughout a thickness of the layer. Forming the layer of AlGaN controls a thickness of the layer of AlGaN to within 2 nanometers. The layer of AlGaN can be doped. The layer of AlGaN can be doped with iron. An insulating region can be formed between the gate electrode and the layer of AlGaN. Forming a first portion of a layer of AlGaN can include epitaxially growing AlGaN.

[0014] In an E-mode device, the threshold voltage V_th must be greater than 0 V, preferably 2-3 volts for power semiconductor device applications, and it is desirable to have a high conductivity in the source and drain access regions. For a given AlGaN thickness under the gate, one way to increase the threshold voltage of the device is by using p-type AlGaN. To increase n_s in the access regions, several surface treatments can be employed. Several E-mode GaN HEMT structures are described that can be readily fabricated using existing technology, some of which involve using p-type AlGaN. Fabrication methods are provided for each structure. Some of the devices include a GaN interlayer within an AlGaN cap. This allows for the use of etch-stop technology to fabricate devices in which material underneath the gate is etched, so that the etch depth can be accurately controlled and is uniform to within a few nanometers. For devices with a GaN interlayer in which the access region is regrown, the regrowth can be performed directly on a GaN layer. This can be preferable to regrowth directly on AlGaN, since regrowing high quality material directly on AlGaN has proven to be somewhat difficult.

[0015] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

[0034] Several embodiments to achieve E-mode GaN HEMTs are described. For each structure, descriptions of various fabrication methods are also included. In describing the structures, regular use of semiconductor energy band diagrams is made, along with device schematics. In all the device schematics, the 2DEG which is the electron channel or the conducting channel in a HEMT device is indicated by dashed lines.

[0035] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

[0036] The devices described herein have a gate recess formed in upper layers of the device to aid in forming a normally off device, that is, a device with a threshold voltage that is greater than 0 V. The gate, which is then located in the recess, is over at least one layer of GaN and a layer of AlGaN and is surrounded by AlGaN material or both AlGaN and GaN material. Such structures can provide both the desired threshold voltage and conductivity in the access regions.

[0037] The devices can optionally include an AlN interlayer. For the structures shown in FIG. 2, the Al_xGaN thickness underneath the gate electrode versus Al composition to form devices with V_th=0 is plotted in FIG. 3. Line 205 corresponds to devices without an AlN interlayer, such as the device in FIG. 2a, and line 210 corresponds to devices which contain a 0.6 nm AlN interlayer, such as the device in FIG. 2b. As shown in FIG. 3, if Al_0.2GaN is used to build an E-mode device, the Al_xGaN thickness in the gate region is about 5 nm or less if no AlN layer is included, and 1 nm or less if an AlN layer is included.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 4e, substrate 70 is formed of GaN, SiC, sapphire, Si, or any other suitable substrate for GaN device technology. On the substrate 70 is formed a GaN layer 71, an Al_xGaN layer 72, and an Al_yGaN layer 73. The Al composition in AlGaN layers, Al_xGaN layer 72 and Al_yGaN layer 73, can be but need not be the same. A higher Al composition in Al_xGaN layer 72 results in a larger 2DEG sheet charge density in the access regions. However, for a larger Al composition in layer 72, the layer must also be made thinner to insure V_th>0. That is, V_th increases with decreasing Al composition and with decreasing layer thickness. For example, in some devices if the Al composition is 0.2, Al_xGaN layer 72 must be 5 nm thick or less. The exact value of V_th is determined by both the Al composition and thickness of Al_xGaN layer 72. When 0 gate voltage is applied to the device in FIG. 4e, it is OFF. When a large enough gate voltage is applied to induce a 2DEG under the gate, the device is ON.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 4a-4e, process steps for forming the device in FIG. 4e are shown. First, GaN layer 71 and Al_xGaN layer 72 are grown on substrate 70 (FIG. 4a). Next, as shown in FIG. 4b, a regrowth mask 74 is deposited over the gate region. The regrowth mask material may be AlN, SiN, SiO₂, or any other suitable masking material for regrowth of GaN and AlGaN. Next, Al_yGaN layer 73 is selectively regrown in the access regions, as illustrated in FIG. 4c. In regrowth of GaN or AlGaN, the regrown material is typically unintentionally doped n-type material, which may be undesirable in this process. For the case where n-type doping is undesirable, the n-type dopant can be compensated, such as by doping the regrown material with Fe. Finally, regrowth mask 74 is removed (FIG. 4d), source and drain ohmic contacts 76 and 77 are formed, after which the gate metal 78 is deposited, resulting in the device in FIG. 4e. This process, by which the thickness of the AlGaN layer under the gate is determined by the thickness to which layer 72 is grown epitaxially, is much more controllable and reproducible than one in which a recess etch is used in the gate region. In some embodiments, the regrowth mask is not removed, but rather is left in place before formation of the gate electrode, such as to form a gate insulator.

