Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga2O3 thin films

Qian Jiang; Junhua Meng; Yiming Shi; Zhigang Yin; Jingren Chen; Jing Zhang; Jinliang Wu; Xingwang Zhang

doi:10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802

J. Semicond. > 2022, Volume 43 > Issue 9 > 092802, doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802

ARTICLES

Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ thin films

Qian Jiang^{1, 2}, Junhua Meng³, Yiming Shi^{1, 3}, Zhigang Yin^{1, 4}, Jingren Chen^{1, 4}, Jing Zhang^2,, Jinliang Wu¹ and Xingwang Zhang^{1, 4,}

+ Author Affiliations

1. Key Lab of Semiconductor Materials Science, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China
2. School of Information Science and Technology, North China University of Technology, Beijing 100144, China
3. Faculty of Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
4. Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Author Bio:

received his BSc Degree from Shaoxing University in 2016. He is currently a joint ME student of North China University of Technology and the Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Jing Zhang and Prof. Xingwang Zhang. He is mainly engaged in the research of ultrawide bandgap semiconductor material.

received her BSc degree in physics and MSc degree in electronic devices and materials engineering from Lanzhou University, in 1996 and 2003, respectively. She is currently a professor at the School of Information Science and Technology, North China University of Technology. Her current research interests include silicon-based SiC power devices and the related testing of ICs.

is a full professor at the Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS). He received his BSc and PhD from Lanzhou University in 1994 and 1999, respectively. He then worked as a postdoctoral at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) from 1999 to 2001, and as a visiting scientist and a Humboldt Research Fellow at the University of Ulm, Germany from 2001 to 2004. His current research interests include ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors, 2D materials, and photovoltaic materials and devices.

Corresponding author: Jing Zhang, zhangj@ncut.edu.cn; Xingwang Zhang, xwzhang@semi.ac.cn

Abstract: The behavior of H in β-Ga₂O₃ is of substantial interest because it is a common residual impurity that is present in β-Ga₂O₃, regardless of the synthesis methods. Herein, we report the influences of H-plasma exposure on the electric and optical properties of the heteroepitaxial β-Ga₂O₃ thin films grown on sapphire substrates by chemical vapor deposition. The results indicate that the H incorporation leads to a significantly increased electrical conductivity, a greatly reduced defect-related photoluminescence emission, and a slightly enhanced transmittance, while it has little effect on the crystalline quality of the β-Ga₂O₃ films. The significant changes in the electrical and optical properties of β-Ga₂O₃ may originate from the formation of shallow donor states and the passivation of the defects by the incorporated H. Temperature dependent electrical properties of the H-incorporated β-Ga₂O₃ films are also investigated, and the dominant scattering mechanisms at various temperatures are discussed.

Key words: β-Ga₂O₃ film, hydrogen plasma treatment, electrical properties, scattering mechanisms, defect

