High-field electron transport in bulk ZnO

TL;DR

This study investigates high-field electron transport in bulk ZnO, measuring drift velocities up to 1.5×10^7 cm/s and analyzing the effects of electron density and hot-phonon dynamics.

Contribution

It provides experimental data on electron drift velocities at high fields in ZnO and correlates these with hot-phonon decay times, supported by Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

Maximum drift velocity of ~1.5×10^7 cm/s at low electron density.

Observation of a local drift velocity maximum at high electron density.

Agreement of experimental results with hot-phonon decay models.

Abstract

Current-voltage dependence is measured in (Ga,Sb)-doped ZnO up to 150 kV/cm electric fields. A channel temperature is controlled by applying relatively short (few ns) voltage pulses to two-terminal samples. The dependence of electron drift velocity on electron density ranging from 1.42$\times$10$^{17}$ cm$^{-3}$ to 1.3$\times$10$^{20}$ cm$^{-3}$ at a given electric field is deduced after estimation of the sample contact resistance and the Hall electron mobility. Manifestation of the highest electron drift velocity up to $\sim$1.5$\times$10$^{7}$ cm/s is estimated for electron density of 1.42$\times$10$^{17}$ cm$^{-3}$ and is in agreement with Monte Carlo simulation when hot-phonon lifetime is below 1 ps. A local drift velocity maximum is observed at $\sim$1.1$\times$10$^{19}$ cm$^{-3}$ and is in agreement with ultra-fast hot phonon decay.