具有背面反射镜的GaN基高压LED

High-voltage light-emitting diodes （HV-LED） with backside reflector, including Ti305/SiO2 distributed Bragg reflector （DBR） or hybrid reflector combining DBR and Al or Ag metal layer, are investigated using Monte Carlo ray tracing method. The hybrid reflector leads to more enhancement of light-extraction efficiency （LEE）. Moreover, the LEE can also be improved by redesigning the thicknesses of DBR. HV-LED with four redesigned DBR pairs （4-MDBR）, and those with a hybrid reflector combining 4-MDBR and Al metal layer （4-MDBR-Al）, are fabricated. Compared to 4-MDBR, the enhancement of light-output power induced by 4-MDBR-A1 is 4.6%, which is consistent with the simulated value of 4.9%.     

InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well green light-emitting diodes prepared by temperature ramping

High-quality InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum well (MQW) light-emitting diode (LED) structures were prepared by a temperature-ramping method during metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth. Two photoluminescence (PL) peaks, one originating from well-sensitive emission and one originating from an InGaN quasi-wetting layer on the GaN-barrier surface, were observed at room temperature (RT). The observation of high-order double-crystal x-ray diffraction (DCXRD) satellite peaks indicates that the interfaces between InGaN-well layers and GaN-barrier layers were not degraded as we increased the growth temperature of the GaN-barrier layers. With a 20-mA and 160-mA current injection, it was found that the output power could reach 2.2 mW and 8.9 mW, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the reliability of the fabricated green LEDs prepared by temperature ramping was also reasonably good.     

Efficiency enhancement of InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes with a back-surface distributed bragg reflector

The design, fabrication, and performance characteristics of a back-surface distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) enhanced InGaN/GaN light-emitting diode (LED) are described. A wide reflectance bandwidth in the blue and green wavelength regions is obtained using a double quarter-wave stack design composed of TiO₂ and SiO₂ layers. More than 65% enhancement in extracted light intensity is demonstrated for a blue LED measured at the chip level. Similar improvement in green LED performance is discussed and achieved through simulation. Possible applications of back-surface DBR-enhanced LEDs include surface-mount packages with significantly reduced vertical profiles, resonant cavity LEDs, and superluminescent diodes.     

高反射性电流阻挡层用于提高InGaN/GaN发光二极管的光输出功率

由SiO₂/TiO₂分布布拉格反射镜(DBR)和Al镜组成的混合式反射电流阻挡层用于提高InGaN/GaN发光二极管的光输出功率。混合式反射电流阻挡层不仅增强了电流扩展效应而且有效的将射向p金属电极的光子反射防止其对p电极焊点附近光子的吸收。实验结果表明,淀积在p-GaN上1.5个周期的SiO₂/TiO₂DBR和Al镜在455nm垂直入射时的反射率高达97.8%。在20mA的工作电流下,与没有电流阻挡层的发光二极管相比,生长1.5对SiO₂/TiO₂ DBR和Al镜作为电流阻挡层的发光二极管的光输出功率提高了12.5%,且光输出功率的分布更加均匀。     

InGaN/GaN light emitting diodes with Ni/Au mesh p-contacts

In order to improve the light transmittance and output efficiency of the InGaN/GaN multi-quantum well (MQW) light emitting diodes (LEDs), we proposed a novel Ni/Au mesh p-contact. As compared with the traditional Ni/Au film p-contact, the proposed Ni/Au mesh p-contact has the less light blocking nature yet still keeps well ohmic contact. Our lab result shows that for 470 nm wavelength the Ni/Au mesh p-contact has 95% light transmittance and 11.3 mW output power at a 20 mA injection current. In contrast, at the same 470 nm wavelength, the traditional Ni/Au film p-contact has 72% light transmittance and 8.12 mW output power at a 20 mA injection current.     