[0040] In the fabrication process shown in FIGS. 4a-e, because AlGaN layer 72 is epitaxially grown to its final desired thickness, a high degree of epitaxial thickness control, such as within about 2 nm of a desired thickness, such as within 1 nm of a desired thickness, and surface flatness, such as a flatness of less than about 2 nm or less than 1 nm can be achieved. This is much more uniform and provides a much higher degree of thickness control than if the device is fabricated through other methods, such as by forming layers 72 and 73 over the entire device and then etching layer 73 to its final thickness in the region where the gate is deposited. In some embodiments, the thickness uniformity in the gate region can be within 2 nanometers, such as within or less than 1 nanometer, and the thickness control of the top semiconductor layer in the gate region can be within 2 nanometers, such as within or less than 1 nanometer.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 5a, substrate 40 is formed of GaN, SiC, sapphire, Si, or any other suitable substrate for GaN device technology. On the substrate 40 is formed a GaN layer 41, an Al_xGaN layer 43, a GaN layer 44 and an Al_yGaN layer 45. The Al composition in AlGaN layers, Al_xGaN layer 43 and Al_yGaN layer 45 can be but need not be the same. A higher Al composition in Al_xGaN layer 43 results in a larger 2DEG sheet charge density in the access regions. However, for a larger Al composition in layer 43, the layer must also be made thinner to insure V_th>0. That is, V_th increases with decreasing Al composition and with decreasing layer thickness. For example, if the Al composition is 0.2, Al_xGaN layer 43 must be 5 nm thick or less. The exact value of V_th is determined by both the Al composition and thickness of Al_xGaN layer 43. In embodiments, GaN layer 44 is free of aluminum.

[0042] In FIG. 5b, a band diagram for the region underneath the gate of the device in FIG. 5a at 0 gate voltage, where the Al composition and thickness of layer 43 are 0.2 and 5 nm, respectively, shows that the conduction band E_C remains above the Fermi level E_F at the interface of Al_xGaN layer 43 and GaN layer 41. Because the conduction band does not cross the Fermi level, no 2DEG is present in the gate region and the device is OFF when no voltage is applied at the gate.

[0043] The device of FIG. 6a is similar to the device of FIG. 5a. The 2DEG sheet charge density in the access regions is dependent on the Al composition in Al_xGaN layer 43, as described above, and also on the thickness and Al composition of Al_yGaN layer 45. FIGS. 6b and 6c show band diagrams and 2DEG charge distributions in the access regions for two different aluminum compositions and thicknesses of Al_yGaN layer 45. In FIG. 6b, the GaN layer 44 has a thickness of 3 nm, and y=0.2 and x=0.2 for Al_yGaN layer 45 and Al_xGaN layer 43. Al_xGaN layer 43 has a thickness of 5 nm and Al_yGaN layer 45 has a thickness of 10 nm. In FIG. 6c, the GaN layer 44 has a thickness of 3 nm, and x=0.2 and y=0.3 for Al_xGaN layer 43 and Al_yGaN layer 45, respectively. Al_yGaN layer 45 has a thickness of 5 nm and Al_xGaN layer 43 has a thickness of 5 nm. For higher Al compositions, the thickness of Al_yGaN layer 45 can be reduced. For the structures in FIG. 6a-c, the structure of FIG. 6b results in a lower 2DEG sheet charge concentration than that of 6c.

