Investigation on threshold voltage of p-channel GaN MOSFETs based on p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN heterostructure

The threshold voltage (V_th) of the p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) is investigated via Silvaco-Atlas simulations. The main factors which influence the threshold voltage of p-channel GaN MOSFETs are barrier height Φ_1,p, polarization charge density σ_b, and equivalent unite capacitance C_oc. It is found that the thinner thickness of p-GaN layer and oxide layer will acquire the more negative threshold voltage V_th, and threshold voltage |V_th| increases with the reduction in p-GaN doping concentration and the work-function of gate metal. Meanwhile, the increase in gate dielectric relative permittivity may cause the increase in threshold voltage |V_th|. Additionally, the parameter influencing output current most is the p-GaN doping concentration, and the maximum current density is 9.5 mA/mm with p-type doping concentration of 9.5×10¹⁶ cm^-3 at V_GS = -12 V and V_DS = -10 V.