Bias-dependence of surface charge at low temperature in GaN Self-Switching Diodes

[EN]In this work, with the help of a semi-classical twodimensional Monte Carlo (MC) simulator, we study the DC current-voltage curves of Self-Switching Diodes (SSDs) fabricated on an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure from 100 K up to room temperature. Due to the very narrow channel of the SSDs, the presence of surface effects plays a key role not only on their DC behavior but also on their RF detection performance. The evolution with temperature of the negative surface charge density σ at the etched sidewalls of the SSD is the key quantity to explain the measurements. At 300 K, MC simulations with a constant value of σ are able to replicate very satisfactorily the experiments. However, to reproduce the shape of the I-V curve at low temperatures, a more realistic approach, where σ depends not only on T, but also on the applied bias V, is necessary.Spanish MINECO and FEDER through project TEC2017-83910-R and Junta de Castilla y León and FEDER through project SA254P1

Monte Carlo analysis of the influence of surface charges on GaN asymmetric nanochannels: Bias and temperature dependence

[EN]In this paper, the occupancy of sidewall surface states having a clear signature in the performance of AlGaN/GaN-based self-switching diodes (SSDs) is analyzed using a semi-classical Monte Carlo (MC) simulator in a wide temperature (T) range, from 100 to 300 K. Experimental I–V curves show an unusual current decrease at low temperature attributed to surface trapping. The dependence on T of the negative surface charge density σ at the etched sidewalls of the SSDs is essential to explain the measurements. Two devices with different widths (80 and 150 nm) have been characterized and simulated in detail paying especial attention to the modeling of the surface states. At room temperature, MC simulations with a position-independent value of σ are able to qualitatively reproduce the I–V curves. However, a more complex approach is required to correctly replicate the values and shape of the DC experimental curves at low temperature, below 220 K. An algorithm where σ depends not only on T but also on the applied bias V is proposed to successfully fit the current values at every bias point. The model is able to explain the physics of the unexpected dependence of the resistance with the channel width and the sign change in the bowing coefficient, the parameters that govern the detection capabilities of the diodes.Spanish MINECO and FEDER through Project No. TEC2017-83910-R and Junta de Castilla y León and FEDER through Project No. SA254P1

Monte Carlo study of the operation of GaN planar nanodiodes as sub-THz emitters in resonant circuits

A study of the high-frequency performance of GaN-based asymmetric self-switching diodes (SSDs) designed for a room-temperature sub-THz Gunn emission, and connected to a resonant RLC parallel circuit, is reported. With the aim of facilitating the achievement and control of Gunn oscillations, which can potentially allow the emission of THz radiation by GaN SSDs, a time-domain Monte Carlo (MC) theoretical study is provided. The simulator has been validated by comparison with the I–V curves of similar fabricated structures, including the possibility of heating effects. A V-shaped SSD has been found to be more efficient than the square one in terms of the DC to AC conversion efficiency η. Indeed, according to our MC results, a value of η of at least 0.35% @ 270 GHz can be achieved for the V-shaped SSD at room temperature by using an adequate resonant circuit. This value can be increased up to 0.80%, even when considering the heating effects, with appropriate RLC elements. Furthermore, simulations show that when several diodes are fabricated in parallel in order to enhance the emitted power, there is no synchronization between the oscillations of all the SSDs; however, the phase-shift effects can be solved using a synchronized current injection by the attachment of a resonant circuit

Trap-related frequency dispersion of zero-bias microwave responsivity at low temperature in GaN-based self-switching diodes

[EN]The zero-bias microwave detection capability of self-switching diodes (SSDs) based on AlGaN/GaN is analyzed in a wide temperature range, from 10 K to 300 K. The measured responsivity shows an anomalous enhancement at low temperature, while the detected voltage exhibits a roll-off in frequency, which can be attributed to the presence of surface and bulk traps. To gain a deep insight into this behavior, a systematic DC and AC characterization of the diodes has been carried out in the mentioned temperature range. DC results confirm the existence of traps and AC measurements allow us to identify their properties. In particular, impedance studies enable to distinguish two types of traps: at the lateral surfaces of the channel, with a wide spread of relaxation times, and in the bulk.Spanish MINECO and FEDER through project TEC2017-83910-R and the Junta de Castilla y León and FEDER through project SA254P18

