Large-Signal Linearity and High-Frequency Noise of Passivated AlGaN/GaN High-Electron Mobility Transistors

This study proposes AlGaN/GaN/silicon high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown by a metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system. The large-signal linearity and high-frequency noise of HEMTs without and with different passivation layers are compared. The experimental data show that the addition of a TiO2 passivation layer to undoped AlGaN/GaN HEMT’s increases the value of the third-order intercept point (OIP3) by up to 70% at 2.4 GHz. Furthermore, the minimum noise figure (NFmin) of the HEMT with TiO2 passivation is significantly reduced.