High power Al0.3Ga0.7As/In0.2Ga0.8As enhancement-mode PHEMT for low-voltage wireless communication systems

Abstract

A 20 mm-wide enhancement-mode pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (E-PHEMT) has been developed. The device has high transconductance of 490 mS/mm, and high maximum drain current of 350 mA/mm due to the use of an Al(0.3)G(4.7)As/In0.2Ga0.8As-based structure for carrier confinement. At 1.9 GHz and 3.0 V, the E-PHEMT shows 34.1 dBm (128 mW/mm) output power with power-added efficiency (PAE) of 64.5%. At 2.4 V, the maximum saturated output power is 32.25 dBm and maximum PAE is 78.5%. The E-PHEMT demonstrates excellent power performance at 1.9 GHz and below 3 V.