References

[1]	Higashiwaki M, Sasaki K, Murakami H, et al. Recent progress in Ga₂O₃ power devices. Semicond Sci Technol, 2016, 31, 034001 doi: 10.1088/0268-1242/31/3/034001
[2]	Pearton S J, Yang J, Cary IV P H, et al. A review of Ga₂O₃ materials, processing, and devices. Appl Phys Rev, 2018, 5, 011301 doi: 10.1063/1.5006941
[3]	Xue H W, He Q M, Jian G Z, et al. An overview of the ultrawide bandgap Ga₂O₃ semiconductor-based Schottky barrier diode for power electronics, application. Nanoscale Res Lett, 2018, 13, 290 doi: 10.1186/s11671-018-2712-1
[4]	Chen X H, Ren F F, Gu S L, et al. Review of gallium-oxide-based solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors. Photo Res, 2019, 7, 381 doi: 10.1364/PRJ.7.000381
[5]	Guo D, Guo Q, Chen Z, et al. Review of Ga₂O₃ based optoelectronic devices. Mater Today Phys, 2019, 11, 100157 doi: 10.1016/j.mtphys.2019.100157
[6]	Sharma R, Law M E, Ren F, et al. Diffusion of dopants and impurities in β-Ga₂O₃. J Vac Sci Technol A, 2021, 39, 060801 doi: 10.1116/6.0001307
[7]	Varley J B, Weber J R, Janotti A, et al. Oxygen vacancies and donor impurities in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2010, 97, 142106 doi: 10.1063/1.3499306
[8]	Varley J B, Peelaers H, Janotti A, et al. Hydrogenated cation vacancies in semiconducting oxides. J Phys Condens Matter, 2011, 23, 334212 doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/23/33/334212
[9]	Huynh T T, Chikoidze E, Irvine C P, et al. Red luminescence in H-doped β-Ga₂O₃. Phy Rev Mater, 2020, 4, 085201 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.085201
[10]	King P D C, McKenzie I, Veal T D. Observation of shallow-donor muonium in Ga₂O₃: Evidence for hydrogen-induced conductivity. Appl Phys Lett, 2010, 96, 062110 doi: 10.1063/1.3309694
[11]	Fowler W B, Stavola M, Qin Y, et al. Trapping of multiple H atoms at the Ga(1) vacancy in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 117, 142101 doi: 10.1063/5.0024269
[12]	Qin Y, Stavola M, Fowler W B, et al. Hydrogen centers in β-Ga₂O₃: Infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory. ECS J Solid State Sci Technol, 2019, 8, Q3103 doi: 10.1149/2.0221907jss
[13]	Weiser P, Stavola M, Fowler W B, et al. Structure and vibrational properties of the dominant O-H center in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2018, 112, 232104 doi: 10.1063/1.5029921
[14]	Ritter J R, Huso J, Dickens P T, et al. Compensation and hydrogen passivation of magnesium acceptors in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2018, 113, 052101 doi: 10.1063/1.5044627
[15]	Ingebrigtsen M E, Kuznetsov A Y, Svensson B G, et al. Impact of proton irradiation on conductivity and deep level defects in β-Ga₂O₃. APL Mater, 2019, 7, 022510 doi: 10.1063/1.5054826
[16]	Polyakov A Y, Lee I H, Smirnov N B, et al. Hydrogen plasma treatment of β-Ga₂O₃: Changes in electrical properties and deep trap spectra. Appl Phys Lett, 2019, 115, 032101 doi: 10.1063/1.5108790
[17]	Swallow J E N, Varley J B, Jones L A H, et al. Transition from electron accumulation to depletion at β-Ga₂O₃ surfaces: The role of hydrogen and the charge neutrality level. APL Mater, 2019, 7, 022528 doi: 10.1063/1.5054091
[18]	Polyakov A Y, Lee I H, Miakonkikh A, et al. Anisotropy of hydrogen plasma effects in bulk n-type β-Ga₂O₃. J Appl Phys, 2020, 127, 175702 doi: 10.1063/1.5145277
[19]	Venzie A, Portoff A, Fares C, et al. OH-Si complex in hydrogenated n-type β-Ga₂O₃:Si. Appl Phys Lett, 2021, 119, 062109 doi: 10.1063/5.0059769
