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Dynamic Behavior of Threshold Voltage and ID–VDS Kink in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs Due to Poole–Frenkel Effect | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

Dynamic Behavior of Threshold Voltage and IDVDS Kink in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs Due to Poole–Frenkel Effect


Abstract:

The kink effect in field-effect transistors (FETs) consists in a sudden increase in drain current, {I}_{\text {D}} , during a drain voltage sweep and leading to a high...Show More

Abstract:

The kink effect in field-effect transistors (FETs) consists in a sudden increase in drain current, {I}_{\text {D}} , during a drain voltage sweep and leading to a higher {I}_{\text {D}} saturation value. We report new experimental data concerning the dynamic behavior of the “kink” in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs and correlate them with deep levels. The results demonstrate the role of the Poole–Frenkel effect in determining the occurrence of the kink and identify the experimental conditions that make it observable.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices ( Volume: 70, Issue: 12, December 2023)
Page(s): 6256 - 6261
Date of Publication: 31 October 2023

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CCBY - IEEE is not the copyright holder of this material. Please follow the instructions via https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ to obtain full-text articles and stipulations in the API documentation.
SECTION I.

Introduction

Drain current, I_{\mathrm {D}} , versus drain voltage, V_{\mathrm {DS}} , characteristics of field-effect transistors (FETs) can be affected by an instability called “kink effect,” which consists in a sudden increase in I_{\mathrm {D}} during a V_{\mathrm {DS}} sweep, taking place over a narrow V_{\mathrm {DS}} range and leading to a higher I_{\mathrm {D}} saturation value [1]. The kink effect has been observed in silicon-on-insulator and silicon-on-sapphire MOSFETs, where it has been attributed to accumulation of positive charge in the floating Si buffer due to holes generated by impact ionization [2], [3], [4]. GaAs FETs can be affected by kink due to trapping/detrapping effects in the semi-insulating substrate or at the device surface [5], [6].

More recently, the kink effect has been reported both in Ga-polar [1], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19] and in N-polar GaN HEMTs [20] and attributed to surface-related traps [8], [21], [22], [23], impact ionization [9], [20], [24], [25], strongly field-dependent detrapping processes from deep acceptor states in the vicinity of the gate [6], [11], donor-like traps in the GaN buffer layer [12], [26], slow donor-like traps located under or near the gate [7], [19], and charging effects related to generation and transport of holes in a floating, C-doped p-type buffer [13], [15], [16], [17], [18].

The kink effect can be associated with transconductance decrease and output conductance increase [14], [28], [29] and is therefore a relevant degradation mechanism for GaN HEMTs, which currently represent the most promising devices for RF power amplifier applications [29], [30]. Recently, Grupen [1] has investigated kink effects in GaN HEMTs by means of simulations based on the Fermi kinetics transport and hot electron simulation method, including field-enhanced tunneling ionization of deep traps. Simulations in [1] were compared with experimental data reported in [12]; it was shown that the highly nonlinear field dependence of the electron tunneling probability into and out of traps located in the AlGaN barrier, along with hot electron effects, can explain the shape and bias dependence of the kink effect.

In this article, we report new experimental data concerning the dynamic behavior of the kink effect in GaN HEMTs, an aspect that has been neglected in the literature up to now. Results confirm the model proposed in [1] and provide new insights concerning the experimental characterization of kink effects. Devices under test, experimental setup, and experimental procedures are introduced in Section II; experimental results concerning direct current (dc) characteristics and dynamic threshold voltage, and V_{\mathrm {TH}} transient results are discussed in Section III. Finally, the results are reviewed and discussed in Section IV.

SECTION II.