[0044] In FIGS. 7a-d, the steps in a process flow for the fabrication of the device of FIG. 5a are shown. The process shown here involves a gate recess etch. First, GaN layer 41, Al_xGaN layer 43, GaN layer 44, and Al_yGaN layer 45 are all grown on substrate 40, as shown in FIG. 7a. Next, as shown in FIG. 7b, source and drain ohmic contacts 48, 49 are deposited. Referring to FIG. 7c, the gate region is then etched down to Al_xGaN layer 43. This is accomplished by first etching Al_yGaN layer 45 and a portion of GaN layer 44 using an etch chemistry which can etch both AlGaN and GaN, such as Cl₂ reactive ion etching (RIE) etching. Next, the remainder of GaN layer 44 is etched using a chemistry which selectively etches GaN but not AlGaN, such as BCl₃/SF₆ RIE etching.

[0045] Thus, Al_xGaN layer 43 serves as an etch stop layer and therefore the entire etch process may be precisely controlled. GaN layer 44 is sufficiently thick so that Al_yGaN layer 45 can be etched all the way through without also etching all the way through GaN layer 44. For example, using a Cl₂ RIE etch, the minimum thickness for this process to be repeatable is approximately 2-3 nm. Finally, gate metal 47 is deposited, resulting in the device of FIG. 7d, which is the same as FIGS. 5a and 6a. The same photoresist layer used for the recess etch may also be used for the gate metal deposition, thus ensuring that the gate metal is self-aligned to the recessed area. In some embodiments, the source and drain ohmic contacts 48, 49 are deposited after the gate recess etch is performed.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 8a-8f, alternative process steps for forming the device in FIG. 5a are shown. First, GaN layer 41, Al_xGaN layer 43, and a GaN layer 44 are grown on substrate 40 (FIG. 8a). Next, GaN layer 44 is etched in a gate region using a chemistry which selectively etches GaN but not AlGaN, such as BCl₃/SF₆ RIE etching (FIG. 8b). Al_xGaN layer 43 serves as an etch stop layer, causing the etch to stop precisely at the interface of Al_xGaN layer 43 and GaN layer 44. After etching, as shown in FIG. 8c, a regrowth mask 46 is deposited over the gate region, that is, where the Al_xGaN is exposed. The regrowth mask material may be AlN, SiN, SiO₂, or any other suitable masking material for regrowth of GaN and AlGaN. The same photoresist layer used for the recess etch may also be used for the regrowth mask deposition, thus ensuring that the regrowth mask is self-aligned to the recessed area. Next, Al_yGaN layer 45 is selectively regrown in the access regions, as illustrated in FIG. 8d. In regrowth of GaN or AlGaN, the regrown material is typically unintentionally doped n-type material, which may be undesirable in this process. For the case where n-type doping is undesirable, the n-type dopant can be compensated, such as by doping the regrown material with Fe. In this process, Al_yGaN layer 45 is regrown directly on GaN. Regrowth on top of a GaN layer can be preferable to regrowth directly on AlGaN, since regrowing high quality material directly on AlGaN has proven to be somewhat difficult. Finally, regrowth mask 46 is removed (FIG. 8e), source and drain ohmic contacts 48, 49 are formed, after which the gate metal 47 is deposited, resulting in the device in FIG. 8f. In some embodiments, the regrowth mask is not removed, but rather is left in place before formation of the gate electrode, such as to form a gate insulator.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 9a, a structure is shown with a p-type AlGaN layer 63 underneath the gate. The AlGaN layer 63 is doped p-type, which allows for an AlN layer 62 between AlGaN layer 63 and GaN layer 61. If AlGaN layer 63 is not doped p-type and AlN 62 is included, then AlGaN layer 63 can be formed as a very thin layer, such as less than 2 nm, to ensure normally off operation. With the use of p-AlGaN, devices containing AlN 62 can be readily designed in which the thickness of p-AlGaN in the AlGaN layer 63 is comparable to that of AlGaN 43 in FIG. 5a. GaN layer 64 and AlGaN layer 65 are formed on the AlGaN layer 63. The AlGaN layer 65 can include Al_yGaN and the AlGaN layer 63 can include p-type Al_xGaN, where x=y, y>x or y<x.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 9b, a band diagram is shown for the region underneath the gate of the device in FIG. 9a at 0 gate voltage, where the Al composition and thickness of layer 63 are 0.2 and 5 nm, respectively, and AlN layer 62 is 0.6 nm thick. The conduction band E_C remains above the Fermi level E_F at the interface of AlN layer 62 and GaN layer 61, indicating that no 2DEG is present, and so the device is OFF when no voltage is applied at the gate.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 10a, which is similar to the device in FIG. 9a, a device is formed with a p-type Al_xGaN layer and an AlN layer under the gate. The 2DEG sheet charge density in the access regions is dependent on the Al compositions and thicknesses of AlGaN layer 63 and AlGaN layer 65. FIGS. 10b and 10c show band diagrams and 2DEG charge distributions in the access regions for two different aluminum compositions and thicknesses of layer 65. In FIG. 10b, the AlN layer 62 has a thickness of 0.6 nm, the AlGaN layer 63, which is p-type AlGaN, has a thickness of 5 nm, the GaN layer 64 has a thickness of 3 nm and the layer of AlGaN 65 has a thickness of 7 nm. If AlGaN layer 63 is formed of Al_xGaN and AlGaN layer 65 is Al_yGaN, x=0.2 and y=0.2 for Al_xGaN layer 63 and Al_yGaN layer 65, respectively. In FIG. 10c, the AlN layer 62 has a thickness of 0.6 nm, the AlGaN layer 63, which is p-type AlGaN, has a thickness of 5 nm, the GaN layer 64 has a thickness of 3 nm and the layer of AlGaN 65 has a thickness of 5 nm. If AlGaN layer 63 is formed of Al_xGaN and AlGaN layer 65 is Al_yGaN, x=0.2 and y=0.3 for Al_xGaN layer 63 and Al_yGaN layer 65, respectively. For higher Al compositions, the thickness of layer 65 can be reduced. For the specific structures shown in FIGS. 10b and 10c, the structure of FIG. 10b results in a higher 2DEG sheet charge concentration than that of FIG. 10c.

