Electric field-modulated AlGaN/GaN Schottky barrier diode with high breakdown voltage via polarized charge around thin GaN channel

T Tao Zhang J Junjie Yu H Heyuan Chen (Key Laboratory of Wide Band Gap Semiconductor Materials and Devices, School of Microelectronics, Xidian University 1 , Xi'an 710071,) Y Yachao Zhang S Shengrui Xu X Xiangdong Li H Huake Su (State Key Laboratory of Wide-Bandgap Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Technology, School of Microelectronics, Xidian University 1 , Xi'an 710071,) J Jiahao Chen (Spin-X Institute, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Optoelectronic and Magnetic Functional Materials, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices) H Hongchang Tao (State Key Laboratory of Wide-Bandgap Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Technology, School of Microelectronics, Xidian University 1 , Xi'an 710071,) Y Yue Hao J Jincheng Zhang

Abstract

In this work, electric field-modulated AlGaN/GaN Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) with an AlN back barrier layer and a thin GaN channel layer are demonstrated. Benefiting from the built-in electric field (EB) induced via the positively polarized charge at the AlGaN/GaN interface and the negatively polarized charge at the GaN/AlN interface, the composite electric field in the GaN channel is effectively suppressed, when the diodes are reverse-biased. Compared to traditional GaN buffer SBDs, the breakdown voltage of AlGaN/GaN SBDs with AlN back barrier layer increases from −585 to −1122 V while the power figure-of-merit increases from 215 to 777 MW/cm2.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 23
Published December 08, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

T

Tao Zhang

J

Junjie Yu

H

Heyuan Chen

Key Laboratory of Wide Band Gap Semiconductor Materials and Devices, School of Microelectronics, Xidian University 1 , Xi'an 710071,

Y

Yachao Zhang

S

Shengrui Xu

X

Xiangdong Li

H

Huake Su

State Key Laboratory of Wide-Bandgap Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Technology, School of Microelectronics, Xidian University 1 , Xi'an 710071,

J

Jiahao Chen

Spin-X Institute, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Optoelectronic and Magnetic Functional Materials, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices

H

Hongchang Tao

State Key Laboratory of Wide-Bandgap Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Technology, School of Microelectronics, Xidian University 1 , Xi'an 710071,

Y

Yue Hao

J

Jincheng Zhang