Experimental Details: Devices, Quasi-Static, and Pulsed {I}_{\text{D}}-{V}_{\text{DS}} Characteristics

The devices analyzed in this article were fabricated on AlGaN/GaN heterostructures grown on SiC substrate, by using a 0.25-\mu \text{m} standard industry process. The GaN buffer was doped with carbon (C), in order to increase the charge confinement and reduce short-channel effects. MOCVD epitaxial growth of AlGaN/GaN ended with the growth of an in situ SiN passivation layer, which was subsequently selectively removed by an Ar plasma treatment before depositing the Pt/Ni/Au gate metallization. The devices under test have a total gate width of 2\times 50\,\,\mu \text{m} and a gate-to-drain distance (L_{\mathrm {GD}} ) of 4~\mu \text{m} . A maximum current of 0.85 ± 0.03 A/mm, a maximum transconductance of 330 ± 20 ms/mm, and an OFF-state gate leakage current of 22 ± 6.1~\mu \text{A} /mm are achieved. A Keysight E5263A semiconductor device parameter analyzer was adopted to measure the dc device I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {DS}} output characteristics, using step gate voltage (V_{\mathrm {GS}} ) and staircase drain voltage (V_{\mathrm {DS}} ) sweep.

During the dc measurement, a V_{\mathrm {GS}} value is set; after 30 ms, the staircase V_{\mathrm {DS}} ramp starts, each step having a minimum duration of 40 ms [one power line cycle (PLC)]. At the end of the last step, with V_{\mathrm {DS}} at its maximum value V_{\mathrm {DSmax}} , the drain voltage is turned off (t_{\mathrm {fall}} < 0.5 ms), there is a waiting time of approximately 10 ms, and then, the new value of V_{\mathrm {GS}} is applied, as shown in Fig. 1(a).

Fig. 1. - Schematic of the measurment processes during (a) DC characterization: first, the 
${V}_{\text {GS}}$
 value is set, and after 30 ms (pink), the staircase 
${V}_{\text {DS}}$
 ramp starts; each step having a minimum duration of 40 ms (blue); at the end of the last step, when 
${V}_{\text {DS}}$
 reaches 
${V}_{\text {DSmax}}$
, the drain voltage is turned off, after approximately 10 ms (black), the new 
${V}_{\text {GS}}$
 is applied (b) DP characterizations and (c) setup of the DP system.
Fig. 1.

Schematic of the measurment processes during (a) DC characterization: first, the {V}_{\text {GS}} value is set, and after 30 ms (pink), the staircase {V}_{\text {DS}} ramp starts; each step having a minimum duration of 40 ms (blue); at the end of the last step, when {V}_{\text {DS}} reaches {V}_{\text {DSmax}} , the drain voltage is turned off, after approximately 10 ms (black), the new {V}_{\text {GS}} is applied (b) DP characterizations and (c) setup of the DP system.

As an alternative method to measure the I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {DS}} characteristics, a “double-pulse” (DP) system [31] was used [Fig. 1(b)], where V_{\mathrm {DS}} and V_{\mathrm {GS}} can be pulsed in order to measure the I-V device characteristics starting from a “stress” quiescent bias point, usually with a very low “measure” to “stress” duty cycle, keeping the measurement duration short in order to avoid self-heating and trapping/detrapping effects during measurement. A 1-/99-\mu \text{s} duty cycle was adopted in our case. The DP system is a custom system; based on arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) and amplifiers (AMP), the drain current is recorded using a current probe, as shown in Fig. 1(c).

Hysteresis in I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {DS}} characteristics is observed when V_{\mathrm {DS}} is swept toward higher values and back [Fig. 2(a)]: when the characteristics are measured starting from the maximum drain voltage (V_{\mathrm {DSmax}} ) and decreasing V_{\mathrm {DS}} , the kink disappears. Considering the kink magnitude as the current difference before and after the sharp rise, the kink magnitude increases at increasing V_{\mathrm {DSmax}} applied during measurements [Fig. 2(b)].

Fig. 2. - (a) 
${I}_{\text {D}}-{V}_{\text {DS}}$
 characteristics with forward (
${V}_{\text {DS}}$
 from 0 to 15 V) and reverse (15 to 0 V) sweeps, 0.1-V steps. (b) Forward 
${I}_{\text {D}}-{V}_{\text {DS}}$
 with 
${V}_{\text {DS}}$
 swept up to 5, 10, 15, and 20 V. Sweep speed 40 ms/V. 
${V}_{\text {GS}}$
 is swept from −5 V up to 0 V.
Fig. 2.

