AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on a (001)-Oriented Silicon Substrate Based on 100-nm SiN Recessed Gate Technology for Microwave Power Amplification

AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors on (001)-oriented silicon substrates with a 0.1-mum gamma-shaped gate length are fabricated. The gate technology is based on a silicon nitride (SiN) thin film and uses a digital etching technique to perform the recess through the SiN mask. An output current density of 420 mA/mm and an extrinsic transconductance g_m of 228 mS/mm are measured on 300-mum gate-periphery devices. An extrinsic cutoff frequency f_t of 28 GHz and a maximum oscillation frequency f_max of 46 GHz are deduced from S-parameter measurements. At 2.15 GHz, an output power density of 1 W/mm that is associated to a power-added efficiency of 17% and a linear gain of 24 dB are achieved at V_DS = 30 V and V_GS = -1.2 V.