Optimized V-shape design of GaN nanodiodes for the generation of Gunn oscillations

In this work, recent advances in the design of GaN planar Gunn diodes with asymmetric shape, socalled self-switching diodes, are presented. A particular geometry for the nanodiode is proposed, referred as V-shape, where the width of the channel is intentionally increased as approaching the anode. This design, which reduces the effect of the surface-charges at the anode side, is the most favourable one for the onset of Gunn oscillations, which emerge at lower current levels and with lower threshold voltages as compared to the standard square geometry, thus enhancing the power efficiency of the self-switching diode as sub-millimeter wave emitters

Analysis of trap states in AlGaN/GaN self-switching diodes via impedance measurements

The presence of trap states in self-switching diodes (SSD) based on an AlGaN/GaN heterojunction has been identified by means of their AC characterization between 75 kHz to 30 MHz in a wide temperature range, from 80 K to 300 K. Measurements allow us to determine two different characteristic energies of the traps, 12 meV and 61 meV, being associated to a distribution of surface states and one discrete bulk trap, respectively. The impact of the trapping effects on microwave detection at zero-bias has also been analyzed in the same temperature range, the measured responsivity showing an unusual enhancement and a low-frequency roll-off at low temperatures.Spanish MINECO and FEDER through project TEC2017-83910-R and Junta de Castilla y León and FEDER through project SA254P1

Self-consistent electro-thermal simulations of AlGaN/GaN diodes by means of Monte Carlo method

In this contribution we present the results from the simulation of an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure diode by means of a Monte Carlo tool where thermal effects have been included. Two techniques are investigated: (i) a thermal resistance method (TRM), and (ii) an advanced electro-thermal model (ETM) including the solution of the steady-state heat diffusion equation. Initially, a systematic study at constant temperature is performed in order to calibrate the electronic model. Once this task is performed, the electro-thermal methods are coupled with the Monte Carlo electronic simulations. For the TRM, several values of thermal resistances are employed, and for the ETM method, the dependence on the thermal-conductivity, thickness and die length is analyzed. It is found that the TRM with well-calibrated values of thermal resistances provides a similar behavior to ETM simulations under the hypothesis of constant thermal conductivity. Our results are validated with experimental measurements finding the best agreement when the ETM is used with a temperature-dependent thermal conductivity

Operation of GaN planar nanodiodes as THz detectors and mixers

In this paper, we perform, by means of Monte Carlo simulations and experimental measurements, a geometry optimization of GaN-based nano-diodes for broadband Terahertz direct detection (in terms of responsivity) and mixing (in terms of output power). The capabilities of the so-called self-switching diode (SSD) are analyzed for different dimensions of the channel at room temperature. Signal detection up to the 690 GHz limit of the experimental set-up has been achieved at zero bias. The reduction of the channel width increases the detection responsivity, while the reduction in length reduces the responsivity but increases the cut-off frequency. In the case of heterodyne detection an intrinsic bandwidth of at least 100 GHz has been found. The intermediate frequency (IF) power increases for short SSDs, while the optimization in terms of the channel width is a trade-off between a higher non-linearity (obtained for narrow SSDs) and a large current level (obtained for wide SSDs). Moreover, the RF performance can be improved by biasing, with optimum performances reached, as expected, when the DC non-linearity is maximum

Searching for THz Gunn oscillations in GaN planar nanodiodes

A detailed study of GaN-based planar asymmetric nanodiodes, promising devices for the fabrication of room temperature THz Gunn oscillators, is reported. By using Monte Carlo simulations, an analysis of the static I-V curves and the time-domain evolution of the current obtained when varying some simulation parameters in the diodes has been made. Oscillation frequencies of hundreds of GHz are predicted by the simulations in diodes with micrometric channel lengths. Following simulation guidelines, a first batch of diodes was fabricated. It was found that surface charge depletion effects are stronger than expected and inhibit the onset of the oscillations. Indeed, a simple standard constant surface charge model is not able to reproduce experimental measurements and a self-consistent model must be included in the simulations. Using a self-consistent model, it was found that to achieve oscillations, wider channels and improved geometries are necessary.ROOTHz (FP7-243845