[20]	Islam M M, Liedke M O, Winarski D, et al. Chemical manipulation of hydrogen induced high p-type and n-type conductivity in Ga₂O₃. Sci Rep, 2020, 10, 6134 doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62948-2
[21]	Ahn S, Ren F, Patrick E, et al. Deuterium incorporation and diffusivity in plasma-exposed bulk Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 109, 242108 doi: 10.1063/1.4972265
[22]	Nickel N H, Gellert K. Monatomic hydrogen diffusion in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 116, 242102 doi: 10.1063/5.0007134
[23]	Reinertsen V M, Weiser P M, Frodason Y K, et al. Anisotropic and trap-limited diffusion of hydrogen/deuterium in monoclinic gallium oxide single crystals. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 117, 232106 doi: 10.1063/5.0027333
[24]	Jiao Y J, Jiang Q, Meng J H, et al. Growth and characteristics of β-Ga₂O₃ thin films on sapphire (0001) by low pressure chemical vapour deposition. Vacuum, 2021, 189, 110253 doi: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2021.110253
[25]	Rafique S, Han L, Neal A T, et al. Heteroepitaxy of N-type β-Ga₂O₃ thin films on sapphire substrate by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 109, 132103 doi: 10.1063/1.4963820
[26]	Wu C, Guo D Y, Zhang L Y, et al. Systematic investigation of the growth kinetics of β-Ga₂O₃ epilayer by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 116, 072102 doi: 10.1063/1.5142196
[27]	Tao J, Lu H L, Gu Y, et al. Investigation of growth characteristics, compositions, and properties of atomic layer deposited amorphous Zn-doped Ga₂O₃ films. Appl Surf Sci, 2019, 476, 733 doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.01.177
[28]	Borg R J, Dienes G J. An introduction to solid state diffusion. Boston: Elsevier, 2012
[29]	Ahn S, Ren F, Patrick E, et al. Thermal stability of implanted or plasma exposed deuterium in single crystal Ga₂O₃. ECS J Solid State Sci, 2017, 6, Q3026 doi: 10.1149/2.0051702jss
[30]	You J B, Zhang X W, Cai P F, et al. Enhancement of field emission of the ZnO film by the reduced work function and the increased conductivity via hydrogen plasma treatment. Appl Phys Lett, 2009, 94, 262105 doi: 10.1063/1.3167301
[31]	Rafique S, Han L, Tadjer M J, et al. Homoepitaxial growth of β-Ga₂O₃ thin films by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 108, 182105 doi: 10.1063/1.4948944
[32]	Lee N Y, Lee K J, Lee C, et al. Determination of conduction band tail and Fermi energy of heavily Si-doped GaAs by room-temperature photoluminescence. J Appl Phys, 1995, 78, 3367 doi: 10.1063/1.359963
[33]	Cai P F, You J B, Zhang X W, et al. Enhancement of conductivity and transmittance of ZnO films by post hydrogen plasma treatment. J Appl Phys, 2009, 105, 083713 doi: 10.1063/1.3108543
[34]	Shimamura K, Víllora E G, Ujiie T, et al. Excitation and photoluminescence of pure and Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ single crystals. Appl Phys Lett, 2008, 92, 201914 doi: 10.1063/1.2910768
[35]	Varley J B, Janotti A, Franchini C, et al. Role of self-trapping in luminescence and p-type conductivity of wide-band-gap oxides. Phys Rev B, 2012, 85, 081109 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.081109
[36]	Frodason Y K, Johansen K M, Vines L, et al. Self-trapped hole and impurity-related broad luminescence in β-Ga₂O₃. J Appl Phys, 2020, 127, 075701 doi: 10.1063/1.5140742
[37]	Wei Y, Li X, Yang J, et al. Interaction between hydrogen and gallium vacancies in β-Ga₂O₃. Sci Rep, 2018, 8, 10142 doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28461-3