(a) {I}_{\text {D}}-{V}_{\text {DS}} characteristics with forward ({V}_{\text {DS}} from 0 to 15 V) and reverse (15 to 0 V) sweeps, 0.1-V steps. (b) Forward {I}_{\text {D}}-{V}_{\text {DS}} with {V}_{\text {DS}} swept up to 5, 10, 15, and 20 V. Sweep speed 40 ms/V. {V}_{\text {GS}} is swept from −5 V up to 0 V.

During the forward and reverse V_{\mathrm {DS}} sweep, ON-resistance (R_{\mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}} ) showed no difference; by comparing various forward and reverse sweeps at different V_{\mathrm {GS}} , it is evident that the kink is caused by a \approx 300 -mV V_{\mathrm {GS}} difference, equivalent to a positive shift of threshold voltage V_{\mathrm {TH}} , as shown in Fig. 3(a). The peak of the output conductance, g_{\mathrm {D}} , corresponds to the position of the kink and occurs at an almost constant value of V_{\mathrm {DG}}~\cong ~6.5 V, see Fig. 3(b).

Fig. 3. - (a) 
${I}_{\text {DS}}-{V}_{\text {DS}}$
 sweeps with different 
${V}_{\text {GS}}$
’s during forward sweep (0 to 15 V) and reverse sweep (15 to 0 V) at different 
${V}_{\text {GS}}$
’s. (b) Position of the kink (
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {Kink}}~{V}_{\text {DG},\text {Kink}}$
) as a function of 
${V}_{\text {GS}}$
 and 
${V}_{\text {DG}}$
.
Fig. 3.

(a) {I}_{\text {DS}}-{V}_{\text {DS}} sweeps with different {V}_{\text {GS}} ’s during forward sweep (0 to 15 V) and reverse sweep (15 to 0 V) at different {V}_{\text {GS}} ’s. (b) Position of the kink ({V}_{\text {DS},\text {Kink}}~{V}_{\text {DG},\text {Kink}} ) as a function of {V}_{\text {GS}} and {V}_{\text {DG}} .

When the output characteristics are measured using the DP system, with a measurement time t_{\mathrm {M}}=1~\mu \text{s} after a 99-\mu \text{s} quiescent phase at V_{\mathrm {GS,S}}=V_{\mathrm {DS,S}} = 0 V, the kink disappears. Pulsed curves also show reduced self-heating (smaller decrease of I_{\mathrm {DS}} at high V_{\mathrm {DS}} ) and slightly lower R_{\mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}} in a linear region, see Fig. 4. DC and DP measurements confirm that the kink in our devices has the same features described in the previous papers.

Fig. 4. - Comparison of dc output 
${I}_{\text {D}}-{V}_{\text {DS}}$
 characteristics with those measured by the DP system with a quiescent bias 
${V}_{\text {GS}}={V}_{\text {DS}}$
 = 0 V; measurement time 
${t}_{\text {M}}=1~\mu \text{s}$
 and quiescent bias time 
${t}_{\text {F}}=99~\mu \text{s}$
.
Fig. 4.

Comparison of dc output {I}_{\text {D}}-{V}_{\text {DS}} characteristics with those measured by the DP system with a quiescent bias {V}_{\text {GS}}={V}_{\text {DS}} = 0 V; measurement time {t}_{\text {M}}=1~\mu \text{s} and quiescent bias time {t}_{\text {F}}=99~\mu \text{s} .

SECTION III.

Drain Current and Threshold Voltage Transients

The analysis of drain current and threshold voltage transients provides a deeper insight into the origin of kink effect in the tested devices. The stress/recovery experiment consists in applying a constant (V_{\mathrm {GS,F}} , V_{\mathrm {DS,F}} ) stress for a fixed duration of time (“filling” phase, up to 100 s typically), then observing the recovery of the device biased at V_{\mathrm {GS,B}} and V_{\mathrm {DS,B}} (“recovery” phase) for other 100 s. During both the stress and the recovery phases, a set of dynamic fast I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {GS}} measurements at V_{\mathrm {DS,M}} , with V_{\mathrm {GS,M}} from −4.5 to 0 V were carried out with a 4-\mu \text{s} sweep time, at logarithmically spaced time intervals, in order to monitor the current and V_{\mathrm {TH}} variation over time, as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5. - (a) Bias sequence applied to the gate and drain contact. (b) Simplified schematic diagram of the 
${V}_{\text {TH}}$
 transient setup used in the work.
Fig. 5.

