A device including an activated p-type layer comprising a III-Nitride based Mg-doped layer grown by vapor phase deposition or a growth method different from MBE. The p-type layer is activated through a sidewall of the p-type layer after the removal of defects from the sidewall thereby increasing a hole concentration in the p-type layer. In one or more examples, the device includes an active region between a first n-type layer and the p-type layer; a second n-type layer on the p-type layer; and a tunnel junction between the second n-type layer and the p-type layer, and the activated p-type layer has a hole concentration characterized by a current density of at least 100 Amps per centimeter square flowing between the first n-type layer and the second n-type layer in response to a voltage of 4 volts or less applied across the first n-type layer and the second n-type layer.

Disclosed is a semiconductor device capable of functioning as a memory device. The memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells, and each of the memory cells contains a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor is provided over a substrate containing a semiconductor material and has a channel formation region in the substrate. The second transistor has an oxide semiconductor layer. The gate electrode of the first transistor and one of the source and drain electrodes of the second transistor are electrically connected to each other. The extremely low off current of the second transistor allows the data stored in the memory cell to be retained for a significantly long time even in the absence of supply of electric power.

A novel method for forming a metal oxide is provided. The metal oxide is formed using a precursor with a high decomposition temperature while a substrate is heated to higher than or equal to 300 C. and lower than or equal to 500 C. In the formation, plasma treatment, microwave treatment, or heat treatment is preferably performed as impurity removal treatment in an atmosphere containing oxygen. The impurity removal treatment may be performed while irradiation with ultraviolet light is performed. The metal oxide is formed by alternate repetition of precursor introduction and oxidizer introduction. For example, the impurity removal treatment is preferably performed every time the precursor introduction is performed more than or equal to 5 times and less than or equal to 10 times.

A method for manufacturing a group III nitride semiconductor substrate, that includes: growing a first AlN buffer layer on an Si substrate at a first growth temperature; growing a second AlN buffer layer on the first AlN buffer layer at a second growth temperature higher than the first growth temperature; and growing a group III nitride semiconductor layer on the second AlN buffer layer, wherein an Al raw material and an N raw material are alternately repeatedly fed in the growing the first AlN buffer layer.