Investigation of blue InGaN light-emitting diodes with p-AlGaN/InGaN superlattice interlayer

The blue InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs), employing a lattice-compensated p-AlGaN/InGaN superlattice (SL) interlayer to link the last quantum barrier and electron blocking layer (EBL), are proposed and investigated numerically. The simulation results indicate that the newly designed LEDs have better hole injection efficiency, lower electron leakage, and smaller electrostatic fields in the active region over the conventional LEDs mainly attributed to the mitigated polarization-induced downward band bending. Furthermore, the markedly improved output power and efficiency droop are also suggested when the conventional LEDs corresponding to experiment data are replaced by the newly designed LEDs.     

Performance improvement of blue light-emitting diodes with an AlInN/GaN superlattice electron-blocking layer

The characteristics of a blue light-emitting diode (LED) with an AlInN/GaN superlattice (SL) electron-blocking layer (EBL) are analyzed numerically. The carrier concentrations in the quantum wells, energy band diagrams, electrostatic fields, and internal quantum efficiency are investigated. The results suggest that the LED with an AlInN/GaN SL EBL has better hole injection efficiency, lower electron leakage, and smaller electrostatic fields in the active region than the LED with a conventional rectangular AlGaN EBL or a AlGaN/ GaN SL EBL. The results also indicate that the efficiency droop is markedly improved when an AlInN/GaN SL EBL is used.     

Performance characteristics of deep violet InGaN DQW laser diodes with InGaN/GaN superlattice waveguide layers

The effect of the indium (In) composition of In_xGa_1−xN (GaN) waveguide layers on the performance of deep violet In_0.082Ga_0.918N/GaN double quantum well (DQW) laser diodes (LDs) emitting at 390 nm output emission wavelength has been numerically investigated. Simulation results indicated that by increasing In composition of the In_xGa_1−xN waveguide layers, the threshold current decreases, the slope efficiency, and differential quantum efficiency (DQE) increase, whereas the output power decreases. The increase in the In composition of the InGaN waveguide layers increases the refractive index and consequently increases the optical confinement factor (OCF) which result in the increase in the slope efficiency and DQE and the decrease in the threshold current. The decreasing movement of electron and hole carriers from the bulk waveguide layers to the active regions also causes to decrease the output power. A new LD structure with InGaN/GaN superlattice (SL) waveguide layers has been proposed to exploit the increased OCF of InGaN waveguide structures, and the enhanced electron and hole mobilities and the tunneling effect of the periodic structure of the SL structures. The results also showed that the use of InGaN/GaN SL waveguide structures effectively improves the output power, slope efficiency and DQE and decreases the threshold current of the LD compared with (In)GaN bulk waveguide structure.     

GaN基发光二极管外延中p型AlGaN电子阻挡层的优化生长

本文利用金属有机物化学气相沉积(MOCVD)方法系统地研究了p-AlGaN层掺杂机理及优化设计生长. 明确了生长温度、压力及TMAl的流量对AlGaN层Al组分的影响关系,并给出了各自不同的机理与作用. 研究发现,Al组分介于10%—30%之间能够很好地将电子限定在量子阱区域并保持高的材料晶体质量. 发展了一种新的生长技术来克服p-AlGaN层掺入效率低下和空穴注入不足的问题. 优化条件下生长的p型AlGaN电子阻挡层很大地提升了InGaN/GaN基LED的输出光功率. 关键词： 氮化镓基 LED Al组分 电子阻挡层     

High efficiency and enhanced ESD properties of UV LEDs by inserting p-GaN/p-AlGaN superlattice

Significantly improved electrostatic discharge(ESD)properties of InGaN/GaN-based UV light-emitting diode(LED)with inserting p-GaN/p-AlGaN superlattice(p-SLs)layers(instead of p-AlGaN single layer)between multiple quantum wells and Mg-doped GaN layer are reported.The pass yield of the LEDs increased from 73.53%to 93.81%under negative 2000 V ESD pulses.In addition,the light output power(LOP)and efficiency droop at high injection current were also improved.The mechanism of the enhanced ESD properties was then investigated.After excluding the effect of capacitance modulation,high-resolution X-ray diffraction(XRD)and atomic force microscope(AFM)measurements demonstrated that the dominant mechanism of the enhanced ESD properties is the material quality improved by p-SLs,which indicated less leakage paths,rather than the current spreading improved by p-SLs.     