Fig. 1. (Color online) (a) XRD θ–2θ pattern of the β-Ga₂O₃ thin films grown on c-plane sapphire substrates. The inset shows the XRD rocking curve of the β-Ga₂O₃ ($\bar{2}01$) reflection. (b) In-plane XRD Phi scans of for the β-Ga₂O₃ film and sapphire substrate. (c) Cross-sectional HRTEM image of the β-Ga₂O₃ film on sapphire. (d) XPS core-level spectra of O 1s and Ga 2p.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 2. (Color online) (a) SIMS depth profiles of the H-plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ film on sapphire substrate. (b) Raman spectra of the β-Ga₂O₃ film with and without H-plasma treatment. (c) XRD θ–2θ pattern of the β-Ga₂O₃ thin films with and without the H-plasma treatment. (d) XRD rocking curve of the β-Ga₂O₃ ($\bar{2}01$) reflection for the β-Ga₂O₃ film with and without the H-plasma treatment. (e) UV–vis absorption spectra of the β-Ga₂O₃ film with and without H-plasma treatment. The Tauc plots of (αhν)² versus hν is shown in the inset. (f) PL spectra of the β-Ga₂O₃ film with and without H-plasma treatment. The H-plasma treatment was carried out with an RF power of 40 W and a H₂ flow rate of 50 sccm for 120 min.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 3. (Color online) Dependence of (a) the resistivity and (b) the Hall data of the β-Ga₂O₃ films on the H-plasma exposure time. Dependence of (c) the resistivity and (d) the Hall data of the β-Ga₂O₃ films on the RF power. Dependence of (e) the resistivity and (f) the Hall data of the β-Ga₂O₃ films on the H₂ flow rate.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 4. (Color online) Temperature dependent (a) carrier concentration, (b) electron mobility, and (c) electrical resistivity for two typical β-Ga₂O₃ thin films after the H-plasma treatment. Dashed lines show the contributions to mobility from different scattering mechanisms, and the solid line shows the fitting total mobility.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