(a) Bias sequence applied to the gate and drain contact. (b) Simplified schematic diagram of the {V}_{\text {TH}} transient setup used in the work.

The emission time constant of the involved deep levels could be derived by fitting the current transient curves with stretched multiexponential functions as follows:\begin{align*} I_{\mathrm {DS}}\left ({t}\right)=I_{\mathrm {DS,final}}+A_{0}\mathrm {exp}\left ({-{\left ({\frac {t}{\tau _{0}}}\right)}^{\beta _{0}}}\right)+A_{1}\mathrm {exp}\left ({-{\left ({\frac {t}{\tau _{1}}}\right)}^{\beta _{1}}}\right)\!\!\! \tag{1}\end{align*}

View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. where the fitting parameters A_{0} and A_{1} are amplitudes, \tau _{0} and \tau _{1} are the time constant, and \beta _{0} and \beta _{1} are the stretching factors.

Then, the measurements were repeated at different temperatures, from which the Arrhenius plots were extrapolated.

Fig. 6 shows drain current transients at various temperatures; filling was carried out in pinchoff condition (−6, 25 V); a (0, 0 V) bias was applied during recovery. During filling, a significant decrease of I_{\mathrm {D}} occurred within the first 10~\mu \text{s} , followed by a slower decrease. By fitting the transient using the two-stretched exponential function [black dashed lines in Fig. 6(b)], two trapping signatures were extracted during unbiased recovery measurement: the first one (E2) corresponds to the 10~\mu \text{s} –1 ms region observed during recovery and has an activation energy (E_{A} ) equal to 0.8 eV and the second one (E1) is extremely slow and its activation energy is 0.5 eV [Fig. 6(c)].

Fig. 6. - Repeated measurements at 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {M}}$
 = −1 V and 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {M}}$
 = 1 V without bias during recovery (
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}}={V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}}$
 = 0 V). (a) During stress in pinchoff at 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}}$
 = −6 V and 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}}$
 = 25 V and (b) recovery after 1-s stress at (
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}}$
 = −6 V and 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}}$
 = 25 V), at baseplate temperature from 30 °C to 110 °C; color dot curves: experimental data and black dashed line: fit curves. (c) Arrhenius plots of E1 and E2 during the recovery phase.
Fig. 6.

Repeated measurements at {V}_{\text {GS},\text {M}} = −1 V and {V}_{\text {DS},\text {M}} = 1 V without bias during recovery ({V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}}={V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}} = 0 V). (a) During stress in pinchoff at {V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}} = −6 V and {V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}} = 25 V and (b) recovery after 1-s stress at ({V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}} = −6 V and {V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}} = 25 V), at baseplate temperature from 30 °C to 110 °C; color dot curves: experimental data and black dashed line: fit curves. (c) Arrhenius plots of E1 and E2 during the recovery phase.

The I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {G}} curves during the recovery phase at RT showed that it takes more than 103 s to achieve a complete recovery of the drain current and V_{\mathrm {TH}} , as shown in Fig. 7. Due to the fact that the accuracy of the current probe is 1 mA, V_{\mathrm {TH}} was extracted as V_{\mathrm {GS}} when I_{\mathrm {DS}} is 1 mA from the experimental I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {G}} curves.

Fig. 7. - 
${I}_{\text {D}}-{V}_{\text {G}}$
 curves in linear scale at 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {M}}$
 = 7 V, 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {M}}$
 from −4.5 to 0 V, during the recovery phase, without bias during recovery (
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}}={V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}}$
 = 0 V), after 100 s stress at 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}}$
 = −6 V and 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}}$
 = 25 V at RT.
Fig. 7.

{I}_{\text {D}}-{V}_{\text {G}} curves in linear scale at {V}_{\text {DS},\text {M}} = 7 V, {V}_{\text {GS},\text {M}} from −4.5 to 0 V, during the recovery phase, without bias during recovery ({V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}}={V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}} = 0 V), after 100 s stress at {V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}} = −6 V and {V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}} = 25 V at RT.

