Bipolar transistor with graded band-gap base

Abstract
We report the first compositionally graded base bipolar transistor. The device grown by MBE incorporates a wide gap Al0.35Ga0.65As emitter (n = 2 × 1016/cm3 and a 0.4 μm thick p+ (= 2 × 1018/cm3)base graded from Al0.20Ga0.80As to GaAs. DC current gain of 35 with flat, nearly ideal, collector characteristics are observed. Incorporation of a graded gap base gives much faster base transit times due to the induced quasi-electric field for electrons, thus allowing a precious tradeoff against the base resistance.