AlGaN/GaN MIS-HFETs with fT of 163 GHz using cat-CVD SiN gate-insulating and passivation Layers

Al/sub 0.4/Ga/sub 0.6/N/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs) with an AlGaN barrier thickness of 8 nm and a gate length (L/sub G/) of 0.06-0.2 μm were fabricated on a sapphire substrate. We employed two novel techniques, which were thin, high-Al-composition AlGaN barrier layers and SiN gate-insulating, passivation layers formed by catalytic chemical vapor deposition, to enhance high-frequency device characteristics by suppressing the short channel effect. The HFETs with L/sub G/=0.06-0.2 μm had a maximum drain current density of 1.17-1.24 A/mm at a gate bias of +1.0 V and a peak extrinsic transconductance of 305-417 mS/mm. The current-gain cutoff frequency (f_T) was 163 GHz, which is the highest value to have been reported for GaN HFETs. The maximum oscillation frequency (f_max) was also high, and its value derived from the maximum stable gain or unilateral gain was 192 or 163 GHz, respectively.