Ultralow-Ohmic-contact resistance of Ni/Ag/NiO on p++-GaN/p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN platform

Z Zhiwei Sun (State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) T Tianyu Zhao M Maoqing Ling (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University 4 , Suzhou 215123,) J Jingang Li H Hao Tian (Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology) W Weisheng Wang Y Yuanlei Zhang (School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Qujing Normal University 2 , Qujing 655011,) J Jie Zhang Y Yinchao Zhao (Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool 2 , Liverpool L69 3GJ,) I Ivona Z. Mitrovic H Harm Van Zalinge K Kain Lu Low (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University 1 , Suzhou 215123,) S Sen Huang W Wen Liu

Abstract

A record-low Ohmic contact resistance is obtained on p++-GaN/p-GaN/GaN/AlGaN/GaN epitaxial structure designed for GaN CMOS circuit. Ni/Ag/NiO (1/120/6 nm) after 500 °C/360 s annealing in air atmosphere demonstrates an ultralow contact resistance (1.67 Ω mm) and the lowest specific contact resistivity (6.48 × 10–7 Ω cm2) reported so far. The employment of a NiO capping layer on Ni/Ag metal stack has improved the annealing thermal stability and electrical properties.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 8
Published August 25, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

Z

Zhiwei Sun

State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

T

Tianyu Zhao

M

Maoqing Ling

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University 4 , Suzhou 215123,

J

Jingang Li

H

Hao Tian

Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology

W

Weisheng Wang

Y

Yuanlei Zhang

School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Qujing Normal University 2 , Qujing 655011,

J

Jie Zhang

Y

Yinchao Zhao

Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool 2 , Liverpool L69 3GJ,

I

Ivona Z. Mitrovic

H

Harm Van Zalinge

K

Kain Lu Low

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University 1 , Suzhou 215123,

S

Sen Huang

W

Wen Liu