Characterization of vertical AZO/p-GaN/n-GaN heterojunction bipolar transistor

Abstract

Vertical device architectures are attracting attention for power electronics applications owing to their high current capabilities and space-efficient layouts. In this study, we demonstrate a GaN-based vertical heterojunction bipolar transistor employing aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) as the collector layer, deposited by radio frequency sputtering at a low temperature. This low-temperature process avoids thermal damage to the underlying p-GaN base layer and provides a fabrication-compatible route for device integration. Numerical simulations indicated that the AZO/p-GaN/n-GaN stack formed suitable band alignments to support transistor operation. The fabricated device showed current switching and amplification in the common-base configuration, while the common-emitter mode exhibited abnormal behavior caused by reverse leakage at the base–collector junction. These results confirm the viability of the low-temperature AZO-based approach and indicate its potential for integration into high-performance vertical high-power transistors.