Patent ID: 9728655
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A method for forming a nitride-based Schottky diode, comprising: providing a nitride-based semiconductor body of a first conductivity type; forming a nitride-based epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type, opposite the first conductivity type, on a front side of the nitride-based semiconductor body; forming a first dielectric layer on the nitride-based epitaxial layer; etching the first dielectric layer and the nitride-based epitaxial layer to the nitride- based semiconductor body to define an opening for an anode electrode of the nitride-based Schottky diode and to form an array of islands of the nitride-based epitaxial layer in the opening; forming a first metal layer on the front side of the nitride-based semiconductor body to form a Schottky junction at the exposed top surface of the semiconductor body, the first metal layer forming the anode electrode of the Schottky diode; providing a cathode electrode in electrical contact with the nitride-based semiconductor body; and forming a plurality of junction barrier diodes at the Schottky junction, anode electrodes of the junction barrier diodes being formed from the array of islands of the nitride-based epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type formed in the opening for the anode electrode and in contact with the nitride-based semiconductor body, wherein the nitride-based epitaxial layer forms a guard ring and the first dielectric layer forms a dielectric field plate, the guard ring and the dielectric field plate together forming a termination structure for the Schottky diode, and the termination structure being configured to reduce electric field crowding at the edge of the anode electrode.