InGaN/GaN LEDs with a Si-doped InGaN/GaN short-period superlattice tunneling contact layer

Nitride-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with Si-doped n⁺-In_0.23Ga_0.77N/GaN short-period superlattice (SPS) tunneling contact top layer were fabricated. It was found that although the measured specific-contact resistance is around 1 × 10⁻² Ω-cm² for samples with an SPS tunneling contact layer, the measured specific-contact resistance is around 1.5×10⁰ Ω-cm² for samples without an SPS tunneling contact layer. Furthermore, it was found that one could lower the LED-operation voltage from 3.75 V to 3.4 V by introducing the SPS structure. It was also found that the LED-operation voltage is almost independent of the CP₂Mg flow rate when we grow the underneath p-type GaN layer. The LED-output intensity was also found to be larger for samples with the SPS structure.     

抛物线型衬底InGaN/GaN发光二极管的模拟研究

针对发射到衬底中的光子,提出了一种具有抛物线型衬底结构的InGaN/GaN发光二极管,并对平面衬底和抛物线型衬底InGaN/GaN发光二极管的光子运动轨迹、发射功率角度分布和外量子效率进行了模拟计算.结果表明:相对于平面衬底发光二极管,抛物线型衬底发光二极管可以充分利用发射到衬底中的光子,使其正向光子发射功率增加12.6倍,外量子效率提高1.22倍,同时具有发射准平行光的功能.     

抛物线型衬底InGaN/GaN发光二极管的模拟研究

针对发射到衬底中的光子,提出了一种具有抛物线型衬底结构的InGaN/GaN发光二极管,并对平面衬底和抛物线型衬底InGaN/GaN发光二极管的光子运动轨迹、发射功率角度分布和外量子效率进行了模拟计算.结果表明:相对于平面衬底发光二极管,抛物线型衬底发光二极管可以充分利用发射到衬底中的光子,使其正向光子发射功率增加12.6倍,外量子效率提高1.22倍,同时具有发射准平行光的功能.     

p型InGaN/GaN超晶格N面GaN基LED的光电特性

随着氮(N)面GaN材料生长技术的发展,基于N面GaN衬底的高亮度发光二极管(LED)的研究具有重要的科学意义.研究了具有高发光功率的N面GaN基蓝光LED的新型结构设计,通过在N面LED的电子阻挡层和多量子阱有源层之间插入p型InGaN/GaN超晶格来提高有源层中的载流子注入效率.为了对比N面GaN基LED优异的器件性能,同时设计了具有相同结构的Ga面LED.通过对两种LED结构的电致发光特性、有源层中能带图、电场和载流子浓度分布进行比较可以发现,N面LED在输出功率和载流子注入效率上比Ga面LED有明显的提升,从而表明N面GaN基LED具有潜在的应用前景.     

Temperature-dependent electroluminescence in InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well light-emitting diodes

We present a comparative study on temperature dependence of electroluminescence (EL) of InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well (MQW) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with identical structure but different indium contents in the active region. For the ultraviolet (UV) and blue LEDs, the EL intensity decreases dramatically with decreasing temperature after reaching a maximum at 150 K. The peak energy exhibits a large redshift in the range of 20–50 meV with a decrease of temperature from 200 K to 70 K, accompanying the appearance of longitudinal-optical (LO) phonon replicas broadening the low energy side of the EL spectra. This redshift is explained by carrier relaxation into lower energy states, leading to dominant radiative recombination at localized states. In contrast, the peak energy of the green LED exhibits a minimal temperature-induced shift, and the emission intensity increases monotonically with decreasing temperature down to 5 K. We attribute the different temperature dependences of the EL to different degrees of the localization effects in the MQW regions of the LEDs.     

最大振荡频率为200 GHz的蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN HEMT

本文报道了fmax为200GHz的基于蓝宝石衬底的AlGaN/GaN 高电子迁移率晶体管（HEMT）。外延材料结构采用了InGaN背势垒层来减小短沟道效应,器件采用了凹栅槽和T型栅结合的工艺,实现了Ka波段AlGaN/GaN HEMT。器件饱和电流达到1.1A/mm,跨导为421mS/mm,截止频率（fT）为30GHz,最大振荡频率（fmax）为105GHz。采用了湿法腐蚀工艺将器件的Si3N4钝化层去除后,器件的Cgs和Cgd减小,器件截止频率提高到50GHz,最大振荡频率提高到200GHz。     

最大振荡频率为200GHz的蓝宝石衬底AlGaN/GaN HEMT

报道了最大振荡频率为200 GHz的基于蓝宝石衬底的AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT).外延材料结构采用InGaN背势垒层来减小短沟道效应,器件采用凹栅槽和T型栅结合的工艺,实现了Ka波段AlGaN/GaNHEMT.器件饱和电流达到1.1 A/mm,跨导为421 mS/mm,截止频率(fT)为30 GHz...     

Edge-emitting electroluminescence polarization investigation of InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition on sapphire (0001)

The edge-emitting electroluminescence (FL) state of polarization of blue and green InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown in EMCORE’s commercial reactors was studied and compared to theoretical evaluations. Blue (∼475 nm) LEDs exhibit strong EL polarization, up to a 3:1 distinction ratio. Green (∼530 nm) LEDs exhibit smaller ratios of about 1.5:1. Theoretical evaluations for similar InGaN/GaN superlattices predicted a 3:1 ratio between light polarized perpendicular (E⊥c) and light polarized parallel (E‖c) to the c axis. For the blue LEDs, a quantum well-like behavior is suggested because the E⊥c mode dominates the E‖c mode 3:1. In contrast, for the green LEDs, a mixed quantum well (QW)-quantum dot (QD) behavior is proposed, as the ratio of E⊥c to E‖c modes drops to 1.5:1. The EL polarization fringes were also observed, and their occurrence may be attributed to a symmetric waveguide-like behavior of the InGaN/GaN LED structure. A large 40%/50% drop in the surface root mean square (RMS) from atomic force microscopy (AFM) scans on blue/green LEDs with and without EL fringes points out that better surfaces were achieved for the samples exhibiting fringing. At the same time, a 25%/10% increase in the blue/green LED photoluminescence (PL) intensity signal was found for samples displaying EL interference fringes, indicating superior material quality and improved LED structures.     

Electrical and luminescent properties and the spectra of deep centers in GaMnN/InGaN light-emitting diodes

Electrical and electroluminescent properties were studied for GaN/InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with the n-GaN layer up and with the top portion of the n layer made of undoped GaMnN to allow polarization modulation by applying an external magnetic field (so-called “spin-LEDs”). The contact annealing temperature was kept to 750°C, which is the thermal stability limit for retaining room-temperature magnetic ordering in the GaMnN layer. Measurable electroluminescence (EL) was obtained in these structures at threshold voltages of ∼15 V, with a lower EL signal compared to control LEDs without Mn. This is related to the existence of two parasitic junctions between the metal and the lower contact p-type layer and between the GaMnN and the n-GaN in the top contact layer.     

GaN-based optoelectronic devices on sapphire and Si substrates

A recessed gate AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) on sapphire (0 0 0 1), a GaN metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) and an InGaN multiple-quantum well green light-emitting diode (LED) on Si (1 1 1) substrates have been grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The AlGaN/GaN intermediate layers have been used for the growth of GaN MESFET and LED on Si substrates. A two-dimensional electron gas mobility as high as 9260 cm²/V s with a sheet carrier density of 4.8×10¹² cm⁻² was measured at 4.6 K for the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure on the sapphire substrate. The recessed gate device on sapphire showed a maximum extrinsic transconductance of 146 mS/mm and a drain–source current of 900 mA/mm for the AlGaN/GaN HEMT with a gate length of 2.1 μm at 25°C. The GaN MESFET on Si showed a maximum extrinsic transconductance of 25 mS/mm and a drain–source current of 169 mA/mm with a complete pinch-off for the 2.5-μm-gate length. The LED on Si exhibited an operating voltage of 18 V, a series resistance of 300 Ω, an optical output power of 10 μW and a peak emission wavelength of 505 nm with a full-width at half-maximum of 33 nm at 20 mA drive current.     

