The enhancement of light-emitting efficiency using GaN-based multiple quantum well light-emitting diodes with nanopillar arrays

The quest for higher modulation speed and lower energy consumption has inevitably promoted the rapid development of semiconductor-based solid lighting devices in recent years. GaN-based light-emitting diodes （LEDs） have emerged as promising candidates for achieving high efficiency and high intensity, and have received increasing attention among many researchers in this field. In this paper, we use a self-assembled array-patterned mask to fabricate InGaN/GaN multi- quantum well （MQW） LEDs with the intention of enhancing the light-emitting efficiency. By utilizing inductively coupled plasma etching with a self-assembled Ni cluster as the mask, nanopillar arrays are formed on the surface of the InGaN/GaN MQWs. We then observe the structure of the nanopillars and find that the V-defects on the surface of the conventional structure and the negative effects of threading dislocation are effectively reduced. Simultaneously, we make a comparison of the photoluminescence （PL） spectrum between the conventional structure and the nanopillar arrays, achieved under an experimental set-up with an excitation wavelength of 325 mm. The analysis demonstrates that MQW-LEDs with nanopillar arrays achieve a PL intensity 2.7 times that of conventional LEDs. In response to the PL spectrum, some reasons are proposed for the enhancement in the light-emitting efficiency as follows： 1） the improvement in crystal quality, namely the reduction in V-defects; 2） the roughened surface effect on the expansion of the critical angle and the attenuated total reflection; and 3） the enhancement of the light-extraction efficiency due to forward scattering by surface plasmon polariton modes in Ni particles deposited above the p-type GaN layer at the top of the nanopillars.     

Temperature-dependent efficiency droop behaviors of GaN-based green light-emitting diodes

The efficiency droop behaviors of GaN-based green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are studied as a function of temperature from 300 K to 480 K. The overall quantum efficiency of the green LEDs is found to degrade as temperature increases, which is mainly caused by activation of new non-radiative recombination centers within the LED active layer. Meanwhile, the external quantum efficiency of the green LEDs starts to decrease at low injection current level (<1 A/cm2 ) with a temperature-insensitive peak-efficiency-current. In contrast, the peak-efficiency-current of a control GaN-based blue LED shows continuous up-shift at higher temperatures. Around the onset point of efficiency droop, the electroluminescence spectra of the green LEDs also exhibit a monotonic blue-shift of peak energy and a reduction of full width at half maximum as injection current increases. Carrier delocalization is believed to play an important role in causing the efficiency droop in GaN-based green LEDs.     

Modeling and simulation of efficiency droop in GaN-based blue light-emitting diodes incorporating the effect of reduced active volume of InGaN quantum wells

The efficiency droop of InGaN-based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is analyzed using numerical simulations with a modified ABC carrier recombination model. The ABC model is modified to include the effect of reduced effective active volume of InGaN quantum wells (QWs) and incorporated into the numerical simulation program. It is found that the droop of internal quantum efficiency (IQE) can be well explained by the effect of reduced light-emitting active volume without assuming a large Auger recombination coefficient. A simulated IQE curve with the modified ABC model is found to fit quite well with a measured efficiency curve of an InGaN LED sample when the effective active volume takes only 2.5% of the physical volume of QWs. The proposed numerical simulation model incorporating the reduced effective active volume can be advantageous for use in the modeling and simulation of InGaN LEDs for higher efficiency.     

渐变型量子阱垒层厚度对GaN基双波长发光二极管发光特性调控的研究

采用软件理论分析的方法对渐变型量子阱垒层厚度的InGaN双波长发光二极(LED)的载流子浓度分布、 能带结构、自发发射谱、内量子效率、发光功率及溢出电子流等进行研究.分析结果表明, 增大量子阱垒层厚度会影响空穴在各量子阱的注入情况, 对双波长LED各量子阱中空穴浓度分布的 均衡性及双波长发光光谱的调控起到一定作用,但会导致内量子效率严重下降; 而当以特定的方式从n电极到p电极方向递减渐变量子阱垒层厚度时, 活性层量子阱的溢出电子流 得到有效的控制, 双发光峰强度达到基本一致, 同时芯片的内量子效率下降得到了有效控制, 且具备大驱动电流下较好的发光特性.     