[1]	Higashiwaki M, Sasaki K, Murakami H, et al. Recent progress in Ga₂O₃ power devices. Semicond Sci Technol, 2016, 31, 034001 doi: 10.1088/0268-1242/31/3/034001
[2]	Pearton S J, Yang J, Cary IV P H, et al. A review of Ga₂O₃ materials, processing, and devices. Appl Phys Rev, 2018, 5, 011301 doi: 10.1063/1.5006941
[3]	Xue H W, He Q M, Jian G Z, et al. An overview of the ultrawide bandgap Ga₂O₃ semiconductor-based Schottky barrier diode for power electronics, application. Nanoscale Res Lett, 2018, 13, 290 doi: 10.1186/s11671-018-2712-1
[4]	Chen X H, Ren F F, Gu S L, et al. Review of gallium-oxide-based solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors. Photo Res, 2019, 7, 381 doi: 10.1364/PRJ.7.000381
[5]	Guo D, Guo Q, Chen Z, et al. Review of Ga₂O₃ based optoelectronic devices. Mater Today Phys, 2019, 11, 100157 doi: 10.1016/j.mtphys.2019.100157
[6]	Sharma R, Law M E, Ren F, et al. Diffusion of dopants and impurities in β-Ga₂O₃. J Vac Sci Technol A, 2021, 39, 060801 doi: 10.1116/6.0001307
[7]	Varley J B, Weber J R, Janotti A, et al. Oxygen vacancies and donor impurities in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2010, 97, 142106 doi: 10.1063/1.3499306
[8]	Varley J B, Peelaers H, Janotti A, et al. Hydrogenated cation vacancies in semiconducting oxides. J Phys Condens Matter, 2011, 23, 334212 doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/23/33/334212
[9]	Huynh T T, Chikoidze E, Irvine C P, et al. Red luminescence in H-doped β-Ga₂O₃. Phy Rev Mater, 2020, 4, 085201 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.085201
[10]	King P D C, McKenzie I, Veal T D. Observation of shallow-donor muonium in Ga₂O₃: Evidence for hydrogen-induced conductivity. Appl Phys Lett, 2010, 96, 062110 doi: 10.1063/1.3309694
[11]	Fowler W B, Stavola M, Qin Y, et al. Trapping of multiple H atoms at the Ga(1) vacancy in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 117, 142101 doi: 10.1063/5.0024269
[12]	Qin Y, Stavola M, Fowler W B, et al. Hydrogen centers in β-Ga₂O₃: Infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory. ECS J Solid State Sci Technol, 2019, 8, Q3103 doi: 10.1149/2.0221907jss
[13]	Weiser P, Stavola M, Fowler W B, et al. Structure and vibrational properties of the dominant O-H center in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2018, 112, 232104 doi: 10.1063/1.5029921
[14]	Ritter J R, Huso J, Dickens P T, et al. Compensation and hydrogen passivation of magnesium acceptors in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2018, 113, 052101 doi: 10.1063/1.5044627
[15]	Ingebrigtsen M E, Kuznetsov A Y, Svensson B G, et al. Impact of proton irradiation on conductivity and deep level defects in β-Ga₂O₃. APL Mater, 2019, 7, 022510 doi: 10.1063/1.5054826
[16]	Polyakov A Y, Lee I H, Smirnov N B, et al. Hydrogen plasma treatment of β-Ga₂O₃: Changes in electrical properties and deep trap spectra. Appl Phys Lett, 2019, 115, 032101 doi: 10.1063/1.5108790
[17]	Swallow J E N, Varley J B, Jones L A H, et al. Transition from electron accumulation to depletion at β-Ga₂O₃ surfaces: The role of hydrogen and the charge neutrality level. APL Mater, 2019, 7, 022528 doi: 10.1063/1.5054091
[18]	Polyakov A Y, Lee I H, Miakonkikh A, et al. Anisotropy of hydrogen plasma effects in bulk n-type β-Ga₂O₃. J Appl Phys, 2020, 127, 175702 doi: 10.1063/1.5145277
[19]	Venzie A, Portoff A, Fares C, et al. OH-Si complex in hydrogenated n-type β-Ga₂O₃:Si. Appl Phys Lett, 2021, 119, 062109 doi: 10.1063/5.0059769
[20]	Islam M M, Liedke M O, Winarski D, et al. Chemical manipulation of hydrogen induced high p-type and n-type conductivity in Ga₂O₃. Sci Rep, 2020, 10, 6134 doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62948-2
[21]	Ahn S, Ren F, Patrick E, et al. Deuterium incorporation and diffusivity in plasma-exposed bulk Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 109, 242108 doi: 10.1063/1.4972265
[22]	Nickel N H, Gellert K. Monatomic hydrogen diffusion in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 116, 242102 doi: 10.1063/5.0007134
[23]	Reinertsen V M, Weiser P M, Frodason Y K, et al. Anisotropic and trap-limited diffusion of hydrogen/deuterium in monoclinic gallium oxide single crystals. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 117, 232106 doi: 10.1063/5.0027333
[24]	Jiao Y J, Jiang Q, Meng J H, et al. Growth and characteristics of β-Ga₂O₃ thin films on sapphire (0001) by low pressure chemical vapour deposition. Vacuum, 2021, 189, 110253 doi: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2021.110253
[25]	Rafique S, Han L, Neal A T, et al. Heteroepitaxy of N-type β-Ga₂O₃ thin films on sapphire substrate by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 109, 132103 doi: 10.1063/1.4963820
[26]	Wu C, Guo D Y, Zhang L Y, et al. Systematic investigation of the growth kinetics of β-Ga₂O₃ epilayer by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 116, 072102 doi: 10.1063/1.5142196
[27]	Tao J, Lu H L, Gu Y, et al. Investigation of growth characteristics, compositions, and properties of atomic layer deposited amorphous Zn-doped Ga₂O₃ films. Appl Surf Sci, 2019, 476, 733 doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.01.177
[28]	Borg R J, Dienes G J. An introduction to solid state diffusion. Boston: Elsevier, 2012
[29]	Ahn S, Ren F, Patrick E, et al. Thermal stability of implanted or plasma exposed deuterium in single crystal Ga₂O₃. ECS J Solid State Sci, 2017, 6, Q3026 doi: 10.1149/2.0051702jss
[30]	You J B, Zhang X W, Cai P F, et al. Enhancement of field emission of the ZnO film by the reduced work function and the increased conductivity via hydrogen plasma treatment. Appl Phys Lett, 2009, 94, 262105 doi: 10.1063/1.3167301
[31]	Rafique S, Han L, Tadjer M J, et al. Homoepitaxial growth of β-Ga₂O₃ thin films by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 108, 182105 doi: 10.1063/1.4948944
[32]	Lee N Y, Lee K J, Lee C, et al. Determination of conduction band tail and Fermi energy of heavily Si-doped GaAs by room-temperature photoluminescence. J Appl Phys, 1995, 78, 3367 doi: 10.1063/1.359963
[33]	Cai P F, You J B, Zhang X W, et al. Enhancement of conductivity and transmittance of ZnO films by post hydrogen plasma treatment. J Appl Phys, 2009, 105, 083713 doi: 10.1063/1.3108543
[34]	Shimamura K, Víllora E G, Ujiie T, et al. Excitation and photoluminescence of pure and Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ single crystals. Appl Phys Lett, 2008, 92, 201914 doi: 10.1063/1.2910768
[35]	Varley J B, Janotti A, Franchini C, et al. Role of self-trapping in luminescence and p-type conductivity of wide-band-gap oxides. Phys Rev B, 2012, 85, 081109 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.081109
[36]	Frodason Y K, Johansen K M, Vines L, et al. Self-trapped hole and impurity-related broad luminescence in β-Ga₂O₃. J Appl Phys, 2020, 127, 075701 doi: 10.1063/1.5140742
[37]	Wei Y, Li X, Yang J, et al. Interaction between hydrogen and gallium vacancies in β-Ga₂O₃. Sci Rep, 2018, 8, 10142 doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28461-3

