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A vertical GaN p^+-n junction diode with an ideal breakdown voltage was grown by halide vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). A steep p^+-n interface was observed even with the use of the HVPE method. No Si-accumulating layer was formed at the p^+-n interface because of the continuous HVPE growth from the n-type drift layer to the p-type layer. This method provides improved electrical properties compared with the regrowth of p-type GaN layers. The minimum ideality factor of approximately 1.6 was obtained. The breakdown voltage increased from 874 to 974 V with the increase in the temperature from 25 to 200 °C, which suggests that avalanche multiplication causes the breakdown. The temperature-dependent breakdown voltage was in good agreement with the breakdown voltage calculated using the ideal critical electric field. These results indicate that HVPE is promising for the fabrication of vertical GaN power devices.

Gallium nitride (GaN)-based devices surpass the traditional silicon-based power devices in terms of higher breakdown voltage, faster-switching speed, higher thermal conductivity, and lower on-resistance. However, heteroepitaxial GaN growths like GaN on sapphire are not suitable for power devices due to the threading dislocation densities as high as 108/cm2. Recently, homoepitaxial GaN growth has become possible thanks to the native GaN substrates with dislocation densities in the order of 104/cm2 but the extremely high cost of the GaN substrates makes the homoepitaxy method unacceptable for industrial applications, and the slicing of wafers for reusing them is an effective solution for cost reduction. In this study, we will investigate a route for slicing the GaN single crystal substrate by controlling the laser pulse energy and changing the distance between each laser shot. The 2D and 3D crack propagations are observed by a multiphoton confocal microscope, and the cross section of samples is observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that two types of radial and lateral cracking occurred depending on the pulse energy and shot pitch, and controlling them was of importance for attaining a smooth GaN substrate slicing. Cross-sectional SEM images showed that at suitable pulse energy and distance, crack propagation could be controlled with respect to the irradiation plane.

The electroluminescence (EL) uniformity of AlGaN-based deep UV laser diodes on AlN substrate was analyzed by using the EL imaging technique. Although nonuniform EL patterns were observed, the uniformity was improved by changing the position of the p-electrode. The threshold current density was also reduced by suppressing the inhomogeneity of the EL. Cathodoluminescence analysis revealed that the cause of the non-uniformity is the degradation of the active layer and the nonuniformity emission formed by rapid thermal annealing at high temperature after mesa structure formation.

Ni/Al2O3/GaN structures with vicinal GaN surfaces from the c- or m-plane were formed. Then, electrical interface properties of the structures were systematically investigated. It was found that interface state density (Dit) at the Al2O3/GaN interface for the c-plane is higher than that for the m-plane, and post-metallization annealing is quite effective to reduce Dit for both c- and m-planes. As a result, the low Dit value of ∼ 3 × 1010 eV−1 cm−2 was demonstrated for both planes.

Lattice bow generated by 40 µm thick HVPE homoepitaxial layers on commercial free-standing, ammonothermal and HVPE GaN wafers was studied. While a change in lattice bow was measured for all wafers, the additional bow on the ammonothermal GaN wafers was minimal. The main driving force for the observed increase in the lattice bow for HVPE wafers was related to stress in the films generated by the elongation of dislocations via climb and generation of new dislocations at the homoepitaxial interface. Lattice bow is a crucial wafer parameter as it determines the variation of the offcut across the surface. If an offcut variation of 0.1° is allowed for desired control surface morphology, composition of alloys, and uniformity of doping on this surface, the measured bow on the two HVPE GaN wafers and one ammonothermal GaN wafer limits their uniformity-diameter to ~0.5″, 1″ and >4″, respectively., ファイル公開：2022-06-01

Magnesium (Mg) ion implantation into gallium nitride (GaN) at 1000 °C is proposed. Since ion implantation and annealing occur simultaneously in high-temperature implantation, it is considered that Mg ions can be introduced at an appropriate position upon their implantation. GaN vertical diodes implanted with Mg ions were fabricated and current–voltage measurements were performed. As a result, clear rectifying properties were confirmed in a sample that was implanted with Mg ions at 1000 °C and annealed after implantation. However, the sample subjected to Mg ion implantation at RT and annealed after implantation showed no clear rectification. These results show that high-temperature implantation of Mg ions at 1000 °C reduces Mg ion implantation-induced damage and simultaneously activates Mg ions upon their implantation., ファイル公開：2021-05-07

A simple structure with high breakdown voltage and a low leakage current of a vertical GaN p–n diode on a GaN free-standing substrate is demonstrated. We describe a vertical p–n diode with a simple edge termination that has a drift layer etched deeply and vertically. A device simulation revealed that the electric field was more relaxed at the device edge and applied uniformly in the entire device with increasing etching depth. We fabricated the simulated structure and succeeded in reducing the leakage current and improving the breakdown voltage. With this structure, a stable avalanche breakdown can be observed., ファイル公開：2020-02-01

In this study, GaN m‐plane Schottky barrier diodes are fabricated by metalorganic vapor‐phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on several off‐angle gallium nitride (GaN) substrates, and the off‐cut angle dependence of impurity incorporation is investigated. We show that the MOVPE layer on the substrate inclined 5° toward the [000–1] direction has extremely low impurity incorporation. These results provide important suggestions for the fabrication of m‐plane power devices., ファイル公開：2019-05-09

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) films directly grown on c-plane sapphire substrates by pulsed-mode metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy exhibit an interlayer for growth temperatures above 1200 °C. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy shows that this interlayer is amorphous, while the crystalline h-BN layer above has a distinct orientational relationship with the sapphire substrate. Electron energy loss spectroscopy shows the energy-loss peaks of B and N in both the amorphous interlayer and the overlying crystalline h-BN layer, while Al and O signals are also seen in the amorphous interlayer. Thus, the interlayer forms during h-BN growth through the decomposition of the sapphire at elevated temperatures., ファイル公開：2019/05/01

Using transmission electron microscopy, we have characterized defect structures in laterally overgrown GaN crystals, grown directly on SiO_2 stripe-patterned (111)Si substrates by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy using AlGaN as an intermediate layer. The width and the period of the stripe windows were nominally 1 and 2 μm, respectively. The average threading dislocation density for a completely coalesced 2-μm-thick GaN crystal obtained on the [112]-oriented stripe-patterned substrate was ～ 2*10^9 cm^{-2}. The reduction in threading dislocation density is a consequence of the lateral growth and dislocation reactions at the coalesced front of the mask. On the other hand, valleys and pits tend to remain on the mask during the growth on the [110]-oriented stripe-patterned substrate. Cracks were present in both crystals.

名古屋大学博士学位論文 学位の種類:博士(工学) (課程) 学位授与年月日:平成15年3月25日