Fig. 8 shows the effect of V_{\mathrm {DS,F}} during the filling phase at OFF-sate, with V_{\mathrm {GS,F}} that is kept at −6 V, and V_{\mathrm {DS,F}} increases from 0 to 25 V: the \vert V_{\mathrm {TH}}\vert value decreases at increasing V_{\mathrm {DS,F}} , which is consistent with the increase of kink amplitude with V_{\mathrm {DS,max}} (Fig. 2).

Fig. 8. - Dynamic 
${V}_{\text {TH}}$
 transient with different filling voltage 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}}$
 in pinchoff at 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}}$
 = −6 V. (a) Filling transient. (b) Recovery at 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}}={V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}}$
 = 0 V at RT. 
${V}_{\text {TH}}$
 was extracted as 
${V}_{\text {GS}}$
 at 
${I}_{\text {DS}}$
 = 10 mA/mm.
Fig. 8.

Dynamic {V}_{\text {TH}} transient with different filling voltage {V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}} in pinchoff at {V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}} = −6 V. (a) Filling transient. (b) Recovery at {V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}}={V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}} = 0 V at RT. {V}_{\text {TH}} was extracted as {V}_{\text {GS}} at {I}_{\text {DS}} = 10 mA/mm.

When a nonzero bias is applied during the recovery phase, significant changes in the transient kinetics occur, see Fig. 9. The E2 transition (corresponding to 0.8-eV activation energy) is not affected by gate voltage; on the contrary, the emission time constant of the E1 transition is reduced from 102 to 10−2s when V_{\mathrm {GS}} goes from 0 to −7 V with V_{\mathrm {DS,B}} = 0 V.

Fig. 9. - Dynamic 
${V}_{\text {TH}}$
 recovery transient of the device under test after a 100-s filling at 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}}$
 = −6 V and 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}}$
 = 25 V with different (a) gate voltage 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}}$
 values applied during the recovery at 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}}$
 = 0 V and (b) drain voltage 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}}$
 values applied during the recovery at 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}}$
 = −2 V.
Fig. 9.

Dynamic {V}_{\text {TH}} recovery transient of the device under test after a 100-s filling at {V}_{\text {GS},\text {F}} = −6 V and {V}_{\text {DS},\text {F}} = 25 V with different (a) gate voltage {V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}} values applied during the recovery at {V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}} = 0 V and (b) drain voltage {V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}} values applied during the recovery at {V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}} = −2 V.

Notice that V_{\mathrm {GS}} < -5 V (in pinchoff) induces electron trapping during the recovery phase, leading to positive shift of threshold voltage, see Fig. 9(a); on the contrary, when V_{\mathrm {GS}} = −2 V (ON-state), a drain voltage value as high as V_{\mathrm {DS,B}} = 10 V is needed to move the E1 transition to 10−2 s; no extra trapping occurs after 100 s at V_{\mathrm {GS,B}} = −2 V, V_{\mathrm {DS,B}} = 10 V, and V_{\mathrm {TH}} recovers to the value measured without stress, see Fig. 9(b).

The functional dependence on the electric field of the emission rate e = (\tau)^{-1} of E1 (the trap responsible for the kink effect) is determined by fitting the emission rate using a power law function (\ln (e)=a+b\ast V^{p}) . The fitting parameter p is 0.5 (Fig. 10), proving that e increases exponentially with the square root of the bias voltage, i.e., of the electric field, in agreement with the generally accepted model for Poole–Frenkel effect [32].

Fig. 10. - Emission rate (e) of E1 as a function of the applied 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}}$
.
Fig. 10.

Emission rate (e) of E1 as a function of the applied {V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}} .

By fitting e as a function of \sqrt {V}_{\mathrm {GS,B}} using \begin{equation*} e=e\left ({0 }\right)\mathrm {exp}\left ({\alpha \sqrt {V}_{\mathrm {GS,B}}}\right)\end{equation*}

View SourceRight-click on figure for MathML and additional features. the zero field emission rate e (0) is determined to be around 10−4 s−1, which is in agreement with the experimental results showing that the emission time constant of E1 is almost 1000 s when no bias is applied during the recovery phase. \alpha is a constant, which depends on the applied voltage and on trap potential lowering.

