Normally off gallium nitride field effect transistors (fet)

Abstract

A heterostructure field effect transistor (HFET) gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor power device comprises a hetero junction structure comprises a first semiconductor layer interfacing a second semiconductor layer of two different band gaps thus generating an interface layer as a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer. The power device further comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on two opposite sides of a gate electrode disposed on top of the hetero junction structure for controlling a current flow between the source and drain electrodes in the 2DEG layer. The power device further includes a floating gate located between the gate electrode and hetero junction structure, wherein the gate electrode is insulated from the floating gate with an insulation layer and wherein the floating gate is disposed above and padded with a thin insulation layer from the hetero-junction structure and wherein the floating gate is charged for continuously applying a voltage to the 2DEG layer to pinch off the current flowing in the 2DEG layer between the source and drain electrodes whereby the HFET semiconductor power device is a normally off device.