Open AccessGaN power devices: current status and future challenges
Author(s) -
T. Ueda
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
japanese journal of applied physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.487
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1347-4065
pISSN - 0021-4922
DOI - 10.7567/1347-4065/ab12c9
Subject(s) - materials science , optoelectronics , transistor , power semiconductor device , voltage , breakdown voltage , threshold voltage , reliability (semiconductor) , gallium nitride , heterojunction , electrical engineering , power (physics) , nanotechnology , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , layer (electronics)
The status and challenges in the development of GaN power devices are reviewed. At present, normally-off gate injection transistors (GITs) on Si are commercially available. The updated structure known as a hybrid-drain-embedded GIT provides superior reliability that contributes to the stable operation of compact power switching systems with high efficiency. The fabricated vertical GaN transistor on GaN as a future challenge demonstrates extremely low specific on-state resistance and high breakdown voltage. Metal-insulator-semiconductor-gate GaN transistor is also a technical challenge for faster switching, since it would give greater freedom of gate driving as a result of both high threshold voltage and widened gate voltage swing. Normally-off operation free from hysteresis in the current–voltage characteristics is confirmed in a recessed-gate AlGaN/GaN heterojunction field effect transistor using AlON as a gate insulator. Fast switching characteristics are experimentally confirmed for both of the newly developed GaN devices, indicating their great potential for practical use.