He-induced semi-insulating microcolumns for high-voltage leakage current suppression in <i>β</i> -Ga2O3 Schottky barrier diodes

C Chunyan Chen H Huile Zhang (College of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Electronics and Information Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Institute of Power Devices and AI Energy Monitoring Technology, Shenzhen University 1 , Shenzhen 518060,) Y Yudi Tu (International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University 2 , Shenzhen 518060,) H Haihong Wu (Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) Z Zhongwei Jiang (College of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Electronics and Information 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 Yu Xu Z Zihao Huang (State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, School of Chemistry) Y Yiyang Li (Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry) Y Yutong Wu B Bo Wang 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,)

Abstract

Localized semi-insulating regions in β-Ga2O3 are important for modulating the interfacial electric field and leakage characteristics of high-voltage devices. In this work, a high density of acceptor defects, including VGa and Hei, was introduced into the n-type Ga2O3 matrix by He-ion implantation, enabling the in situ formation of semi-insulating microcolumns in Ga2O3. These semi-insulating microcolumns effectively reduce the interfacial electric field near the Schottky junction and decrease the effective anode area of the direct metal/semiconductor contact, thereby significantly suppressing the reverse leakage current. The fabricated Ga2O3 SIMC-SBDs exhibit a leakage current nearly two orders of magnitude lower than that of conventional SBDs at a reverse voltage of 1000 V, while maintaining a breakdown voltage of 1807 V and a specific on-resistance of 4.1 mΩ cm2. This structure provides a viable approach to the design of β-Ga2O3 SBDs with high blocking capability and low leakage current while simplifying the fabrication process.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 129, Issue 1
Published July 06, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

C

Chunyan Chen

H

Huile Zhang

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

Y

Yudi Tu

International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University 2 , Shenzhen 518060,

H

Haihong Wu

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

Z

Zhongwei Jiang

College of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Electronics and Information 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

Yu Xu

Z

Zihao Huang

State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, School of Chemistry

Y

Yiyang Li

Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry

Y

Yutong Wu

B

Bo Wang

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,