[0050] The fabrication procedure for the device shown in FIG. 9a or 10a can be the same as the process described in FIGS. 7a-d or the process described in FIGS. 8a-f, with the exception that during the initial growth, AlN layer 62 is also formed.

[0051] FIGS. 11a-11c illustrate some alternative implementations of the devices shown in FIGS. 4e, 5a, and 9a. These devices all include a passivation layer 81 which covers the semiconductor surface in the access regions, a gate insulator 83, and a slant field plate. The passivation layer can be any dielectric which minimizes the effect of trapped charge and ensures good device operation. In some embodiments, layer 81 is SiN. The gate insulator 83 is at least underneath the gate electrode but may extend part way or all the way towards the source and drain contacts.

[0052] Typical material growth methods for the GaN devices include but are not limited to MOCVD and MBE. Additionally, certain device structure improvements that benefit all embodiments are described. These can be applied to each of the embodiments, either together or one at a time. In some embodiments, the devices are passivated by a suitable dielectric, such as SiN. Passivation by SiN or a suitable dielectric can minimize the effect of trapped charge and ensure good device operation. In some embodiments, field plating by single or multiple field plates is included, which increase the breakdown voltage of the device and further minimizes the impact of trapping by reducing the peak electric field near the gate. Field plates (either separate or in conjunction with forming the gate layer) can be used for obtaining high breakdown voltages. In particular, slant field plates can maximize the benefits of the field plates. In some embodiments, a gate insulator is under the gate. The insulator reduces or eliminates the gate leakage current. In embodiments, several surface treatments can increase n_s in Ga-face GaN HEMT structures. Suitable surface treatments include, but are not limited to n-type doping of the material adjacent to the surface, typically the upper 1-5 nm and deposition of certain surface capping layers, such as SiN deposited by CATCVD. In the structures described here, these surface treatments may be used in the access regions to increase n_s in these regions alone. Of course, one or more of the above features can be combined in a single device. For example, a surface capping layer which increases n_s in the access regions may also be used for passivation. In some of the figures, the layers are shown as being directly contacting one another. Although this is not called out as such in the specification, embodiments of the device may require that the layers that are shown next to one another are in direct contact with one another.

[0053] A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.