Performance improvement of blue InGaN light-emitting diodes with a specially designed n-AIGaN hole blocking layer

Blue InGaN light-emitting diodes （LEDs） with a conventional electron blocking layer （EBL）, a common n-A1GaN hole blocking layer （HBL）, and an n-A1GaN HBL with gradual A1 composition are investigated numerically, which involves analyses of the carrier concentration in the active region, energy band diagram, electrostatic field, and internal quantum efficiency （IQE）. The results indicate that LEDs with an n-AIGaN HBL with gradual AI composition exhibit better hole injection efficiency, lower electron leakage, and a smaller electrostatic field in the active region than LEDs with a conven tional p-A1GaN EBL or a common n-A1GaN HBL. Meanwhile, the efficiency droop is alleviated when an n-A1GaN HBL with gradual A1 composition is used.     

Performance improvement of blue InGaN light-emitting diodes with a specially designed n-AlGaN hole blocking layer

Blue InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a conventional electron blocking layer (EBL), a common n-AlGaN hole blocking layer (HBL), and an n-AlGaN HBL with gradual Al composition are investigated numerically, which involves analyses of the carrier concentration in the active region, energy band diagram, electrostatic field, and internal quantum efficiency (IQE). The results indicate that LEDs with an n-AlGaN HBL with gradual Al composition exhibit better hole injection efficiency, lower electron leakage, and a smaller electrostatic field in the active region than LEDs with a conventional p-AlGaN EBL or a common n-AlGaN HBL. Meanwhile, the efficiency droop is alleviated when an n-AlGaN HBL with gradual Al composition is used.     

Electroluminescence from the InGaN/GaN Superlattices Interlayer of Yellow LEDs with Large V-Pits Grown on Si(111)

A blue emission originated from In GaN/GaN superlattice(SL) interlayer is observed in the yellow LEDs with V-pits embedded in the quantum wells(QWs), revealing that sufficient holes have penetrated through the QWs into SLs far away from the p-type layer. In the V-pits embedded LEDs, hole transport has two paths: via the flat c-plane region or via the sidewalls of V-pits. It is proved that the holes in SLs are injected from the sidewalls of V-pits, and the transportation process is significantly affected by working temperature, current density, and the size of V-pits. Four motion possibilities are discussed when the holes flow via the sidewalls. All these may contribute to a better understanding of hole transport and device design.     

Improved performance of near UV light-emitting diodes with a composition-graded p-AlGaN irregular sawtooth electron-blocking layer

We investigate the performances of the near-ultraviolet(about 350 nm-360 nm) light-emitting diodes(LEDs) each with specifically designed irregular sawtooth electron blocking layer(EBL) by using the APSYS simulation program.The internal quantum efficiencies(IQEs),light output powers,carrier concentrations in the quantum wells,energy-band diagrams,and electrostatic fields are analyzed carefully.The results indicate that the LEDs with composition-graded pAl_xGa_(1-x)N irregular sawtooth EBLs have better performances than their counterparts with stationary component p-AlGaN EBLs.The improvements can be attributed to the improved polarization field in EBL and active region as well as the alleviation of band bending in the EBL/p-AlGaN interface,which results in less electron leakage and better hole injection efficiency,thus reducing efficiency droop and enhancing the radiative recombination rate.     

