AlGaN-based deep UV (DUV) LEDs generally employ a p-type electron blocking layer (EBL) to suppress electron overflow. However, Al-rich III-nitride EBL can result in challenging p-doping and large valence band barrier for hole injection as well as epitaxial complexity. As a result, wall plug efficiency (WPE) can be compromised. Our systematic studies of band diagram and carrier concentration reveal that carrier concentrations in the quantum well and electron overflow can be significantly impacted because of the slope variation of the quantum barrier (QB) conduction and valence bands, which in turn influence radiative recombination and optical output power. Remarkably, grading the Al composition from 0.60 to 0.70 for the 12-nm-thick AlGaN QB of the DUV LED without the EBL can lead to 13.5% higher output power and similar level of overflown electron concentration (∼1 × 10 15 /cm 3 ) as opposed to the conventional DUV LED with the p-type EBL. This paradigm is significant for the pursuit of higher WPE or shorter emission wavelength for DUV LEDs and lasers, as it provides a new direction for addressing electron overflow and hole injection issues.
Due to changes in the spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization, AlGaN/GaN heterostructures exhibit strong polarization fields at heterointerfaces. For quantum wells, the polarization fields lead to a strong band bending and a redshift of the emission wavelength, known as quantum-confined Stark effect. In this paper the polarization fields of thin AlGaN layers in a GaN matrix were determined by evaluating the changes in the depletion region width in comparison to a reference sample without heterostructure using capacitance–voltage-measurements. The polarization fields for Al0.09Ga0.91N (0.6 ± 0.7 MV cm−1), Al0.26Ga0.74N (2.3 ± 0.6 MV cm−1), Al0.34Ga0.66N (3.1 ± 0.6 MV cm−1), Al0.41Ga0.59N (4.0 ± 0.7 MV cm−1) and Al0.47Ga0.53N (5.0 ± 0.8 MV cm−1) heterostructures were determined. The results of the field strength and field direction of all samples are in excellent agreement with values predicted by theory and a capacitance–voltage based Poisson-carrier transport simulation approach giving experimental evidence for a nonlinear increasing polarization field with Al-concentration.
Polarization matched c-plane III-nitride quantum wells structure," ABSTRACT Polarization-matched quantum wells (QWs) can lead to maximized electron-hole wave functions overlap and low efficiency droop at high current density. By using the modern theory of polarization with hexagonal reference, c-plane InAlN/InGaN QWs were explored and designed for polarization matching. The simulation results show that, even on cplane, polarization-matched structures can be achieved by adjusting strain and material composition. The In composition of larger than 35% of InAlN was required to match the total polarization of InGaN at any given composition. Considering the bandgap's bowing factors of III-nitride ternary alloys, In0~0.1Ga1.0-0.9N as quantum barrier (QB) provided enough potential barriers for In0.35~0.45Al0.65-0.55N to form a multiple QW (MQW) structure. The results indicated that improper resistance of MQW and the existing fixed charge between the interfaces of p-type region/MQW and n-type region/MQW could result in nonuniform carrier distributions and current leakage, respectively. Furthermore, we found that In0.41Al0.59N/In0.1Ga0.9N polarization-matched MQW had proper resistance; however, such structure produced a huge polarization fixed-charge between the junction interface. By studying the strain level of InAlN QW and GaN QB, which can be grown on AlN/GaN superlattice templates, the In0.33Al0.67N/GaN polarization-matched MQW structure has been specifically designed with small resistance and without inducing improper polarization fixed charge. By optimizing the number and thickness of QWs, the 425nm LED has relative IQE of 56% and efficiency droop of only 7% at high current density of 333 A/cm 2 . This study provides guidance for development of In-rich InAlN materials.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.