Thermally stable GaN RF HEMTs on proton irradiated GaN substrates for low-noise applications

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,) C ChengCheng Xu J Jiajun Han Y Yiyang Li (Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry) B Bin Li Z Zhian 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,) 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 Zhixiang Zhong (Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China) J Jingting Luo (State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Shenzhen University 4 , Shenzhen 518060,) J Jianbo Liang (Engineering Division of Physics and Electronics, Osaka Metropolitan University 5 , Osaka 558-8585,) J Jun He H Hezhou Liu X Xun Luo H Hsien-Chin Chiu (Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University 6 , Taoyuan 333,) J Junfa Mao (State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Shenzhen University 4 , Shenzhen 518060,) 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

In this study, proton irradiation is employed to fabricate semi-insulating GaN free-standing wafers with a sheet resistance of 5.9 × 107 Ω/sq. The mechanism for achieving semi-insulating GaN via proton irradiation is associated with the formation of a deep-level trap (EC-0.54 eV), which is tentatively attributed to nitrogen antisite-related defects (NGa). GaN-on-GaN high electron mobility transistors fabricated on the irradiated substrates exhibit stable operation over 300–375 K, with a minimum noise figure as low as 0.25 dB, with suppressed low-frequency noise characteristics. Additionally, the proton irradiation treatment GaN substrate also exhibits high volume production potential. This device is ideal for installation in harsh operational environments, such as satellite communication systems or outdoor base stations.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 129, Issue 4
Published July 27, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (16)

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,

C

ChengCheng Xu

J

Jiajun Han

Y

Yiyang Li

Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Department of Chemistry

B

Bin Li

Z

Zhian 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,

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

Zhixiang Zhong

Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China

J

Jingting Luo

State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Shenzhen University 4 , Shenzhen 518060,

J

Jianbo Liang

Engineering Division of Physics and Electronics, Osaka Metropolitan University 5 , Osaka 558-8585,

J

Jun He

H

Hezhou Liu

X

Xun Luo

H

Hsien-Chin Chiu

Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University 6 , Taoyuan 333,

J

Junfa Mao

State Key Laboratory of Radio Frequency Heterogeneous Integration, Shenzhen University 4 , Shenzhen 518060,

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,