Nils Weimann

Bio: Nils Weimann is an academic researcher from University of Duisburg-Essen. The author has contributed to research in topics: Heterojunction bipolar transistor & Bipolar junction transistor. The author has an hindex of 27, co-authored 160 publications receiving 7215 citations. Previous affiliations of Nils Weimann include Alcatel-Lucent & Agere Systems.

Submicron AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with very high drain current density grown by plasma-assisted MBE on 6H-SiC

Abstract: High electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were fabricated from AlGaN/-GaN layers grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on semi-insulating 6H-SiC substrates. Room-temperature Hall effect measurements yielded a polarization-induced 2DEG sheet charge of 1.3/spl middot/10/sup 13/ cm/sup -2/ and a low-field mobility of 1300 cm/sup 2//V/spl middot/s. Submicron gates were defined with electron beam lithography using an optimized two-layer resist scheme. HEMT devices repeatedly yielded drain current densities up to 1798 mA/mm, and a maximum transconductance of 193 mS/mm. This is the highest drain current density in any AlGaN-GaN HEMT structure delivering significant microwave power reported thus far. Small-signal testing of 50-/spl mu/m wide devices revealed a current gain cutoff frequency f/sub T/ of 52 GHz, and a maximum frequency of oscillation f/sub max/ of 109 GHz. Output power densities of 5 W/mm at 2 GHz, and 4.9 W/mm at 7 GHz were recorded from 200-/spl mu/m wide unpassivated HEMTs with a load-pull setup under optimum matching conditions in class A device operation.

AlGaN/GaN HEMTs grown by molecular beam epitaxy on sapphire, SiC, and HVPE GaN templates

Abstract: Molecular beam epitaxy of GaN and related alloys is becoming a rival to the more established metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Excellent control of impurity, interface abruptness, and in situ monitoring of the growth are driving the increase in quality of MBE epilayers. We have developed nucleation schemes with plasma-assisted MBE on three types of substrates, consisting of sapphire, semi-insulating (SI-) SiC, and HVPE SI-GaN templates on sapphire. While sapphire and SI-SiC are established substrates for the growth of AlGaN/GaN HEMT epilayers, HVPE GaN templates may provide a path to low-cost large-diameter substrates for electronic devices. We compare device results of HEMTs fabricated on these substrates. As a metric for device performance, the saturated RF power output in class A operation is measured at 2 GHz. We achieved a saturated power density of 2.2 W/mm from HEMTs on sapphire, 1.1 W/mm from HEMTs on HVPE GaN templates on sapphire, and 6.3 W/mm. from HEMTs on semi-insulating 6H-SiC substrates. The difference in output power can be attributed to self-heating due to insufficient thermal conductivity of the sapphire substrate, and to trapping in the compensation-doped HVPE template.

220–325 GHz high-isolation SPDT switch in InP DHBT technology

Abstract: A broadband single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch is presented covering 220–325 GHz in 800 nm transferred substrate InP DHBT technology The SPDT switch configuration employs shunt-topology The circuit achieves an isolation of >36 dB within the band with very low DC power of 9 mW, benefitting from the low intrinsic capacitance of the transistors This is the highest reported isolation for wideband SPDT switches covering 220–325 GHz This three-stage SPDT switch also demonstrates the highest isolation of 12 dB per stage in this frequency range

(Invited) Combining SiGe BiCMOS and InP Processing in an on-top of Chip Integration Approach

Abstract: Applications such as radar imaging and wideband communications are driving the research on millimeter-wave circuits. For some applications SiGe hetero junction bipolar transistors (HBTs) are limited in output power. III-V technologies (like InP) can realize devices showing a high product of peak transit frequency multiplied with the open base breakdown voltage. Therefore, merging the qualities of both III-V and Si technology will enable a new class of high-performance ICs. Our approach combines an InP-DHBT transferred-substrate process with a Si-BiCMOS process. The key method is an aligned face-to-face wafer bonding with a subsequent removal of the InP substrate. Different integrated signal sources with an output frequency up to 246 GHz were designed and produced using different combinations of BiCMOS and InP circuit building blocks to demonstrate the capabilities of the hetero-integration routine. In this paper the influences of the wafer bonding and the finalization of the InP-DHBT process on SiGe devices were investigated. It was found that the influences on the BiCMOS devices were rather small.