Controlling the defect density to improve the output power of InGaN/GaN-based vertical light-emitting diodes by using substrates patterned with SiO2 lenses

In this study, we investigated the effect of SiO₂ lenses on the output power of InGaN/GaN-based vertical light-emitting diodes (VLEDs; wavelength = 445 nm) and compared the results to those of reference VLEDs without the SiO₂ lenses (planar samples). Arrays of SiO₂ lenses (pitch = 3 μm, width = 2.5 μm, height = 1.0 μm) were formed on c-plane sapphire substrates. The external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the packaged VLEDs with planar and patterned substrates was characterised. At 5 mA, the EQE of the patterned samples was 150% higher than that of the planar samples. A patterned, N-polar, n-GaN sample contained far fewer nanopipes (approximately 2.2 × 10⁵ cm^?2) than a planar n-GaN sample (approximately 2.4 × 10⁶ cm^?2). Furthermore, the patterned samples contained far fewer threading dislocations (approximately 1.0 × 10⁸ cm^?2) than the planar samples (approximately 5.0 × 10⁸ cm^?2). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the photoelectrochemical (PEC)-etched patterned samples contained cones that were 150% larger than that of the PEC-etched planar samples. In addition, SEM images, cathode luminescence measurements and finite-difference time-domain simulations were used to characterise the improved light output of the patterned samples.     

Tuning a nano-pillar array for enhancing the photoluminescence extraction efficiency of GaN-based light-emitting diodes

We demonstrate the fabrication of hexagonal nano-pillar arrays at the surface of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by nanosphere lithography. By varying the oxygen plasma etching time, we could tune the size and shape of the pillar. The nano-pillar has a truncated cone shape. The nano-pillar array serves as a gradual effective refractive index matcher, which reduces the reflection and increases light cone. It is found that the patterned surface absorbs more pumping light. To compare extraction efficiencies of LEDs, it is necessary to normalize the photoluminescence power spectrum with total absorption rate under fixed pumping power, then we could obtain the correct enhancement factor of the photoluminescence extraction efficiency and optimized structure. The highest enhancement factor of the extraction efficiency is 10.6.     

Simulation of the light extraction efficiency of nanostructure light-emitting diodes

The light extraction efficiencies have been calculated for various InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well nanostructure light-emitting diodes including nanopillar,nanorough of P-GaN surface,coreshell and nano-interlayer structure.From the calculated results we can see that the light extraction efficiency is remarkably improved in the nanostructures,especially those with an InGaN or AlGaN nano-interlayer.With a 420-nm luminescence wavelength,the light extraction efficiency can reach as high as 65% for the InGaN or AlGaN nano-interlayer structure with appropriate In or Al content while only 26% for the planar structure.     

大功率GaN基发光二极管的电流扩展效应及电极结构优化研究

定性分析了GaN基LED的电流扩展效应,发现电流密度和电流横向扩展的有效长度对电流均匀扩展有很大影响.基于此,对GaN基大功率LED提出了优化的电极结构,以减缓电流拥挤效应,降低器件串联电阻.通过用红外热像仪测量器件表面的温度分布,发现具有优化的环形插指电极结构的GaN基大功率LED表面温度分布比较均匀,证明芯片接触处电流扩展均匀,局部电流密度降低,减小了焦耳热的产生,增强了器件的可靠性. 关键词： 氮化镓 发光二极管 电流扩展 电极结构优化     

大功率GaN基发光二极管的电流扩展效应及电极结构优化研究

定性分析了GaN基LED的电流扩展效应，发现电流密度和电流横向扩展的有效长度对电流均匀扩展有很大影响.基于此，对GaN基大功率LED提出了优化的电极结构，以减缓电流拥挤效应，降低器件串联电阻.通过用红外热像仪测量器件表面的温度分布，发现具有优化的环形插指电极结构的GaN基大功率LED表面温度分布比较均匀，证明芯片接触处电流扩展均匀，局部电流密度降低，减小了焦耳热的产生，增强了器件的可靠性.     

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.     

Si(110)和Si(111)衬底上制备InGaN/GaN蓝光发光二极管

分别在Si(110)和Si(111)衬底上制备了In Ga N/Ga N多量子阱结构蓝光发光二极管(LED)器件.利用高分辨X射线衍射、原子力显微镜、室温拉曼光谱和变温光致发光谱对生长的LED结构进行了结构表征.结果表明,相对于Si(111)上生长LED样品,Si(110)上生长的LED结构晶体质量较好,样品中存在较小的张应力,具有较高的内量子效率.对制备的LED芯片进行光电特性分析测试表明,两种衬底上制备的LED芯片等效串联电阻相差不大,在大电流注入下内量子效率下降较小;但是,相比于Si(111)上制备LED芯片,Si(110)上LED芯片具有较小的开启电压和更优异的发光特性.对LED器件电致发光(EL)发光峰随驱动电流的变化研究发现,由于Si(110)衬底上LED结构中阱层和垒层存在较小的应力/应变而在器件中产生较弱的量子限制斯塔克效应,致使Si(110)上LED芯片EL发光峰随驱动电流的蓝移量更小.     

The beneficial effects of a p-type GaInN spacer layer on the efficiency of GaInN/GaN light-emitting diodes

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a Mg-doped p-type Ga_1−xIn_xN (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) spacer layer located between an undoped GaN spacer layer and the electron blocking layer are investigated. The LEDs are found to have comparable peak efficiency but less efficiency droop when the crystal quality of the p-type Ga_1−xIn_xN spacer layer is well-controlled by lowering the growth temperature and by using a suitable In composition and Mg doping concentration. All LED samples with the p-type spacer layer show a smaller efficiency droop compared to a reference LED having an undoped GaN spacer. Among the sample sets investigated, an optical power enhancement of 12% at 111 A/cm² is obtained when inserting a 5 nm-thick p-type Ga_0.97In_0.03N spacer layer. The results support that carrier transport is the key factor in the efficiency droop observed in GaN-based LEDs.     

In组分渐变提高InGaN/GaN多量子阱发光二极管发光性能

利用金属有机物化学气相沉积系统在蓝宝石衬底上通过有源层的变温生长,得到In组分渐变的量子阱结构,从而获得具有三角形能带结构的InGaN/GaN多量子阱发光二极管(LED)(简称三角形量子阱结构LED).变温光致发光谱结果表明,相对于传统具有方形能带结构的量子阱LED(简称方形量子阱结构LED),三角形量子阱结构有效提高了量子阱中电子和空穴波函数的空间交叠,从而增加了LED的内量子效率;电致发光谱结果表明,三角形量子阱结构LED器件与传统结构LED器件相比,明显改善了发光峰值波长随着电流的蓝移现象.通过以上     

量子阱结构对有机电致发光器件效率的影响

实验中共制备了五种有机量子阱结构电致发光器件,分别对这五种量子阱结构器件的电致发光特性进行了研究,分析了量子阱结构的周期数和势垒层的厚度对器件电学性能的影响.实验结果表明适当周期数的量子阱结构器件的亮度和电流效率比传统的三层结构器件的要大,主要原因是量子阱结构对电子和空穴的限制作用,这种限制作用提高了电子和空穴在发光层中形成激子和复合的概率,从而提高了发光的亮度和效率.当改变阱结构器件中势阱层的厚度时,也会对器件的亮度和效率产生影响,采用适当的势阱层厚度能够提高器件的亮度和效率. 关键词： 量子阱结构 电致发光 电流效率 光谱     

Affection of different doping structure on quantum efficiency and spectrum response of reflection-mode GaN photocathode

In order to analyze the effect of varied doping structure on the quantum efficiency and spectrum response of the photocathode, six kinds of reflective varied doping GaN photocathode samples are designed and grown. The quantum efficiency curves and the spectrum response curves are obtained after these samples are activated. Through the analysis of experiment result, the factors and the reasons that can affect the quantum efficiency and spectrum response are concluded. The experiment result shows that the photocathode with exponential-doping structure has the best spectrum response and the highest quantum efficiency. The experiment result provides suggestions for the study on optimizing design of photocathode doping structure.     

