Researchers develop 120nm III-V high-electron-mobility transistors with cut-offs above 100 GHz

Posted: August 4, 2010
Researchers develop 120nm III-V high-electron-mobility transistors with cut-offs above 100 GHz
(Nanowerk News) Researchers based in China have developed 120nm III-V high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) with millimeter-wave broadband and satellite communication applications in mind [Huang Jie et al, J. Semicond., vol31, p074008, 2010]. The current-gain cut-off frequency (fT) was 141GHz and the maximum power gain cut-off was (fmax) 120GHz.
The research was carried out by scientists from Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Microelectronics and China's Southwest University in Chongqing. The researchers see their new indium gallium arsenide/indium aluminum arsenide (InGaAs/InAlAs) devices as being "promising in millimeter-wave devices and integrated circuits". Table 1: InGaAs/InAlAs HEMT epitaxial layer structure.

SEM photo of T-shaped pattern of the InGaAs/InAlAs HEMT.
The device structures were grown on semi-insulating indium phosphide (InP) substrates using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). To make the transistors, the source and drain regions were formed first using the deposition and lift-off of six layers of alloyed metal (nickel, germanium, gold, germanium, nickel, gold). The resulting contact resistance was measured at 0.2Ω-mm using the transmission line model (TLM).
The mesa isolation structures were formed by a wet chemical etch using an aqueous solution of phosphate (H3PO4) and hydrogen peroxide. Electron-beam evaporation was used to create the titanium-gold wiring.
To produce short gate lengths of ∼100nm, the researchers developed a four-layer electron-beam resist process – poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polymethylglutarimide (PMGI), ZEP520, polymethylglutarimide (PMGI). ZEP520 is a high-performance resist developed by Zeon Corp of Japan. The China researchers report that use of the bottom PMGI layer helps in the clean removal of the resist layers compared with a structure that has a ZEP520 bottom layer.
The gate (see Figure above) was recessed into the cap layer with a wet citric acid/hydrogen peroxide etch that was stopped by an InP etch-stop layer (selectivity InGaAs/InP ~160). The gate metal consisted of titanium, platinum and gold, which was deposited in an evaporation and lift-off process. A T-gate shape was used to reduce parasitic capacitance and resistance effects. The gate had a 120nm length and a 2x50µm width. Passivation was not used because the researchers wanted to avoid increasing the gate capacitance and thus impact the high-frequency performance.
In DC operation, the HEMT's saturation drain-to-source current was found to be 446mA/mm. The maximum extrinsic transconductance (Gm) of 520mS/mm was obtained under conditions where the gate-source voltage was –0.5V and the drain-source voltage was 1.5V. Subthreshold, the gate leakage – a little less than 0.1µA – is dominated by current from the drain. The pinch-off/threshold voltage is –1V (hence the transistor is 'on' at 0V).
The frequency performance was extracted from measurements made in the range 0.1–26.1GHz. The maximum power gain cut-off was determined from measurements made at a drain–source voltage of 1.5V and a gate–source voltage of –0.5V. Parasitic effects were de-embedded from the measurements.

Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences

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