Method for producing a semiconductor device, and semiconductor device

Abstract

A method for producing a semiconductor device having a nitride-based semiconductor layer includes forming an aluminum nitride layer on a surface of the nitride-based semiconductor layer at a forming temperature and in a growth atmosphere for aluminum nitride; and performing a thermal treatment on the nitride-based semiconductor layer and the aluminum nitride layer, at a treatment temperature that is higher than the forming temperature and in the growth atmosphere for aluminum nitride. For example, an n-GaN layer is formed on an n-GaN substrate, and thereafter the n-GaN layer is doped with an impurity. A cap layer of an epitaxial film made up of AlN is formed, by MOCVD, on the surface of the n-GaN layer. Thermal treatment for activation annealing activates the impurity in the n-GaN layer in an atmosphere that causes AlN to grow, or in an atmosphere in which growth and decomposition of AlN are substantially balanced.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.