New degradation mechanism associated with hydrogen in bipolar transistors under hot carrier stress

Abstract
Avalanche hot carrier induced bipolar device degradation as a function of temperature, current density, and time is reported. The observed drift in emitter-base breakdown voltage (Vebo) is found to be well correlated to changes in forward base (Ib) and collector (Ic) currents. The model of hydrogen release from the Si-SiO2 interface and its subsequent passivation of base dopants during hot carrier stress is proposed to account for such a correlation.