多量子势垒双阻挡层结构对AlGaN 基深紫外激光二极管的性能优化

为提高AlGaN基深紫外激光二极管(Deep Ultraviolet Laser Diodes,DUV-LD)有源区内载流子浓度,减少载流子泄露,提出一种DUV-LD双阻挡层结构,相对于传统的单一电子阻挡层(Electron Blocking Layer, EBL)结构,又引入一空穴阻挡层(Hole Blocking Layer, HBL),仿真结果证明空穴阻挡层的应用能很好地减少空穴泄漏.同时又对双阻挡层改用五周期Al_0.98Ga_0.02N/Al_0.9Ga_0.1N多量子势垒层结构,结果显示与矩形EBL和HBL激光二极管相比,多量子势垒EBL和HBL激光二极管有更好的斜率效率,并且有源区内电子和空穴载流子浓度以及辐射复合速率都有效提高,其中多量子势垒EBL在阻挡电子泄露方面效果更显著.     

Simulation study of blue InGaN multiple quantum well light-emitting diodes with different hole injection layers

InGaN-based light-emitting diodes with p-GaN and p-AlGaN hole injection layers are numerically studied using the APSYS simulation software.The simulation results indicate that light-emitting diodes with p-AlGaN hole injection layers show superior optical and electrical performance,such as an increase in light output power,a reduction in current leakage and alleviation of efficiency droop.These improvements can be attributed to the p-AlGaN serving as hole injection layers,which can alleviate the band bending induced by the polarization field,thereby improving both the hole injection efficiency and the electron blocking efficiency.     

Droop improvement in blue InGaN light-emitting diodes with GaN/InGaN superlattice barriers

GaN/InGaN superlattice barriers are used in InGaN-based light-emitting diodes （LEDs）. The electrostatic field in the quantum wells, electron hole wavefunction overlap, carrier concentration, spontaneous emission spectrum, light-current performance curve, and internal quantum efficiency are numerically investigated using the APSYS simulation software. It is found that the structure with GaN/InGaN superlattice barriers shows improved light output power, and lower current leakage and efficiency droop. According to our numerical simulation and analysis, these improvements in the electrical and optical characteristics are mainly attributed to the alleviation of the electrostatic field in the active region.     

具有超晶格应力调制结构的绿光InGaN/GaN多量子阱的发光特性

研究了具有InGaN/GaN超晶格(SL)插入结构的绿光InGaN/GaN多量子阱(MQW)的发光特性。结构测试表明,SL插入结构并没有引起MQW中平均In组份的增加,而是改变了In组份的分布,形成了高In组份的量子点和低In组份量子阱。其电致发光(EL)谱和光致发光(PL)谱均出现了双发光峰。我们认为这两个 峰分别来自于量子点和量子阱,且存在着载流子从阱向点转移的输运机制。最后变温PL积分强度的Arrhenius 拟合表明,SL插入结构并没有在MQW中引入新的缺陷,使其发光效率下降。     

Suppression of electron and hole overflow in GaN-based near-ultraviolet laser diodes

In order to suppress the electron leakage to p-type region of near-ultraviolet GaN/In_xGa_(1-x )N/GaN multiple-quantumwell(MQW) laser diode(LD), the Al composition of inserted p-type AlxGa_(1-x)N electron blocking layer(EBL) is optimized in an effective way, but which could only partially enhance the performance of LD. Here, due to the relatively shallow GaN/In_(0.04)Ga_(0.96)N/GaN quantum well, the hole leakage to n-type region is considered in the ultraviolet LD. To reduce the hole leakage, a 10-nm n-type Al_xGa_(1-x)N hole blocking layer(HBL) is inserted between n-type waveguide and the first quantum barrier, and the effect of Al composition of Al_xGa_(1-x)N HBL on LD performance is studied. Numerical simulations by the LASTIP reveal that when an appropriate Al composition of Al_xGa_(1-x)N HBL is chosen, both electron leakage and hole leakage can be reduced dramatically, leading to a lower threshold current and higher output power of LD.     

Performance enhancement of an InGaN light-emitting diode with an AlGaN/InGaN superlattice electron-blocking layer

The efficiency enhancement of an InGaN light-emitting diode(LED) with an AlGaN/InGaN superlattice(SL)electron-blocking layer(EBL) is studied numerically,which involves the light-current performance curve,internal quantum efficiency electrostatic field band wavefunction,energy band diagram carrier concentration,electron current density,and radiative recombination rate.The simulation results indicate that the LED with an AlGaN/InGaN SL EBL has better optical performance than the LED with a conventional rectangular AlGaN EBL or a normal AlGaN/GaN SL EBL because of the appropriately modified energy band diagram,which is favorable for the injection of holes and confinement of electrons.Additionally,the efficiency droop of the LED with an AlGaN/InGaN SL EBL is markedly improved by reducing the polarization field in the active region.     

