量子阱数量变化对InGaN/AlGaN LED的影响

采用软件理论分析的方法分析了InGaN/AlGaN量子阱数量变化对发光二极管内量子效率、电子空穴浓度分布、载流子溢出产生的影响。分析结果表明:量子阱的个数不是越多越好,LED的光学性质和量子阱的个数并不成线性关系。量子阱个数太少时,电流溢出现象较明显;而当量子阱个数太多时,极化现象明显,且会造成材料浪费。因此应根据工作电流选择合适的量子阱个数。     

Status of GaN-based green light-emitting diodes

GaN-based blue light emitting diodes(LEDs) have undergone great development in recent years,but the improvement of green LEDs is still in progress.Currently,the external quantum efficiency(EQE) of GaN-based green LEDs is typically30%,which is much lower than that of top-level blue LEDs.The current challenge with regard to GaN-based green LEDs is to grow a high quality In GaN quantum well(QW) with low strain.Many techniques of improving efficiency are discussed,such as inserting Al GaN between the QW and the barrier,employing prestrained layers beneath the QW and growing semipolar QW.The recent progress of GaN-based green LEDs on Si substrate is also reported:high efficiency,high power green LEDs on Si substrate with 45.2% IQE at 35 A/cm2,and the relevant techniques are detailed.     

A dual-blue light-emitting diode based on strain-compensated InGaN-AlGaN/GaN quantum wells

A strain-compensated InGaN quantum well(QW) active region employing a tensile AlGaN barrier is analyzed.Its spectral stability and efficiency droop for a dual-blue light-emitting diode(LED) are improved compared with those of the conventional InGaN/GaN QW dual-blue LEDs based on a stacking structure of two In0.18Ga0.82N/GaN QWs and two In0.12Ga0.88N/GaN QWs on the same sapphire substrate.It is found that the optimal performance is achieved when the Al composition of the strain-compensated AlGaN layer is 0.12 in blue QW and 0.21 in blue-violet QW.The improvement performance can be attributed to the strain-compensated InGaN-AlGaN/GaN QW,which can provide a better carrier confinement and effectively reduce leakage current.     

Variation of efficiency droop with quantum well thickness in In GaN/GaN green light-emitting diode

In GaN/GaN multiple quantum well(MQW) green light-emitting diodes(LEDs) with varying In GaN quantum well layer thickness are fabricated and characterized. The investigation of luminescence efficiency versus injection current reveals that several physical mechanisms may jointly influence the efficiency droop, resulting in a non-monotonic variation of droop behavior with increasing quantum well(QW) thickness. When the QW is very thin, the increase of In GaN well layer thickness makes the efficiency droop more serious due to the enhancement of polarization effect. When the QW thickness increases further, however, the droop is alleviated significantly, which is mainly ascribed to the enhanced nonradiative recombination process and the weak delocalization effect.     

具有三角形InGaN/GaN多量子阱的高内量子效率的蓝光LED(英文)

对InGaN量子阱LED的内量子效率进行了优化研究。分别对发光光谱、量子阱中的载流子浓度、能带分布、静电场和内量子效应进行了理论分析。对具有不同量子阱数量的InGaN/GaN LED进行了理论数值比对研究。研究结果表明,对于传统结构的LED而言,2个量子阱的结构相对于5个和7个量子阱具有更好的光学性能。同时还研究了具有三角形量子阱结构的LED,研究结果显示,三角形多量子阱结构具有较高的电致发光强度、更高的内量子效率和更好的发光效率,所有的优点都归因于较高的电子-空穴波函数重叠率和低的Stark效应所产生的较高的载流子输入效率和复合发光效率。     

Numerical study of the advantages of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes with a single step quantum well as the electron blocking layer

The advantages of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes with a single step quantum well used as electron blocking layer (EBL) are studied numerically. The energy band diagrams, hole concentrations, electrostatic field near the EBL, current–voltage curve and internal quantum efficiency (IQE) are investigated by using the Crosslight simulation programs. The simulation results show that the structure with a single step quantum well has better performance over the conventional one, which can be attributed to the mitigated band bending near the EBL due to the change of electrostatic field by using a step well. Therefore, the efficiency of hole injection is improved, with which both the IQE and the total lighting power are increased.     

