The Stability to Ageing of Pd/Zn and Pt-Based Ohmic Contacts to p-InGaAs/InP

Abstract

ABSTRACTPd/Zn/Au contacts to p-In0.53Ga0.47As/InP with various barrier layers (Pd, Pt or LaB,) to the indiffusion of Au have been examined by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). For the metallisations with a barrier layer of Pd, the ageing of the contacts at 400°C for 20 h produced a widespread indiffusion of Au. In comparison, the incorporation of a layer of Pt or amorphous LaB6 prevented an indiffusion of Au and significantly reduced any outdiffusion of the semiconductor elements. The presence of the barrier layer of Pt or LaB6 produced little or no detrimental increase in specific contact resistance, ρc, for this contact system. Values of ρc in the range 8–10 × 10−6 Ω cm2 were obtained for all of the contacts based on Pd/Zn/Au after annealing at 500°C. A comparison has been made with the characteristics of Pt/Ti/Pt/Au contacts to p-In0.53Ga0.47As/ InP which were shown as stable against the indiffusion of Au.