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CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/Ar electron cyclotron resonance plasma etching for GaAs-based field effect transistors

Journal Article · · Journal of the Electrochemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2050104· OSTI ID:110138

Electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma etch processes with CH{sub 4}/H{sub 2}/Ar have been investigated on different III-V semiconductor materials (GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAs, and InP). The passivation depth as a function of the GaAs carrier concentration and the recovery upon annealing at different temperatures have been determined by C-V measurements. Little degradation on the characteristics of Schottky diodes is observed with increasing process biases. If the GaAs top layer of an AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure is removed by plasma processing the Hall mobility is restored to 74% after annealing at 425 C. This is compared to a wet chemically etched reference sample. The 2-DEG sheet density fully recovers. However, if an Si {delta}-doped layer is incorporated in the heterostructure the Hall mobility and the sheet density completely restore after plasma etching and subsequent annealing. In the experiments minimal damage is observed at a substrate bias of {minus}40 V. The direct current and high frequency characteristics of a dry and wet etched pseudomorphic heterostructure field-effect transistors are compared.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
110138
Journal Information:
Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 142; ISSN 0013-4651; ISSN JESOAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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