A 330 GHz hetero-integrated source in InP-on-BiCMOS technology

Abstract: This paper presents a 330 GHz hetero-integrated signal source using InP-on-BiCMOS technology. It consists of a fundamental Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) in 0.25 µm BiCMOS technology and a frequency quadrupler in 0.8 µm transferred substrate (TS) InP-HBT technology, which is integrated on top of the BiCMOS MMIC in a wafer-level BCB bonding process. The fundamental VCO operates at 82 GHz and the combined source delivers −12 dBm output power at 328 GHz. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first hetero-integrated signal source in the frequency range beyond 300 GHz reported so far. It demonstrates the potential of the hetero-integration process for THz frequencies.

Band parameters for III–V compound semiconductors and their alloys

Abstract: We present a comprehensive, up-to-date compilation of band parameters for the technologically important III–V zinc blende and wurtzite compound semiconductors: GaAs, GaSb, GaP, GaN, AlAs, AlSb, AlP, AlN, InAs, InSb, InP, and InN, along with their ternary and quaternary alloys. Based on a review of the existing literature, complete and consistent parameter sets are given for all materials. Emphasizing the quantities required for band structure calculations, we tabulate the direct and indirect energy gaps, spin-orbit, and crystal-field splittings, alloy bowing parameters, effective masses for electrons, heavy, light, and split-off holes, Luttinger parameters, interband momentum matrix elements, and deformation potentials, including temperature and alloy-composition dependences where available. Heterostructure band offsets are also given, on an absolute scale that allows any material to be aligned relative to any other.

Two-dimensional electron gases induced by spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization charges in N- and Ga-face AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

Abstract: Carrier concentration profiles of two-dimensional electron gases are investigated in wurtzite, Ga-face AlxGa1−xN/GaN/AlxGa1−xN and N-face GaN/AlxGa1−xN/GaN heterostructures used for the fabrication of field effect transistors. Analysis of the measured electron distributions in heterostructures with AlGaN barrier layers of different Al concentrations (0.15

AlGaN/GaN HEMTs-an overview of device operation and applications

Abstract: Wide bandgap semiconductors are extremely attractive for the gamut of power electronics applications from power conditioning to microwave transmitters for communications and radar. Of the various materials and device technologies, the AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor seems the most promising. This paper attempts to present the status of the technology and the market with a view of highlighting both the progress and the remaining problems.

Alternative Plasmonic Materials: Beyond Gold and Silver

Abstract: Materials research plays a vital role in transforming breakthrough scientific ideas into next-generation technology. Similar to the way silicon revolutionized the microelectronics industry, the proper materials can greatly impact the field of plasmonics and metamaterials. Currently, research in plasmonics and metamaterials lacks good material building blocks in order to realize useful devices. Such devices suffer from many drawbacks arising from the undesirable properties of their material building blocks, especially metals. There are many materials, other than conventional metallic components such as gold and silver, that exhibit metallic properties and provide advantages in device performance, design flexibility, fabrication, integration, and tunability. This review explores different material classes for plasmonic and metamaterial applications, such as conventional semiconductors, transparent conducting oxides, perovskite oxides, metal nitrides, silicides, germanides, and 2D materials such as graphene. This review provides a summary of the recent developments in the search for better plasmonic materials and an outlook of further research directions.

Gan : processing, defects, and devices

Abstract: The role of extended and point defects, and key impurities such as C, O, and H, on the electrical and optical properties of GaN is reviewed. Recent progress in the development of high reliability contacts, thermal processing, dry and wet etching techniques, implantation doping and isolation, and gate insulator technology is detailed. Finally, the performance of GaN-based electronic and photonic devices such as field effect transistors, UV detectors, laser diodes, and light-emitting diodes is covered, along with the influence of process-induced or grown-in defects and impurities on the device physics.