Consistent with the Poole–Frenkel effect [32], the activation energy (E_{A} ) of the detrapping time constant of E1 trap decreases with the square root of the applied gate voltage during recovery, see Fig. 11(a). Also, the dielectric constant was estimated to be 5.7, which is close to the dielectric constant of GaN and AlGaN at high frequency [33].

Fig. 11. - (a) Activation energy as a function of the square root of the absolute values of the applied gate voltage. (b) 
${V}_{\text {TH}}$
 transients measured with 
${V}_{\text {G},\text {F}}$
 = −6 V and 
${V}_{\text {D},\text {F}}$
 = 25 V at various temperatures, applying 
${V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}}$
 = −2 V and 
${V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}}$
 = 5 V.
Fig. 11.

(a) Activation energy as a function of the square root of the absolute values of the applied gate voltage. (b) {V}_{\text {TH}} transients measured with {V}_{\text {G},\text {F}} = −6 V and {V}_{\text {D},\text {F}} = 25 V at various temperatures, applying {V}_{\text {GS},\text {B}} = −2 V and {V}_{\text {DS},\text {B}} = 5 V.

Fig. 11(b) shows the V_{\mathrm {TH}} recovery transients after filling at V_{\mathrm {GS,F}} = −6 V, V_{\mathrm {DS,F}} = 25 V for 100 s, with a bias of V_{\mathrm {GSB}} = −2 V, and V_{\mathrm {DSB}} = 5 V during the recovery phase, as a function of temperature. The detrapping process of E1 practically does not depend on temperature and its E_{A} is reduced to almost zero.

SECTION IV.

Discussion and Conclusion

The experimental results reported above can be explained as follows. During quasi-static measurements of the dc output I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {DS}} (V_{\mathrm {GS}} ) characteristics, starting from pinchoff conditions, V_{\mathrm {DS}} is increased from 0 to V_{\mathrm {DSmax}} , Consistently, the value of V_{\mathrm {DG}} remarkably increases, and electron injection and trapping in deep donor levels in the AlGaN barrier and/or the GaN buffer occurs. The corresponding V_{\mathrm {TH}} dynamic transients suggest the presence of two deep levels (E1 and E2) having activation energies of 0.5 and 0.8 eV, respectively (Figs. 6 and 8).

After completing the first curve, the value of V_{\mathrm {GS}} is increased, and the V_{\mathrm {DS}} staircase starts again from 0 V. For V_{\mathrm {DG}} values lower than 4–5 V, the time constant for detrapping is longer than 1 s: since this time is much longer than the measurement time (40 ms), the negative charge under the gate shifts V_{\mathrm {TH}} toward positive values, thus inducing a decrease of I_{\mathrm {D}} with respect to the “detrapped” condition, see Fig. 2. However, as V_{\mathrm {GD}} is increased beyond approximately 5 V, the emission rate of electrons from donor states in the AlGaN increases exponentially due to the Poole–Frenkel effect, which reduces the activation energy of the traps from 0.5 eV to almost zero, see Figs. 9 and 11 [32]. The detrapping time becomes shorter than the measurement time, V_{\mathrm {TH}} becomes more negative, and I_{\mathrm {D}} increases, thus originating a “kink” in the I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {DS}} characteristics. When a reverse scan measurement (from V_{\mathrm {DS,max}} to 0 V) is carried out, Fig. 3(a), the high value of V_{\mathrm {DS}} makes detrapping time constant very short due to the PF effect so that the “detrapped” state is always measured; then, at low V_{\mathrm {DS}} , the electric field is insufficient to cause trapping, so a high value of current is measured along the entire reverse I-V curve.

In other words, the kink is due to a strong dependence of emission time on electric field or voltage (as it occurs for Poole–Frenkel effect [1], as shown in Fig. 12), coupled with a relatively slow sampling and measurement of the parameter analyzer. In fact, when I_{\mathrm {D}}-V_{\mathrm {DS}} characteristics are measured using a fast (1~\mu \text{s} ) DP system, kink is not present since detrapping time is longer than 1~\mu \text{s} for any bias condition, see Figs. 4 and 9.

Fig. 12. - Schematic electron energy diagram in equilibrium condition when no bias is applied during recovery (black) and in the presence of electric fields, where bias is applied during the recovery phase (red) showing the Poole–Frenkel emission process.
Fig. 12.

