Process temperature dependence of sputtered MgO/<i>n</i>-type GaN metal–oxide–semiconductor capacitors

L Liron Shvilberg (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,) H Haotian Xue (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University 2 , Raleigh, North Carolina 27612,) E Elia J. Palmese (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University 2 , Raleigh, North Carolina 27612,) H Helge H. Heinrich (Nanoscale Materials Characterization Facility, University of Virginia 6 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,) J Joanne Kuan (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,) G Gabrielle C. Abad (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,) N Nikhil Shukla (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,) S Stephen J. McDonnell (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,) J Jonathan J. Wierer (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University 1 , Raleigh, North Carolina 27606,) J Jon F. Ihlefeld (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 2 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,)

Abstract

The temperature dependence of epitaxial growth of MgO on n-type (0001)-oriented GaN by radio frequency magnetron sputtering is investigated. Epitaxial growth is obtained for growth temperatures of 550 °C and above, but polycrystalline films are observed for 500 °C and below. For all process temperatures, it is demonstrated that an interfacial phase is present that ranges from 2 to 3 nm in thickness and does not increase in thickness with temperature. The presence of the interfacial phase is shown to originate from ion bombardment during the initial growth. The electronic properties of metal–oxide–semiconductor capacitor devices are measured. Wider hysteresis is seen in capacitance–voltage measurements for devices fabricated at lower deposition temperatures. The less stable electrical performance of films grown at lower temperatures is shown to be related to both interface and bulk defects.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 138, Issue 4
Published July 28, 2025
ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Journal of Applied Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-8979 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

L

Liron Shvilberg

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,

H

Haotian Xue

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University 2 , Raleigh, North Carolina 27612,

E

Elia J. Palmese

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University 2 , Raleigh, North Carolina 27612,

H

Helge H. Heinrich

Nanoscale Materials Characterization Facility, University of Virginia 6 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,

J

Joanne Kuan

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,

G

Gabrielle C. Abad

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,

N

Nikhil Shukla

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,

S

Stephen J. McDonnell

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 1 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,

J

Jonathan J. Wierer

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University 1 , Raleigh, North Carolina 27606,

J

Jon F. Ihlefeld

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 2 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,