Observations of very fast electron traps at SiC/high-κ dielectric interfaces
Journal article, 2023

Very fast interface traps have recently been suggested to be the main cause behind poor channel-carrier mobility in SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors. It has been hypothesized that the NI traps are defects located inside the SiO2 dielectric with energy levels close to the SiC conduction band edge and the observed conductance spectroscopy signal is a result of electron tunneling to and from these defects. Using aluminum nitride and aluminum oxide as gate dielectrics instead of SiO2, we detect NI traps at these SiC/dielectric interfaces as well. A detailed investigation of the NI trap density and behavior as a function of temperature is presented and discussed. Advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy in combination with electron energy loss spectroscopy reveals no SiO2 at the interfaces. This strongly suggests that the NI traps are related to the surface region of the SiC rather than being a property of the gate dielectric.

Author

Arnar M. Vidarsson

University of Iceland

A. R. Persson

Linköping University

J. T. Chen

Linköping University

SweGaN AB

Daniel Haasmann

Griffith University

J. Hassan

Linköping University

Sima Dimitrijev

Griffith University

Niklas Rorsman

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Microwave Electronics

Vanya Darakchieva

Linköping University

Lund University

E. O. Sveinbjornsson

University of Iceland

Linköping University

APL Materials

2166-532X (eISSN)

Vol. 11 11 111121

Center for III Nitride semiconductor technology (C3NiT) fas2

VINNOVA (2022-03139), 2022-11-21 -- 2027-12-31.

III-nitrider med låg defekttäthet för grön kraftelektronik

Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) (EM16-0024), 2018-01-16 -- 2022-12-31.

Subject Categories

Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering

Condensed Matter Physics

DOI

10.1063/5.0160287

More information

Latest update

12/11/2023