Papers by Author: Jian Hui Zhang

Abstract: This paper reports our recent study on 4H-SiC power bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) with deep mesa edge termination. 1200 V – 10 A 4H-SiC power BJTs with an active area of 4.64 mm2 have been demonstrated using deep mesa for direct edge termination and device isolation. The BJT’s DC current gain () is about 37, and the specific on-resistance (RSP-ON) is ~ 3.0 m-cm2. The BJT fabrication is substantially simplified and an overall 10% reduction in the device area is achieved compared to the multi-step JTE-based SiC-BJTs.

Abstract: This work reports 4H-SiC bipolar junction transistor (BJT) results based upon our first intentionally graded base BJT wafer with both base and emitter epi-layers continuously grown in the same reactor. The 4H-SiC BJTs were designed to improve the common emitter current gain through the built-in electrical fields originating from the grading of the base doping. Continuously-grown epi-layers are also believed to be the key to increasing carrier lifetime and high current gains. The 4H-SiC BJT wafer was grown in an Aixtron/Epigress VP508, a horizontal hot-wall chemical vapor deposition reactor using standard silane/propane chemistry and nitrogen and aluminum dopants. High performance 4H-SiC BJTs based on this initial non-optimized graded base doping have been demonstrated, including a 4H-SiC BJT with a DC current gain of ~33, specific on-resistance of 2.9 mcm2, and blocking voltage VCEO of over 1000 V.

Abstract: This paper reports a newly achieved best result on the common emitter current gain of 4H-SiC high power bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). A fabricated 1600 V – 15 A 4H-SiC power BJT with an active area of 1.7 mm2 shows a high DC current gain (b) of 70, when it conducts 9.8 A collector current at a base current of only 140 mA. The maximum AC current gain (DIC/DIB) is up to 78. This high performance BJT has an open base collector-to-emitter blocking voltage (VCEO) of over 1674 V with a leakage current of 1.6 μA, and a specific on-resistance (RSP-ON) of 5.1 mW.cm2 when it conducts 7.0 A (412 A/cm2) at a forward voltage drop of VCE = 2.1 V. A large area 4H-SiC BJT with a footprint of 4.1 mm x 4.1 mm has also shown a DC current gain over 50. These high-gain, high-voltage and high-current 4H-SiC BJTs further support a promising future for 4H-SiC BJT applications.

Abstract: SiC JFET, compared with SiC MOSFET, is attractive for high power, high temperature applications because it is free of gate oxide reliability issues. Trenched-and-Implanted VJFET (TIVJFET) does not require epi-regrowth and is capable of high current density. In this work we demonstrate two trenched-and-implanted normally-off 4H-SiC vertical junction field-effect transistors (TI-VJFET), based on 120μm, 4.9×1014cm-3 and 100μm, 6×1014cm-3 drift layers. The corresponding devices showed blocking voltage (VB) of 11.1kV and specific on-resistance (RSP_ON) of 124m7cm2, and VB of 10kV and RSP_ON of 87m7cm2. A record-high value for VB 2/RSP_ON of 1149MW/cm2 was achieved for normally-off SiC FETs.

Abstract: This paper reports recent progress in the development of high power 4H-SiC BJTs based on an improved device design and fabrication scheme. Near theoretical limit high blocking voltage of VCEO=1,836 V has been achieved for 4H-SiC BJTs based on a drift layer of only 12 μm, doped to 6.7x1015 cm-3. The collector current measured for a single cell BJT with an active area of 0.61 mm2 is up to IC=9.87 A (JC=1618 A/cm2). The collector current is 7.64 A (JC=1252 A/cm2) at VCE=5.9 V in the saturation region, corresponding to an absolute specific on-resistance (RSP_ON) of 4.7 m9·cm2. From VCE=2.4 V to VCE= 5.8 V, the BJT has a differential RSP_ON of only 3.9 m9·cm2. The current gain is about 8.8 at Ic=5.3 A (869 A/cm2). This 4H-SiC BJT shows a V2/RSP_ON of 717 MW/cm2, which is the highest value reported to date for high-voltage and high-current 4H-SiC BJTs. A verylarge area 4H-SiC BJT with an active area of 11.3 mm2 is also demonstrated.