β-Ga ₂O ₃ for wide-bandgap electronics and optoelectronics

Abstract

β-Ga ₂O ₃ is an emerging, ultra-wide bandgap (energy gap of 4.85 eV) transparent semiconducting oxide, which attracted recently much scientific and technological attention. Unique properties of that compound combined with its advanced development in growth and characterization place β-Ga ₂O ₃ in the frontline of future applications in electronics (Schottky barrier diodes, field-effect transistors), optoelectronics (solar- and visible-blind photodetectors, flame detectors, light emitting diodes), and sensing systems (gas sensors, nuclear radiation detectors). A capability of growing large bulk single crystals directly from the melt and epi-layers by a diversity of epitaxial techniques, as well as explored material properties and underlying physics, define a solid background for a device fabrication, which, indeed, has been boosted in recent years. This required, however, enormous efforts in different areas of science and technology that constitutes a chain linking together engineering, metrology and theory. The present review includes material preparation (bulk crystals, epi-layers, surfaces), an exploration of optical, electrical, thermal and mechanical properties, as well as device design/fabrication with resulted functionality suitable for different fields of applications. The review summarizes all of these aspects of β-Ga ₂O ₃ at the research level that spans from the material preparation through characterization to final devices.