Metamorphic InP/InGaAs double-heterojunction bipolar transistors on GaAs grown by molecular-beam epitaxy

Abstract

InP/InGaAs double-heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structures were grown metamorphically on GaAs substrates by solid-source molecular-beam epitaxy. A linearly graded InxGa1-xP (x varying from 0.48 to 1) buffer layer was used to accommodate the strain relaxation. The crystallinity of the buffer layer and the HBT structure was examined by x-ray diffractometry. Devices with 5 × 5 μm2 emitter area showed a typical peak current gain of 40, a common-emitter breakdown voltage (BVCEO) higher than 9 V, a current gain cut-off frequency (fT) of 46 GHz, and a maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) of 40 GHz. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.