Nowadays, the microelectronics technology is based on the mature and very well established silicon (Si) technology. However, Si exhibits some important limitations regarding its voltage blocking capability, operation temperature and switching frequency. In this sense, Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) devices have the potential to make this change possible. The unique combination of the high-breakdown field, the high-channel electron mobility of the two dimensional electron gas (2DEG), and high-temperature of operation has attracted enormous interest from social, academia and industry and in this context this PhD dissertation has been made. This thesis has focused on improving the device performance through the advanced design, fabrication and characterization of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs, primarily grown on Si templates. The first milestone of this PhD dissertation has been the establishment of a know-how on GaN HEMT technology from several points of view: the device design, the device modeling, the process fabrication and the advanced characterization primarily using devices fabricated at Centre de Recherche sur l'Hétéro-Epitaxie (CRHEA-CNRS) (France) in the framework of a collaborative project. In this project, the main workhorse of this dissertation was the explorative analysis performed on the AlGaN/GaN HEMTs by innovative electrical and physical characterization methods. A relevant objective of this thesis was also to merge the nanotechnology approach with the conventional characterization techniques at the device scale to understand the device performance. A number of physical characterization techniques have been imaginatively used during this PhD determine the main physical parameters of our devices such as the morphology, the composition, the threading dislocations density, the nanoscale conductive pattern and others. The conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) tool have been widely described and used to understand the conduction mechanisms through the AlGaN/GaN Ohmic contact by performing simultaneously topography and electrical conductivity measurements. As it occurs with the most of the electronic switches, the gate stack is maybe the critical part of the device in terms of performance and longtime reliability. For this reason, how the AlGaN/GaN HEMT gate contact affects the overall HEMT behaviour by means of advanced characterization and modeling has been intensively investigated. It is worth mentioning that the high-temperature characterization is also a cornerstone of this PhD. It has been reported the elevated temperature impact on the forward and the reverse leakage currents for analogous Schottky gate HEMTs grown on different substrates: Si, sapphire and free-standing GaN (FS-GaN). The HEMT' forward-current temperature coefficients (T̂a) as well as the thermal activation energies have been determined in the range of 25-300 oC. Besides, the impact of the elevated temperature on the Ohmic and gate contacts has also been investigated. The main results of the gold-free AlGaN/GaN HEMTs high-voltage devices fabricated with a 4 inch Si CMOS compatible technology at the clean room of the CNM in the framework of the industrial contract with ON semiconductor were presented. We have shown that the fabricated devices are in the state-of-the-art (gold-free Ohmic and Schottky contacts) taking into account their power device figure-of-merit ((VB̂2)/Ron) of 4.05×10̂8 W/cm̂2. Basically, two different families of AlGaN/GaN-on-Si MIS-HEMTs devices were fabricated on commercial 4 inch wafers: (i) using a thin ALD HfO2 (deposited on the CNM clean room) and (ii) thin in-situ grown Si3N4, as a gate insulator (grown by the vendor). The scientific impact of this PhD in terms of science indicators is of 17 journal papers (8 as first author) and 10 contributions at international conferences.

Emerging wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors hold the potential to advance the global industry in the same way that, more than 50 years ago, the invention of the silicon (Si) chip enabled the modern computer era. SiC- and GaN-based devices are starting to become more commercially available. Smaller, faster, and more efficient than their counterpart Si-based components, these WBG devices also offer greater expected reliability in tougher operating conditions. Furthermore, in this frame, a new class of microelectronic-grade semiconducting materials that have an even larger bandgap than the previously established wide bandgap semiconductors, such as GaN and SiC, have been created, and are thus referred to as “ultra-wide bandgap” materials. These materials, which include AlGaN, AlN, diamond, Ga2O3, and BN, offer theoretically superior properties, including a higher critical breakdown field, higher temperature operation, and potentially higher radiation tolerance. These attributes, in turn, make it possible to use revolutionary new devices for extreme environments, such as high-efficiency power transistors, because of the improved Baliga figure of merit, ultra-high voltage pulsed power switches, high-efficiency UV-LEDs, and electronics. This Special Issue aims to collect high quality research papers, short communications, and review articles that focus on wide bandgap device design, fabrication, and advanced characterization. The Special Issue will also publish selected papers from the 43rd Workshop on Compound Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits, held in France (WOCSDICE 2019), which brings together scientists and engineers working in the area of III–V, and other compound semiconductor devices and integrated circuits. In particular, the following topics are addressed: – GaN- and SiC-based devices for power and optoelectronic applications – Ga2O3 substrate development, and Ga2O3 thin film growth, doping, and devices – AlN-based emerging material and devices – BN epitaxial growth, characterization, and devices

