Effects of plasma treatments on Ohmic formation for N polarity of n+-GaN substrates

X Xinke Liu (College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Institute of Power Devices and AI Energy Monitoring Technology, Shenzhen University 1 , Shenzhen 518060,) K Kangkai Fan (College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Institute of Power Devices and AI Energy Monitoring Technology, Shenzhen University 1 , Shenzhen 518060,) Y Yeying Huang (College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Institute of Power Devices and AI Energy Monitoring Technology, Shenzhen University 1 , Shenzhen 518060,) Z Zhanwu Yang (Red and Blue Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd 2 , Shanghai 200131,) L Lixuan Chen (Unilumin Group 3 , Shenzhen 518103,) H Hezhou Liu X Xiaohua Li

Abstract

In this Letter, we demonstrate low-resistance Ohmic contacts on N-polar GaN via plasma surface treatment, systematically investigating optimization mechanisms. O2 plasma treatment induces the formation of an ultrathin (∼2 nm) oxide interlayer at the metal–semiconductor interface, which serves dual roles. It prevents direct metal–GaN interaction and reconstructs surface states through oxygen passivation. This dual functionality significantly mitigates Fermi-level pinning and reduces the effective Schottky barrier height. These interfacial modifications yield a remarkably low specific contact resistivity (ρc) of 3.84 × 10−6 Ω cm2, as measured by the multi-ring circular transmission line model. This plasma-based strategy establishes a scalable approach for high-performance Ohmic contacts in GaN devices.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 6
Published August 11, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

X

Xinke Liu

College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Institute of Power Devices and AI Energy Monitoring Technology, Shenzhen University 1 , Shenzhen 518060,

K

Kangkai Fan

College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Institute of Power Devices and AI Energy Monitoring Technology, Shenzhen University 1 , Shenzhen 518060,

Y

Yeying Huang

College of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Institute of Power Devices and AI Energy Monitoring Technology, Shenzhen University 1 , Shenzhen 518060,

Z

Zhanwu Yang

Red and Blue Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd 2 , Shanghai 200131,

L

Lixuan Chen

Unilumin Group 3 , Shenzhen 518103,

H

Hezhou Liu

X

Xiaohua Li