Effect of Photo-Assisted RIE Damage on GaN


Z. Mouffak
Texas Center of Superconductivity and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics,University of Houston
and
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston

N. Medelci-Djezzar, C. Boney, A. Bensaoula
Texas Center of Superconductivity and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics,University of Houston

L. Trombetta
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston

This article was received on Friday, July 11, 2003 and accepted on Friday, September 26, 2003.

Abstract

Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and Photo-Assisted RIE (PA-RIE) induced damage in GaN using simple Schottky structures and a BCl3/Cl2/N2 gas mixture have been investigated. Schottky diode I-V characteristics following different RF powers and exposure times show significant changes caused by damage. This damage results in a reduction of the reverse breakdown voltage VB in n-type GaN and an increase in VB for p-type GaN. Our preliminary data on the PA-RIE process points to much reduced damage levels compared to conventional RIE. This result may be due to a change in surface chemistry or to a photo-enhanced diffusion of defects into the GaN layer, leaving a cleaner near-surface region.

Outline

  • Introduction
  • Experimental
  • Results and Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgments
  • Linked Pages

    Cite this article as: MRS Internet J. Nitride Semicond. Res. 8, 7(2003).

    last updated Monday, September 29, 2003 6:59:12 PM.

    © 2003 The Materials Research Society MRS Internet Journal of Nitride Semiconductor Research