Plasma damage effects in InAlN field effect transistors

During gate mesa plasma etching of InN/InAlN field effect transistors the apparent conductivity in the channel can be either increased or decreased through three different mechanisms. If hydrogen is part of the plasma chemistry, hydrogen passivation of the shallow donors in the InAIN can occur, we find diffusion depths for H-2 of greater than or equal to 0.5 micron in 30 mins at 200 degrees C. The hydrogen remains in the material until temperatures greater than or equal to 700 degrees C. Energetic ion bombardment in SF6/O-2 or BCl3/Ar plasmas also compensates the doping in the InAlN by creation of deep acceptor states. Finally the conductivity of the immediate InA1N surface can be increased by preferential loss of N during BCl3 plasma etching, leading to poor rectifying contact characteristics when the gate metal is deposited on this etched surface. Careful control of plasma chemistry, ion energy and stoichiometry of the etched surface are necessary for acceptable pinch-off characteristics. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd