Forward current transport properties of AlGaN/GaN Schottky diodes prepared by atomic layer deposition

Atomic layer deposited AlGaN on GaN substrate with different thicknesses was prepared and the electron transport mechanism of AlGaN/GaN Schottky diodes was investigated. Above 348 K, both 5 and 10 nm thick AlGaN showed that the thermionic emission model with inhomogeneous Schottky barrier could explain the forward current transport. Analysis using a dislocation-related tunneling model showed that the current values for 10 nm thick AlGaN was matched well to the experimental data while those were not matched for 5 nm thick AlGaN. The higher density of surface (and interface) states was found for 5 nm thick AlGaN. In other words, a higher density of surface donors, as well as a thinner AlGaN layer for 5 nm thick AlGaN, enhanced the tunneling current.