Abstract
A finite element simulation was used to estimate the temperature distributions within AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) during the laser lift-off process. The time-dependent simulation showed that a thin layer of GaN at the GaN/sapphire interface was heated up to around 1600 K in less than 25 ns by a pulsed laser exposure with a duration of 25 ns and a fluence of 800 mJ/cm2 to decompose this GaN layer into Ga and nitrogen. Experimentally, there was a threshold fluence around 550 mJ/cm 2, corresponding to 1300 K at the GaN/sapphire interface, for partially lifting off the HEMT structure from the sapphire. The simulated temperature at the GaN/sapphire interface with a fluence of 420 mJ/cm 2 never reached above 1000 K, however, the HEMT structure was lifted-off by multiple laser exposures at this fluence. Therefore, instead of thermally induced decomposition, the lift-off mechanism could also be through the Ga-N bond breaking during the multiple lower-fluence high-energy 193 nm laser exposures.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 011203 |
Journal | Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B:Nanotechnology and Microelectronics |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 Jan |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The work performed at UF was supported by a NIST program, Grant No. 70NANB11H009, monitored by Gerald R. Castellucci and by an AFOSR MURI program monitored by Gregg Jessen and James Hwang.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Instrumentation
- Process Chemistry and Technology
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Materials Chemistry