Gallium Oxide Heterojunction Diodes for Improved High-Temperature Performance

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates heterojunction p-NiO/n-β-Ga₂O₃ diodes with high rectification ratios at elevated temperatures, showing improved high-temperature performance for power devices due to higher built-in potential and band offset.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel heterojunction diode structure on β-Ga₂O₃ that enhances high-temperature operation compared to traditional Schottky diodes.

Findings

Achieved over 10^6 rectification ratio at 410°C

Higher turn-on voltage and lower leakage current than Schottky diodes

Electrical modeling confirms increased built-in potential and band offset

Abstract

${\beta}$-Ga${_2}$O${_3}$ based semiconductor devices are expected to have significantly improved high-power and high-temperature performance due to its ultra-wide bandgap of close to 5 eV. However, the high-temperature operation of these ultra-wide-bandgap devices is usually limited by the relatively low 1-2 eV built-in potential at the Schottky barrier with most high-work-function metals. Here, we report heterojunction p-NiO/n-${\beta}$-Ga${_2}$O${_3}$ diodes fabrication and optimization for high-temperature device applications, demonstrating a current rectification ratio of more than 10${^6}$ at 410{\deg}C. The NiO heterojunction diode can achieve higher turn-on voltage and lower reverse leakage current compared to the Ni-based Schottky diode fabricated on the same single crystal ${\beta}$-Ga${_2}$O${_3}$ substrate, despite charge transport dominated by interfacial recombination. Electrical characterization and device modeling show that these advantages are due to a higher built-in potential and additional band offset. These results suggest that heterojunction p-n diodes based on ${\beta}$-Ga${_2}$O${_3}$ can significantly improve high-temperature electronic device and sensor performance.