Dual-blue light-emitting diode based on strain-compensated InGaN-AlGaN/GaN quantum wells

Strain-compensated InGaN quantum well (QW) active region employing tensile AlGaN barrier is analyzed. Its spectral stability and efficiency droop for dual-blue light-emitting diode (LED) are improved compared with those of the conventional InGaN/GaN QW dual-blue LED based on stacking structure of two In_0.18Ga_0.82N/GaN QWs and two In_0.12Ga_0.88N/GaN QWs on the same sapphire substrate. It is found that the optimal performance is achieved when the Al composition of strain-compensated AlGaN layer is 0.12 in blue QW and 0.21 in blue-violet QW. The improvement performance can be attributed to the strain-compensated InGaN-AlGaN/GaN QW that can provide a better carrier confinement and effectively reduce leakage current.     

Efficiency droop suppression in GaN-based light-emitting diodes by chirped multiple quantum well structure at high current injection

Gallium nitride(Ga N) based light-emitting diodes(LEDs) with chirped multiple quantum well(MQW) structures have been investigated experimentally and numerically in this paper. Compared to conventional LEDs with uniform quantum wells(QWs), LEDs with chirped MQW structures have better internal quantum efficiency(IQE) and carrier injection efficiency. The droop ratios of LEDs with chirped MQW structures show a remarkable improvement at 600 m A/mm2,reduced down from 28.6%(conventional uniform LEDs) to 23.7%(chirped MQWs-a) and 18.6%(chirped MQWs-b),respectively. Meanwhile, the peak IQE increases from 76.9%(uniform LEDs) to 83.7%(chirped MQWs-a) and 88.6%(chirped MQWs-b). The reservoir effect of chirped MQW structures is the significant reason as it could increase hole injection efficiency and radiative recombination. The leakage current and Auger recombination of chirped MQW structures can also be suppressed. Furthermore, the chirped MQWs-b structure with lower potential barriers can enhance the reservoir effect and obtain further improvement of the carrier injection efficiency and radiative recombination, as well as further suppressing efficiency droop.     

Comparison of nitride-based dual-wavelength light- emitting diodes with an InAlN electron-blocking layer and with p-type doped barriers

The advantages of nitride-based dual-wavelength light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with an InAlN electron blocking layer (EBL) are studied. The emission spectra,carrier concentration in the quantum wells (QWs),energy band and internal quantum efficiency (IQE) are investigated. The simulation results indicate that an LED with an InAlN EBL performs better over a conventional LED with an AlGaN EBL and an LED with p-type-doped QW barriers. All of the advantages are due to the enhancement of carrier confinement and the lower electron leakage current. The simulation results also show that the efficiency droop is markedly improved and the luminous intensity is greatly enhanced when an InAlN EBL is used.     

ZnCdSe量子阱/CdSe量子点耦合结构中的激子隧穿过程

用室温光致发光谱和飞秒脉冲抽运探测方法对不同垒宽的ZnCdSe量子阱/ZnSe/CdSe 量子点新型耦合结构中激子隧穿过程进行研究，观察到激子从量子阱到量子点的快速隧穿过 程.在ZnSe垒宽为10nm, 15nm, 20nm时，测得激子隧穿时间分别为1.8ps, 4.4ps, 39ps. 关键词： ZnCdSe量子阱 CdSe量子点 激子 隧穿     

Exciton tunnelling in ZnCdSe quantum well/CdSe quantum dots

Exciton tunnelling through a ZnSe barrier layer of various thicknesses is investigated in a Zn_0.72Cd_0.28Se/CdSe coupled quantum well/quantum dots (QW/QDs) structure using photoluminescence (PL) spectra and near resonant pump-probe technique. Fast exciton tunnelling from quantum well to quantum dots is observed by transient differential transmission. The tunnelling time is 1.8, 4.4 and 39 ps for barrier thickness of 10, 15 and 20 nm, respectively.     

