Comparison of Si-VLSI & GaAs-VLSI

1. Advantages of GaAs

Superior electrical properties like higher saturated electron velocity (V sat) and
electron mobility

Such properties allow GaAs based devices to work on very high frequencies,
hence be very fast

Once manufactured, GaAs devices are more immune to temperature than Si

devices.

Due to the same reason, GaAs devices are ,ore immune to noise at high
frequencies.

Low parasitic issues mean more efficiency.

GaAs, unlike Silicon can be used to emit light energy (even though modern
techniques allow creation of Si based LEDs & lasers)

Un-doped GaAs is highly resistive in nature unlike Silicon. So while combining

different wells or tubs, GaAs provides better isolation. This means
separation between such architectures can be reduced. In other words, it is
possible to integrate more devices.

2. Advantages of Silicon

Abundant in nature

Cheap to process

Extremely stable during manufacturing/structuring process whereas being a

compound semiconductor, GaAs needs precise temperatures during
manufacturing.

Due to the same reason, Si crystals can be mass-produced whereas GaAs can
not.

Presence of native insulating oxide (SiO2) whereas in GaAs we must induce

separate insulators.

Compared to GaAs devices, Si based devices have much higher hole mobility.
Hence in applications where p-type devices must be present, Si based
integration is better.

Unlike Silicon, both Ga & As are highly toxic. Considering the disposal &
recycling of GaAs based devices can hence become an environmental issue.

Due to the perfect lattice(arrangement of unit cells), Si are suitable for very
small structures (like 25 nm technology) whereas GaAs is suitable for 500 nm
processes.

Comparison Between CMOS, BiPolar & GaAs Technologies

FEATURE
CMOS
Bipolar
GaAs
Power Dissipation
Low
High
Medium
Input Impedance
High
Low
High
Noise Margin
High
Medium
Low
Speed
Low to Medium High
High to Very
High
Packing Density
Very High
Low
Very High
Fan-out
Low to Medium High
High
Bidirectional Property
Yes
No
Possible
(Unidirectional)
As Switching Device
Ideal
Not used
Reasonable
Operating / Triggering
Medium
High
Very High
Frequency
Light Emitting Property
No
No
Yes
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