Strain effects in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

Abstract

Since stress is a major factor in the operation, performance, and reliability in AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices, a thorough understanding of the impact of stress on performance and reliability can lead to improvements in device design. Mechanical wafer bending is a cost-effective method to investigate the effects of stress on semiconductor devices which has been extensively used to isolate and study the effect of stress in strain-engineered Si MOSFETs. In this chapter, a systematic study of the effects of externally applied mechanical stress on the AlGaN/GaN HEMT channel resistance and gate current is presented to provide insights into the physical mechanisms responsible for stress-related performance and reliability issues.