Epitaxially grown Si resonant interband tunnel diodes exhibiting high current densities

S.L. Rommel, Thomas E. Dillon, Paul R. Berger, Philip E. Thompson, Karl D. Hobart, Roger K. Lake, Alan Seabaugh

IEEE Electron Device Letters · 1999 · 34 citations · 11 references

Concepts

Abstract

This study presents the room-temperature operation of /spl delta/-doped Si resonant interband tunneling diodes which were fabricated by low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy. Post growth rapid thermal annealing of the samples was found to improve the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. Optimal performance was observed for a 600/spl deg/C 1 min anneal, yielding a peak-to-valley current ratio (PVCR) as high as 1.38 with a peak current density (J/sub p/) as high as 1.42 kA/cm/sup 2/ for a device with a 4-nm intrinsic Si tunnel barrier. When the tunnel barrier was reduced to 2 nm, a PVCR of 1.41 with a J/sub p/ as high as 10.8 kA/cm/sup 2/ was observed. The devices withstood a series of burn-in measurements without noticeable degradation in either the J/sub p/ or PVCR. The structures presented are strain-free, and are compatible with a standard CMOS or HBT process.

References

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