Schematic electron energy diagram in equilibrium condition when no bias is applied during recovery (black) and in the presence of electric fields, where bias is applied during the recovery phase (red) showing the Poole–Frenkel emission process.

Several authors have attributed the appearance of the kink to Poole–Frenkel effects [1], [34], [35]; however, a detailed analysis of dynamic threshold voltage shift and its dependence on applied bias has not been reported. Our experimental data confirm the model reported in [1]; we attributed the kink to donor traps in the AlGaN, as emission time is more sensitive to V_{\mathrm {GS}} than V_{\mathrm {DS}} , see Fig. 9; moreover, the activation energy of traps responsible for the kink is around 0.50 eV, a value reported for traps in the AlGaN [36], [37], [38]. Finally, even if we cannot exclude a role for deep acceptors introduced by carbon at nitrogen vacancies (CN defects), related to hole injection and transport [16] or hole redistribution [39], it should be stressed that the Poole–Frenkel effect on C-doping accelerates hole detrapping [40], leading to faster negative charge build-up due to ionized acceptors, contrarily to what has been observed in the present experiment. We cannot exclude that other mechanisms, not related to Poole–Frenkel effect and involving C traps in the buffer, can be responsible for the kink in other devices, but for the above reasons, we exclude them for the devices under study.

Previous investigations have also suggested that impact ionization [9], [20], [24] may be a possible cause of kink effects; nevertheless, it appears unlikely in the devices studied in this work. This is primarily because impact ionization is a nearly instantaneous process, and such rapid behavior does not align with the very long time constant detected in this work. Even if we assume that long time constants are somehow possible, an increase in temperature should theoretically result in a reduction of the number of hot electrons, consequently slowing down the recovery process. However, the experimental results showed the opposite trend (Fig. 6).

Earlier studies have also reported the presence of kink effects in Fe-doped devices. However, we exclude it, based on the emission time constant of the kink-responsible trap in the devices under study and its strong dependence on gate and drain voltage, both of which are different from the Fe trap. The latter is actually characterized by an emission time constant of ≈10 ms at room temperature with negligible Poole–Frenkel effects [41]. Therefore, Fe-related traps do not play a role in the kink effects observed in the devices studied in this work.

Reported data demonstrate that, although the observation of the kink effect remains an indicator of charge trapping on deep levels or of charge accumulation in a floating, semi-insulating buffer, its occurrence or observation critically depends on measurement conditions; transient measurements are essential for correct understanding of physical phenomena originating the kink, which can be relevant for the operation and reliability of RF AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. Regarding HEMTs with different barrier materials, such as InAl(Ga)N, these can be affected by kink effects as well. In those devices also, if the kink effect is correlated to a voltage-dependent V_{\mathrm {TH}} dynamic shift (within the kink bias range), then it is reasonable to assume that barrier traps sensitive to the Poole–Frenkel effect are responsible for the kink.

In summary, new experimental evidence concerning the dynamic behavior of the “kink” phenomenon and its relation to deep levels in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs is presented in this article. This work demonstrates that the kink effect observed in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs is due to a strong dependence of emission time on electric field or voltage (as expected for Poole–Frenkel effect) coupled with a relatively slow sampling and measurement of the parameter analyzer.

NOTE

Open Access funding provided by ‘Università degli Studi di Padova’ within the CRUI CARE Agreement

Cites in Papers - |

Cites in Papers - IEEE (2)

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Francesco De Pieri, Mirko Fornasier, Veronica Gao Zhan, Manuel Fregolent, Carlo De Santi, Fabiana Rampazzo, Vamsi Putcha, Erik van de Riet, Dave Hartskeerl, Gaudenzio Meneghesso, Matteo Meneghini, Enrico Zanoni, "Self-Induced Photoionization of Traps in Buffer-Free AlGaN/GaN HEMTs", IEEE Electron Device Letters, vol.46, no.3, pp.369-372, 2025.
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Jing Bai, Ao Zhang, Jianjun Gao, "Scalable Large-Signal Modeling for GaN HEMTs Including Kink Effect", IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters, vol.34, no.12, pp.1339-1342, 2024.

References

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