Deep-level defects in n-type GaAs1−xBix having 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.023 grown on GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy at substrate temperature of 378 °C have been injvestigated by deep level transient spectroscopy. The optical properties of the layers have been studied by contactless electroreflectance and photoluminescence. We find that incorporating Bi suppresses the formation of GaAs-like electron traps, thus reducing the total trap concentration in dilute GaAsBi layers by over two orders of magnitude compared to GaAs grown under the same conditions. In order to distinguish between Bi- and host-related traps and to identify their possible origin, we used the GaAsBi band gap diagram to correlate their activation energies in samples with different Bi contents. This approach was recently successfully applied for the identification of electron traps in n-type GaAs1−xNx and assumes that the activation energy of electron traps decreases with the Bi (or N)-related downward shift of the conduction band. On the basis of this diagram and under the support of recent theoretical calculations, at least two Bi-related traps were revealed and associated with Bi pair defects, i.e. (VGa+BiGa)−/2− and (AsGa+BiGa)0/1−. In the present work it is shown that these defects also influence the photoluminescence properties of GaAsBi alloys.

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GaAsBi has been researched as a candidate material for optoelectronic devices for around two decades. Bi‐induced localized states induce a rapid rising of the valence band edge through a band anticrossing interaction, which has a profound effect on the bandgap and the spin–orbit splitting. The band engineering possible, even with just a few percent bismuth, makes GaAsBi an attractive material for THz emitters, telecommunication lasers, and low noise photodetectors, among other devices. There has been substantial progress in some of these areas; however, progress toward many of the potential applications of GaAsBi has been hindered by device quality issues, brought about by the low substrate temperatures necessary for the growth of GaAsBi with sufficiently large Bi fractions. This review, presents an overview of the applications for which GaAsBi has been advocated and the key results in these areas. The molecular beam epitaxy growth and postgrowth processing of GaAsBi are then explored as well as the novel techniques that have been suggested to improve material quality.

Avalanche Photodiodes (APDs) are key semiconductor components that amplify weak optical signals via the impact ionization process, but this process’ stochastic nature introduces ‘excess’ noise, limiting the useful signal to noise ratio (or sensitivity) that is practically achievable. The APD material’s electron and hole ionization coefficients (α and β respectively) are critical parameters in this regard, with very disparate values of α and β necessary to minimize this excess noise. Here, the analysis of thirteen complementary p-i-n/n-i-p diodes shows that alloying GaAs with ≤ 5.1 % Bi dramatically reduces β while leaving α virtually unchanged—enabling a 2 to 100-fold enhancement of the GaAs α/β ratio while extending the wavelength beyond 1.1 µm. Such a dramatic change in only β is unseen in any other dilute alloy and is attributed to the Bi-induced increase of the spin-orbit splitting energy (∆so). Valence band engineering in this way offers an attractive route to enable low noise semiconductor APDs to be developed.

A systematic visualisation system that can image the visible flame, invisible hot gas and the wood surface temperature, was applied to study self-sustained fire propagation in a wood rod at different inclination angles.It was found that the burned wood rods at positive inclination angles presented longer burning lifetimes and charring lengths than those at negative and horizontal angles. Three physical phenomena were found to determine the fire sustaining and propagation: 1. Underneath hot gas layer; 2. Flame attachment phenomenon; 3. Impact point of piloted imping heat flux. Longer underneath hot flow was observed at positive inclination angles. The underneath hot gas flow could preheat the adjacent wood making them more readily for fire propagation. The flame attachment length and flame tilt angle had been investigated and quantified with enhanced thermal images. It was found that the flame is more prone to attach to the rod at positive angles. The impact point of piloted impinging heat flux was analysed by multiple imaging systems. Higher positive inclinations mean that a larger part of the rod is contacting with the impinging heat flux. The new insights gained are beneficial for fire safety in construction especially for the fire propagation at early stage.