InGaN/GaN超晶格垒层用于InGaN发光二极管发光增强研究

设计了InGaN/GaN超晶格垒层替代p-GaN和n-GaN附近传统GaN垒层的InGaN/GaN多量子阱(MQW)发光二极管(LEDs)结构。通过数值方法模拟出两种LED结构的光功率-电压(L-V)曲线、电致发光(EL)谱、能带图、电子浓度分布和辐射复合速率。结果表明InGaN/GaN超晶格替代n-GaN附近GaN垒层的LED结构比替代p-GaN附近GaN垒层的LED显示出更高的发光强度。这种发光增强的原因是InGaN/GaN超晶格替代n-GaN附近GaN垒层可以提高电子注入效率和辐射复合速率。     

InGaN/GaN multi-quantum-well-based light-emitting and photodetective dual-functional devices

In this study, we fabricated and characterized an InGaN/GaN multi-quantum-well (MQW)-based p-n junction photodetector (PD) for voltage-selective light-emitting and photo-detective applications. The photode-tector exhibits a cutoff wavelength at around 460nm which is close to its electroluminescence (EL) peak position. The rejection ratio was determined to be more than three orders of magnitude. Under zero bias, the responsivity of the device peaks at 371 nm, with a value of 0.068 A/W, corresponding to a 23% quantum efficiency.The overall responsivity gradually rises as a function of reverse bias, which is explained by the enhanced photocarrier collection efficiency.     

Electrical properties and structural optimization of GaN/InGaN/GaN tunnel junctions grown by molecular beam epitaxy

The InGaN films and GaN/InGaN/GaN tunnel junctions (TJs) were grown on GaN templates with plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. As the In content increases, the quality of InGaN films grown on GaN templates decreases and the surface roughness of the samples increases. V-pits and trench defects were not found in the AFM images. p⁺⁺-GaN/InGaN/n⁺⁺-GaN TJs were investigated for various In content, InGaN thicknesses and doping concentration in the InGaN insert layer. The InGaN insert layer can promote good interband tunneling in GaN/InGaN/GaN TJ and significantly reduce operating voltage when doping is sufficiently high. The current density increases with increasing In content for the 3 nm InGaN insert layer, which is achieved by reducing the depletion zone width and the height of the potential barrier. At a forward current density of 500 A/cm², the measured voltage was 4.31 V and the differential resistance was measured to be 3.75 × 10⁻³ Ω·cm² for the device with a 3 nm p⁺⁺-In_0.35Ga_0.65N insert layer. When the thickness of the In_0.35Ga_0.65N layer is closer to the “balanced” thickness, the TJ current density is higher. If the thickness is too high or too low, the width of the depletion zone will increase and the current density will decrease. The undoped InGaN layer has a better performance than n-type doping in the TJ. Polarization-engineered tunnel junctions can enhance the functionality and performance of electronic and optoelectronic devices.     

基于蓝宝石纳米图形衬底上氮化镓生长的研究

利用两步生长法在蓝宝石纳米图形衬底（NPSS）上生长得到高质量的氮化镓薄膜。通过XRD和SEM对薄膜质量的表征和研究发现,为得到高质量的氮化镓（GaN）薄膜,在NPSS上生长时得到的最优缓冲层厚度为15nm,而在微米级尺寸的图形衬底（MPSS）上得到的最优缓冲层厚度远大于15nm。同时,在NPSS上生长氮化镓薄膜的过程中观察到一个有趣的现象,即GaN在NPSS上生长的初始阶段,氮化镓晶粒主要在图形之间的平面区域生长,极少量的GaN在衬底图形的侧面上聚集生长。这一有趣的现象明显不同于GaN在MPSS上的生长过程。接着,又在NPSS上生长了GaN基LED结构,并对其光电性能进行了研究。     

Investigation of radiative tunneling in GaN/InGaN single quantum well light-emitting diodes

The mechanisms of carrier injection and recombination in a GaN/InGaN single quantum well light-emitting diodes have been studied. Strong defect-assisted tunneling behavior has been observed in both forward and reverse current–voltage characteristics. In addition to band-edge emission at 400 nm, the electroluminescence has also been attributed to radiative tunneling from band-to-deep level states and band-to-band tail states. The approximately current-squared dependence of light intensity at 400 nm even at high currents indicates dominant nonradiative recombination through deep-lying states within the space-charge region. Inhomogeneous avalanche breakdown luminescence, which is primarily caused by deep-level recombination, suggests a nonuniform spatial distribution of reverse leakage in these diodes.