Gallium Nitride (GaN) and related alloys have gained considerable momentum in recent years since the improvement in silicon (Si) based power devices is now only incremental. GaN is a promising material for high-power, high-frequency applications due to its wide bandgap, high carrier mobility which result in devices with high breakdown voltage, low on-resistance, and high temperature stability. Despite the superior properties of GaN there is still room for improvement in device design and fabrication to reach theoretical limits of GaN based devices. Reaching the theoretical critical electric field in GaN devices has been challenging due to the presence of threading dislocations, surface impurities introduced during material growth and fabrication process. In order to prevent premature breakdown of the devices, these defects must be mitigated. In this study, avalanche breakdown was observed in p-n diodes fabricated with low power reactive ion etch with a moat etch profile, followed by Mg ion implantation to passivate the plasma damages. Additionally, the devices were fabricated on free standing GaN substrates which has lower dislocation than sapphire or SiC substrates. The electron and hole impact ionization coefficients were extracted separately by analyzing the ultraviolet (UV) assisted reverse bias current voltage measurements of vertical p-n and n-p diodes. GaN and related alloy such as Indium Aluminum Nitride (InAlN) or Aluminum Gallium Nitride (AlGaN) form a high mobility, high density sheet charge at the heterojunction. High electron mobility transistor (HEMT) devices fabricated on these layer stacks are depletion mode (normally-on) devices with a negative threshold voltage. However, normally-on devices are not preferred in power applications due to safety reasons and to reduce the external circuitry. Therefore, the development of an enhancement mode (normally-off) GaN based high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) with positive threshold voltage is important for next generation power devices. Several methods, such as growing a p-GaN on the barrier layer, recessed gate by dry etching, plasma treatment under the gate have been previously studied to develop enhancement-mode HEMT devices. In this study, MOS-HEMT devices were fabricated by selective thermal oxidation of InAlN to reduce InAlN barrier thickness under the gate contact. The thermal oxidation of InAlN occurs at temperatures above 600°C, while GaN oxidation occurs above 1000°C at a slow rate which allows the decrease of the InAlN barrier layer thickness under the gate in a reliable way due to the self-limiting nature of oxidation. A positive shift in the threshold voltage and a reduction in reverse leakage current was demonstrated on MOS-diode structures by thermally oxidizing InAlN layers with In composition of 0.17, 0.178 and 0.255 for increasing oxidation durations at 700°C and 800°C. Enhancement mode device operation was demonstrated on lattice matched InAlN/AlN/GaN/Sapphire MOS-HEMT devices by selective thermal oxidation of InAlN layer under the gate contact. A positive threshold voltage was observed for devices which were subjected to thermal oxidation at 700°C for 10, 30 and 60 minutes. The highest threshold voltage was observed as 1.16 V for the device that was oxidized for 30 minutes at 700°C. The maximum transconductance and the maximum drain saturation current of this device was 4.27 mS/mm and 150 mA/mm, respectively.

GaN Transistor Modeling for RF and Power Electronics: Using The ASM-GaN-HEMT Model covers all aspects of characterization and modeling of GaN transistors for both RF and Power electronics applications. Chapters cover an in-depth analysis of the industry standard compact model ASM-HEMT for GaN transistors. The book details the core surface-potential calculations and a variety of real device effects, including trapping, self-heating, field plate effects, and more to replicate realistic device behavior. The authors also include chapters on step-by-step parameter extraction procedures for the ASM-HEMT model and benchmark test results. GaN is the fastest emerging technology for RF circuits as well as power electronics. This technology is going to grow at an exponential rate over the next decade. This book is envisioned to serve as an excellent reference for the emerging GaN technology, especially for circuit designers, materials science specialists, device engineers and academic researchers and students. This book provides an overview of the operation and physics of GaN-based transistors All aspects of the ASM-HEMT model for GaN circuits, an industry standard model, are described in depth by the developers of the model Parameter extraction of GaN devices and measurement data requirements for GaN model extraction are detailed

The unique materials properties of GaN-based semiconductors havestimulated a great deal of interest in research and developmentregarding nitride materials growth and optoelectronic andnitride-based electronic devices. High electron mobility andsaturation velocity, high sheet carrier concentration atheterojunction interfaces, high breakdown field, and low thermalimpedance of GaN-based films grown over SiC or bulk AlN substratesmake nitride-based electronic devices very promising.

The purpose of this workshop is to spread the vast amount of information available on semiconductor physics to every possible field throughout the scientific community. As a result, the latest findings, research and discoveries can be quickly disseminated. This workshop provides all participating research groups with an excellent platform for interaction and collaboration with other members of their respective scientific community. This workshop’s technical sessions include various current and significant topics for applications and scientific developments, including • Optoelectronics • VLSI & ULSI Technology • Photovoltaics • MEMS & Sensors • Device Modeling and Simulation • High Frequency/ Power Devices • Nanotechnology and Emerging Areas • Organic Electronics • Displays and Lighting Many eminent scientists from various national and international organizations are actively participating with their latest research works and also equally supporting this mega event by joining the various organizing committees.