a-Axis GaN/AlN/AlGaN Core-Shell Heterojunction Microwires as Normally Off High Electron Mobility Transistors

Micro/nanowire-based devices have been envisioned as a promising new route toward improved electronic and optoelectronic applications, which attracts considerable research interests. However, suffering from applicable strategies to synthesize uniform core-shell structures to meet the requirement for the investigations of electrical transport behaviors along the length direction or high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) devices, heterojunction wire-based electronics have been explored limitedly. In the present work, GaN/AlN/AlGaN core-shell heterojunction microwires on patterned Si substrates were synthesized without any catalyst via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The as-synthesized microwires had low dislocation, sharp, and uniform heterojunction interfaces. Electrical transport performances were evaluated by fabricating HEMTs on the heterojunction microwire channels. Results demonstrated that a normally off operation was achieved with a threshold voltage of 1.4 V, a high on/off current ratio of 10⁸, a transconductance of 165 mS/mm, and a low subthreshold swing of 81 mV/dec. The normally off operation may attribute to the weak polarization along semipolar facets of the heterojunction, which leads to weak constrain of 2DEG.