Search

GET CITATION

shu

Export: BibTex EndNote

Article Metrics

Article views: 1398 Times PDF downloads: 161 Times Cited by: 0 Times

History

Received: 09 March 2022 Revised: 01 April 2022 Online: Uncorrected proof: 25 May 2022Published: 02 September 2022

Article Navigation > Journal of Semiconductors > 2022 > 43(9): 092802

Qian Jiang, Junhua Meng, Yiming Shi, Zhigang Yin, Jingren Chen, Jing Zhang, Jinliang Wu, Xingwang Zhang. Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga2O3 thin films[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2022, 43(9): 092802. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802 ****Qian Jiang, Junhua Meng, Yiming Shi, Zhigang Yin, Jingren Chen, Jing Zhang, Jinliang Wu, Xingwang Zhang. 2022: Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga2O3 thin films. Journal of Semiconductors, 43(9): 092802. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802

Citation:

Qian Jiang, Junhua Meng, Yiming Shi, Zhigang Yin, Jingren Chen, Jing Zhang, Jinliang Wu, Xingwang Zhang. Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ thin films[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2022, 43(9): 092802. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802 ****

Qian Jiang, Junhua Meng, Yiming Shi, Zhigang Yin, Jingren Chen, Jing Zhang, Jinliang Wu, Xingwang Zhang. 2022: Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ thin films. Journal of Semiconductors, 43(9): 092802. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802

Citation:

PDF( 5296 KB)

Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ thin films

doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802

Qian Jiang^{1, 2},
Junhua Meng³,
Yiming Shi^{1, 3},
Zhigang Yin^{1, 4},
Jingren Chen^{1, 4},
Jing Zhang^2,,
Jinliang Wu¹,
Xingwang Zhang^{1, 4,}

1.
Key Lab of Semiconductor Materials Science, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China
2.
School of Information Science and Technology, North China University of Technology, Beijing 100144, China
3.
Faculty of Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
4.
Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

More Information

Qian Jiang：received his BSc Degree from Shaoxing University in 2016. He is currently a joint ME student of North China University of Technology and the Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Jing Zhang and Prof. Xingwang Zhang. He is mainly engaged in the research of ultrawide bandgap semiconductor material
Jing Zhang：received her BSc degree in physics and MSc degree in electronic devices and materials engineering from Lanzhou University, in 1996 and 2003, respectively. She is currently a professor at the School of Information Science and Technology, North China University of Technology. Her current research interests include silicon-based SiC power devices and the related testing of ICs
Xingwang Zhang：is a full professor at the Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS). He received his BSc and PhD from Lanzhou University in 1994 and 1999, respectively. He then worked as a postdoctoral at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) from 1999 to 2001, and as a visiting scientist and a Humboldt Research Fellow at the University of Ulm, Germany from 2001 to 2004. His current research interests include ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors, 2D materials, and photovoltaic materials and devices
Corresponding author: zhangj@ncut.edu.cn; xwzhang@semi.ac.cn
Received Date: 2022-03-09
Revised Date: 2022-04-01

Available Online: 2022-05-25

Abstract

Abstract

The behavior of H in β-Ga₂O₃ is of substantial interest because it is a common residual impurity that is present in β-Ga₂O₃, regardless of the synthesis methods. Herein, we report the influences of H-plasma exposure on the electric and optical properties of the heteroepitaxial β-Ga₂O₃ thin films grown on sapphire substrates by chemical vapor deposition. The results indicate that the H incorporation leads to a significantly increased electrical conductivity, a greatly reduced defect-related photoluminescence emission, and a slightly enhanced transmittance, while it has little effect on the crystalline quality of the β-Ga₂O₃ films. The significant changes in the electrical and optical properties of β-Ga₂O₃ may originate from the formation of shallow donor states and the passivation of the defects by the incorporated H. Temperature dependent electrical properties of the H-incorporated β-Ga₂O₃ films are also investigated, and the dominant scattering mechanisms at various temperatures are discussed.
- β-Ga₂O₃ film,
- hydrogen plasma treatment,
- electrical properties,
- scattering mechanisms,
- defect

FullText(HTML)

References(37)

