Neutron irradiation effects on the electrical properties of previously electrically stressed AlInN/GaN HEMTs

International audienceThis paper analyses the neutron irradiation impact on the electrical performances of unstressed, on-state, off-state and Negative Gate Bias (NGB) stressed AlInN/GaN HEMTs. These irradiations have resulted in the creation of electron traps that are causing a decrease in the drain current and an increase in the access resistance of the unstressed, on-state or off-state stressed AlInN/GaN devices. These degradations have been correlated with gamma spectrometry measurements and transmutation reactions occurred during the thermalized neutron irradiation have been highlighted. Despite these phenomena, a rise in drain current and a reduction in access resistance have been observed when NGB stressed AlInN/GaN HEMTs were irradiated with a fluence of 1.2x1012 neutrons/cm2. The differences between the electrical behaviors of unstressed, on-state, off-state, and NGB stressed devices observed after the neutron bombardment are related to the presence of electron traps in these device structures