Enhanced carrier injection in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells LED with polarization-induced electron blocking barrier

In this report, we designed a light emitting diode (LED) structure in which an N-polar p-GaN layer is grown on top of Ga-polar In_0.1Ga_0.9N/GaN quantum wells (QWs) on an n-GaN layer. Numerical simulation reveals that the large polarization field at the polarity inversion interface induces a potential barrier in the conduction band, which can block electron overflow out of the QWs. Compared with a conventional LED structure with an Al_0.2Ga_0.8N electron blocking layer (EBL), the proposed LED structure shows much lower electron current leakage, higher hole injection, and a significant improvement in the internal quantum efficiency (IQE). These results suggest that the polarization induced barrier (PIB) is more effective than the AlGaN EBL in suppressing electron overflow and improving hole transport in GaN-based LEDs.     

Performance improvement of AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes with double electron blocking layers

The AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes(LED) with double electron blocking layers(d-EBLs) on both sides of the active region are investigated theoretically. They possess many excellent performances compared with the conventional structure with only a single electron blocking layer, such as a higher recombination rate, improved light output power and internal quantum efficiency(IQE). The reasons can be concluded as follows. On the one hand, the weakened electrostatic field within the quantum wells(QWs) enhances the electron–hole spatial overlap in QWs, and therefore increases the probability of radioactive recombination. On the other hand, the added n-AlGaN layer can not only prevent holes from overflowing into the n-side region but also act as another electron source, providing more electrons.     

Improvement of radiative recombination rate in deep ultraviolet laser diodes with step-like quantum barrier and aluminum-content graded electron blocking layer

The design of the active region structures, including the modifications of structures of the quantum barrier(QB) and electron blocking layer(EBL), in the deep ultraviolet(DUV) Al Ga N laser diode(LD) is investigated numerically with the Crosslight software. The analyses focus on electron and hole injection efficiency, electron leakage, hole diffusion,and radiative recombination rate. Compared with the reference QB structure, the step-like QB structure provides high radiative recombination and maximum output power. Subsequently, a comparative study is conducted on the performance characteristics with four different EBLs. For the EBL with different Al mole fraction layers, the higher Al-content Al Ga N EBL layer is located closely to the active region, leading the electron current leakage to lower, the carrier injection efficiency to increase, and the radiative recombination rate to improve.     

Enhanced performance of InGaN light-emitting diodes with InGaN and composition-graded InGaN interlayers

The effects of InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with InGaN and composition-graded InGaN interlayers in the space of multiple quantum wells and electron blocking layer are studied numerically. The electrostatic field, energy band diagrams, carrier concentrations, light–current–voltage performances, and internal quantum efficiency (IQE) are investigated. Simulation results show that the light output power and IQE are both largely improved over the conventional LED structure due to the improvement in hole injection efficiency and electron blocking capability, especially for the LED with composition-graded InGaN interlayer.     

GaN/In_xGa_(1-x)N型最后一个量子势垒对发光二极管内量子效率的影响

GaN/In_xGa_(1-x)N型最后一个量子势垒结构能有效提高发光二极管(LED)器件内量子效率,缓解LED效率随输入电流增大而衰减的问题.本文综述了该结构及其结构变化——In组分梯度递增以及渐变、GaN/In_xGa_(1-x)N界面极化率改变等对改善LED器件性能的影响及优势,归纳总结了不同结构的GaN/In_xGa_(1-x)N型最后一个量子垒的工作机理,阐明极化反转是该结构提高LED性能的根本原因.在综述该结构发展的基础之上,通过APSYS仿真计算,进一步探索和深入分析了该结构中In_xGa_(1-x)N层的In组分及其厚度变化对LED内量子效率的影响.结果表明:In组分的增加有助于在GaN/In_xGa_(1-x)N界面产生更多的极化负电荷,增加GaN以及电子阻挡层处导带势垒高度,减少电子泄漏,从而提高LED的内量子效率;但GaN/In_xGa_(1-x)N型最后一个量子势垒中In_xGa_(1-x)N及GaN层厚度的变化由于会同时引起势垒高度和隧穿效应的改变,因而In_xGa_(1-x)N和GaN层的厚度存在一个最佳比值以实现最大化的减小漏电子,提高内量子效率.     