极化效应对AlGaN/GaN异质结p-i-n光探测器的影响

基于等效薄层电荷近似模拟表征极化电荷的作用, 通过自洽求解Poisson-Schrödinger方程以及求解载流子连续性方程, 计算并且讨论了p-AlGaN层掺杂浓度和界面极化电荷对AlGaN/GaN异质结p-i-n紫外探测器能带结构和电场分布以及光电响应的影响. 结果表明, 极化效应与p-AlGaN层掺杂浓度相互作用对探测器性能有较大影响. 其中, 在完全极化条件下, p-AlGaN层掺杂浓度越大, p-AlGaN层的耗尽区越窄, i-GaN层越容易被耗尽, 器件光电流越小. 在一定掺杂浓度条件下, 极化效应越强, p-AlGaN层的耗尽区越宽, 器件的光电流越大. 最后还分析了该结构在不同温度下的探测性能, 证明了该结构可以在高温下正常工作.     

Rare-earth doped III-nitride semiconductors for semiconductor spintronics

InGaGdN layers and InGaGdN/GaN superlattice (SL) structures were grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. InGaGdN layers exhibited photoluminescence emission at room temperature and its peak wavelength was red-shifted with the increase of In composition. Clear hysteresis and saturation were observed in the magnetization versus magnetic field curves at room temperature for the InGaGdN layers. Si co-doping into InGaGdN layers increased the electron carrier concentration and enhanced the magnetization. In the InGaGdN/GaN SL samples, enhanced magnetization was also observed. Si doping into wide bandgap GaN layers in these SL structures further increased the magnetization, where InGaGdN layers were not doped with Si. All these results can be understood with the carrier-mediated ferromagnetism.     

The influence of AlGaN/GaN superlattices as electron blocking layers on the performance of blue InGaN light-emitting diodes

P-AlGaN/P-GaN superlattices are investigated in blue InGaN light-emitting diodes as electron blocking layers.The simulation results show that efficiency droop is markedly improved due to two reasons:(i) enhanced hole concentration and hole carrier transport efficiency in AlGaN/GaN superlattices,and(ii) enhanced blocking of electron overflow between multiple quantum-wells and AlGaN/GaN superlattices.     

引入n型InGaN/GaN超晶格层提高量子阱特性研究

利用金属有机物化学气相淀积技术在蓝宝石衬底上生长了InGaN/GaN量子阱结构. 研究了引入n型InGaN薄层或InGaN/GaN超晶格层的量子阱特性,结果表明通过引入n型InGaN薄层或InGaN/GaN超晶格层缓解了量子阱有源区中的应力,改善了多量子阱表面形貌,减少了V型缺陷密度,而且提高了多量子阱的光致发光强度,从而也改进了LED的发光效率. 关键词： InGaN/GaN多量子阱 原子力显微镜 X射线双晶衍射 光致发光     

The influence of AlN/GaN superlattice intermediate layer on the properties of GaN grown on Si（111） substrates

AlN/GaN superlattice buffer is inserted between GaN epitaxial layer and Si substrate before epitaxial growth of GaN layer. High-quality and crack-free GaN epitaxial layers can be obtained by inserting AlN/GaN superlattice buffer layer. The influence of AlN/GaN superlattice buffer layer on the properties of GaN films are investigated in this paper. One of the important roles of the superlattice is to release tensile strain between Si substrate and epilayer. Raman spectra show a substantial decrease of in-plane tensile strain in GaN layers by using AlN/GaN superlattice buffer layer. Moreover, TEM cross-sectional images show that the densities of both screw and edge dislocations are significantly reduced. The GaN films grown on Si with the superlattice buffer also have better surface morphology and optical properties.