References

[1]	Higashiwaki M, Sasaki K, Murakami H, et al. Recent progress in Ga₂O₃ power devices. Semicond Sci Technol, 2016, 31, 034001 doi: 10.1088/0268-1242/31/3/034001
[2]	Pearton S J, Yang J, Cary IV P H, et al. A review of Ga₂O₃ materials, processing, and devices. Appl Phys Rev, 2018, 5, 011301 doi: 10.1063/1.5006941
[3]	Xue H W, He Q M, Jian G Z, et al. An overview of the ultrawide bandgap Ga₂O₃ semiconductor-based Schottky barrier diode for power electronics, application. Nanoscale Res Lett, 2018, 13, 290 doi: 10.1186/s11671-018-2712-1
[4]	Chen X H, Ren F F, Gu S L, et al. Review of gallium-oxide-based solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors. Photo Res, 2019, 7, 381 doi: 10.1364/PRJ.7.000381
[5]	Guo D, Guo Q, Chen Z, et al. Review of Ga₂O₃ based optoelectronic devices. Mater Today Phys, 2019, 11, 100157 doi: 10.1016/j.mtphys.2019.100157
[6]	Sharma R, Law M E, Ren F, et al. Diffusion of dopants and impurities in β-Ga₂O₃. J Vac Sci Technol A, 2021, 39, 060801 doi: 10.1116/6.0001307
[7]	Varley J B, Weber J R, Janotti A, et al. Oxygen vacancies and donor impurities in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2010, 97, 142106 doi: 10.1063/1.3499306
[8]	Varley J B, Peelaers H, Janotti A, et al. Hydrogenated cation vacancies in semiconducting oxides. J Phys Condens Matter, 2011, 23, 334212 doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/23/33/334212
[9]	Huynh T T, Chikoidze E, Irvine C P, et al. Red luminescence in H-doped β-Ga₂O₃. Phy Rev Mater, 2020, 4, 085201 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.4.085201
[10]	King P D C, McKenzie I, Veal T D. Observation of shallow-donor muonium in Ga₂O₃: Evidence for hydrogen-induced conductivity. Appl Phys Lett, 2010, 96, 062110 doi: 10.1063/1.3309694
[11]	Fowler W B, Stavola M, Qin Y, et al. Trapping of multiple H atoms at the Ga(1) vacancy in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 117, 142101 doi: 10.1063/5.0024269
[12]	Qin Y, Stavola M, Fowler W B, et al. Hydrogen centers in β-Ga₂O₃: Infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory. ECS J Solid State Sci Technol, 2019, 8, Q3103 doi: 10.1149/2.0221907jss
[13]	Weiser P, Stavola M, Fowler W B, et al. Structure and vibrational properties of the dominant O-H center in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2018, 112, 232104 doi: 10.1063/1.5029921
[14]	Ritter J R, Huso J, Dickens P T, et al. Compensation and hydrogen passivation of magnesium acceptors in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2018, 113, 052101 doi: 10.1063/1.5044627
[15]	Ingebrigtsen M E, Kuznetsov A Y, Svensson B G, et al. Impact of proton irradiation on conductivity and deep level defects in β-Ga₂O₃. APL Mater, 2019, 7, 022510 doi: 10.1063/1.5054826
[16]	Polyakov A Y, Lee I H, Smirnov N B, et al. Hydrogen plasma treatment of β-Ga₂O₃: Changes in electrical properties and deep trap spectra. Appl Phys Lett, 2019, 115, 032101 doi: 10.1063/1.5108790
[17]	Swallow J E N, Varley J B, Jones L A H, et al. Transition from electron accumulation to depletion at β-Ga₂O₃ surfaces: The role of hydrogen and the charge neutrality level. APL Mater, 2019, 7, 022528 doi: 10.1063/1.5054091
[18]	Polyakov A Y, Lee I H, Miakonkikh A, et al. Anisotropy of hydrogen plasma effects in bulk n-type β-Ga₂O₃. J Appl Phys, 2020, 127, 175702 doi: 10.1063/1.5145277
[19]	Venzie A, Portoff A, Fares C, et al. OH-Si complex in hydrogenated n-type β-Ga₂O₃:Si. Appl Phys Lett, 2021, 119, 062109 doi: 10.1063/5.0059769
[20]	Islam M M, Liedke M O, Winarski D, et al. Chemical manipulation of hydrogen induced high p-type and n-type conductivity in Ga₂O₃. Sci Rep, 2020, 10, 6134 doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62948-2
[21]	Ahn S, Ren F, Patrick E, et al. Deuterium incorporation and diffusivity in plasma-exposed bulk Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 109, 242108 doi: 10.1063/1.4972265