Influence of thin AlAs layer insertion on intersubband optical transitions in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum- well structures

In this work, we demonstrate the thin AlAs layer insertion into GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well (QW) structures and its influence in energy transition in the frequency range of mid-infrared. To realize the more accurate calculation, the graded interface model of QW structures is integrated into our self-consistent solving of Schrodinger and Poisson equations to obtain the energy level and envelope wave functions of QW. We find the thin AlAs layer inserted at various positions in the well can obviously tune intersubband optical transitions. The corresponding tuning range can be 50 meV. We find that the thicker AlAs layer (2 monolayers) can provide wider tuning range and larger oscillator strength between subbands 1 and 3, compared with the thinner one (1 monolayer). Our results suggest that thin semiconductor layer may be an idea optimization design for the quantum well terahertz lasers which are based on optical pumping with mid-infrared lasers.     

Internal quantum efficiency of GaN-based light-emitting diodes grown on silicon substrates determined from rate equation analyses

We present a convenient and reliable method for determining the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) in GaN-based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on Si(111) substrates based on the carrier rate equation model. By using the peak point of the efficiency curve in photoluminescence (PL) measurements as the parameter of the rate equation analysis, the IQE can be unambiguously determined without any pre-assumed parameters. The theoretical IQE model is used to fit the measured PL efficiency curves and the IQE of LED samples are determined. The maximum IQE of the LED sample grown on the Si substrate was obtained to be 0.74, which is found to agree well with the results obtained by conventional temperature-dependent PL measurements.     

Growth of quantum wire arrays by MBE on nonplanar substrates

With single-step molecular beam epitaxy growth, GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wire (QW wire) arrays were fabricated over mesas an GaAs nonplanar substrates patterned by conventional photolithography and wet chemical etching. Faceting and surface migration of atoms during crystal growth resulted in lateral variation in the quantum well (QW) layer thickness on different facet planes. This caused the tops of the mesas to be sharp enough to provide lateral quantum-size-effects (QSEs). In conventional photoluminescence (PL), PL with a micro-optical-system, and photoreflectance measurements under different conditions, a large blue shift was observed in the energy level positions for electronic transitions corresponding to QWs at the tops of mesas compared with those corresponding to QWs on nonpatterned areas of the same substrate. The blue shift was in contradiction with the fact that the GaAs QW layers at the tops of mesas were thicker than those on nanpatterned areas, and illustrated the realization of QW wires at the tops of mesas. Calculations also proved that there was a lateral QSE at the tops of mesas and this was further proof for the formation of QW wires there.     

Magneto-optical study of nonmagnetic quantum dots coupled to a magnetic semiconductor quantum well

We have investigated a series of double-layer structures consisting of a layer of self-assembled non-magnetic CdSe quantum dots (QDs) separated by a thin ZnSe barrier from a ZnCdMnSe diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMSs) quantum well (QW). In the series, the thickness of the ZnSe barrier ranged between 12 and 40 nm. We observe two clearly defined photoluminescence (PL) peaks in all samples, corresponding to the CdSe QDs and the ZnCdMnSe QW, respectively. The PL intensity of the QW peak is observed to decrease systematically relative to the QD peak as the thickness of the ZnSe barrier decreases, indicating a corresponding increase in carrier tunneling from the QW to the QDs. Furthermore, polarization-selective PL measurements reveal that the degree of polarization of the PL emitted by the CdSe QDs increases with decreasing thickness of the ZnSe barriers. The observed behavior is discussed in terms of anti-parallel spin interaction between carriers localized in the non-magnetic QDs and in the magnetic QWs.