Space-charge effect on photogenerated-current and -voltage in III-nitride optoelectronic semiconductors

Abstract

In this study, we attempted to elucidate the carrier dynamics behind the abnormal characteristics of photogenerated current and voltage ( I Ph and V Ph ) at cryogenic temperature in III-nitride optoelectronic semiconductors by employing space-charge theory. To this end, we carefully investigated and analyzed excitation-power-dependent I – V (PDIV) curves operated by quasiresonant excitation of an AlGaInN-based p − i − n junction semiconductor at 300 K and 15 K. At 300 K, the curves exhibited typical characteristics and were well described by the conventional theory. However, the PDIV curves at 15 K could no longer be described by the conventional theory. To elucidate the mechanism behind this phenomenon, we proposed a model in which the space-charge effect (SCE) plays a key role. Based on this model, we proposed the modified Shockley diode equation, which can explain the PDIV characteristic at 15 K, including the SCE. We also discussed the SCE on the efficiency of devices.