[22]	Nickel N H, Gellert K. Monatomic hydrogen diffusion in β-Ga₂O₃. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 116, 242102 doi: 10.1063/5.0007134
[23]	Reinertsen V M, Weiser P M, Frodason Y K, et al. Anisotropic and trap-limited diffusion of hydrogen/deuterium in monoclinic gallium oxide single crystals. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 117, 232106 doi: 10.1063/5.0027333
[24]	Jiao Y J, Jiang Q, Meng J H, et al. Growth and characteristics of β-Ga₂O₃ thin films on sapphire (0001) by low pressure chemical vapour deposition. Vacuum, 2021, 189, 110253 doi: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2021.110253
[25]	Rafique S, Han L, Neal A T, et al. Heteroepitaxy of N-type β-Ga₂O₃ thin films on sapphire substrate by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 109, 132103 doi: 10.1063/1.4963820
[26]	Wu C, Guo D Y, Zhang L Y, et al. Systematic investigation of the growth kinetics of β-Ga₂O₃ epilayer by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 116, 072102 doi: 10.1063/1.5142196
[27]	Tao J, Lu H L, Gu Y, et al. Investigation of growth characteristics, compositions, and properties of atomic layer deposited amorphous Zn-doped Ga₂O₃ films. Appl Surf Sci, 2019, 476, 733 doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.01.177
[28]	Borg R J, Dienes G J. An introduction to solid state diffusion. Boston: Elsevier, 2012
[29]	Ahn S, Ren F, Patrick E, et al. Thermal stability of implanted or plasma exposed deuterium in single crystal Ga₂O₃. ECS J Solid State Sci, 2017, 6, Q3026 doi: 10.1149/2.0051702jss
[30]	You J B, Zhang X W, Cai P F, et al. Enhancement of field emission of the ZnO film by the reduced work function and the increased conductivity via hydrogen plasma treatment. Appl Phys Lett, 2009, 94, 262105 doi: 10.1063/1.3167301
[31]	Rafique S, Han L, Tadjer M J, et al. Homoepitaxial growth of β-Ga₂O₃ thin films by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. Appl Phys Lett, 2016, 108, 182105 doi: 10.1063/1.4948944
[32]	Lee N Y, Lee K J, Lee C, et al. Determination of conduction band tail and Fermi energy of heavily Si-doped GaAs by room-temperature photoluminescence. J Appl Phys, 1995, 78, 3367 doi: 10.1063/1.359963
[33]	Cai P F, You J B, Zhang X W, et al. Enhancement of conductivity and transmittance of ZnO films by post hydrogen plasma treatment. J Appl Phys, 2009, 105, 083713 doi: 10.1063/1.3108543
[34]	Shimamura K, Víllora E G, Ujiie T, et al. Excitation and photoluminescence of pure and Si-doped β-Ga₂O₃ single crystals. Appl Phys Lett, 2008, 92, 201914 doi: 10.1063/1.2910768
[35]	Varley J B, Janotti A, Franchini C, et al. Role of self-trapping in luminescence and p-type conductivity of wide-band-gap oxides. Phys Rev B, 2012, 85, 081109 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.081109
[36]	Frodason Y K, Johansen K M, Vines L, et al. Self-trapped hole and impurity-related broad luminescence in β-Ga₂O₃. J Appl Phys, 2020, 127, 075701 doi: 10.1063/1.5140742
[37]	Wei Y, Li X, Yang J, et al. Interaction between hydrogen and gallium vacancies in β-Ga₂O₃. Sci Rep, 2018, 8, 10142 doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28461-3

Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ thin films

References

Search

GET CITATION

Share:

Article Metrics

History

Catalog

Email This Article

Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ thin films

doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802

Abstract

References

Proportional views

Catalog

Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga2O3 thin films

References

Search

GET CITATION

Share:

Article Metrics

History

Catalog

Email This Article

Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga2O3 thin films

doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/9/092802

Abstract

References

Proportional views

Catalog

Export File

Citation

Format

Content

Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ thin films

Electrical and optical properties of hydrogen plasma treated β-Ga₂O₃ thin films