Internal quantum efficiency drop induced by the heat generation inside of light emitting diodes （LEDs）

The reasons for low output power of AlGaInP Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have been analysed. LEDs with AlGaInP material have high internal but low external quantum efficiency and much heat generated inside especially at a large injected current which would reduce both the internal and external quantum efficiencies. Two kinds of LEDs with the same active region but different window layers have been fabricated. The new window layer composed of textured 0.5 μm GaP and thin Indium-Tin-Oxide film has shown that low external quantum efficiency (EQE) has serious impaction on the internal quantum efficiency (IQE), because the carrier distribution will change with the body temperature increasing due to the heat inside, and the test results have shown the evidence of LEDs with lower output power and bigger wavelength red shift.     

InGaN/GaN多量子阱结构发光二极管发光机理转变的低频电流噪声表征

本文对InGaN/GaN多量子阱结构发光二极管开启后的电流噪声进行了测试, 结合低频电流噪声的特点和载流子之间的复合机理, 研究了低频电流噪声功率谱密度与发光二极管发光转变机理之间的关系. 结论表明, 当电流从0.1 mA到10 mA逐渐增大的过程中, InGaN/GaN发光二极管的电流噪声行为从产生-复合噪声逐渐接近于低频1/f噪声, 载流子的复合机理从非辐射复合过渡为电子与空穴之间载流子数的辐射复合, 并具有标准1/f噪声的趋势, 此时多量子阱中的电子和空穴之间的复合趋向于稳定. 本文的结论提供了一种表征InGaN/GaN多量子阱发光二极管发光机理转变的有效方法, 为进一步研究发光二极管中载流子的复合机理、优化和设计发光二极管、提高其发光量子效率提供理论依据.     

Influence of wet chemical cleaning on quantum efficiency of GaN photocathode

GaN samples 1-3 are cleaned by a 2:2:1 solution of sulfuric acid(98%) to hydrogen peroxide(30%) to de-ionized water;hydrochloric acid(37%);or a 4:1 solution of sulfuric acid(98%) to hydrogen peroxide(30%).The samples are activated by Cs/O after the same annealing process.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy after the different ways of wet chemical cleaning shows:sample 1 has the largest proportion of Ga,N,and O among the three samples,while its C content is the lowest.After activation the quantum efficiency curves show sample 1 has the best photocathode performance.We think the wet chemical cleaning method is a process which will mainly remove C contamination.     

图形硅衬底GaN基发光二极管薄膜去除衬底及AlN缓冲层后单个图形内微区发光及 应力变化的研究

研究了图形硅衬底上外延生长的氮化镓(GaN)基发光二极管(LED)薄膜、去除硅衬底后的无损自由状态LED薄膜以及去除氮化铝(AlN)缓冲层后的自由状态LED薄膜单个图形内的微区光致发光(PL)性能, 用荧光显微镜与扫描电镜观测了去除AlN缓冲层前后LED薄膜断面弯曲状况的变化. 研究结果表明: 1)去除硅衬底后, 自由支撑的LED薄膜朝衬底方向呈柱面弯曲状态, 且相邻图形的柱面弯曲方向不一致, 当进一步去除AlN缓冲层后薄膜会由弯曲变为平整; 2)LED薄膜在去除硅衬底前后同一图形内不同位置的PL谱具有显著差异, 而当去除AlN缓冲层后不同位置的PL谱会基本趋于一致; LED薄膜每一位置的PL 谱在去除硅衬底后均出现明显红移, 进一步去除AlN缓冲层后PL谱出现程度不一的微小蓝移; 3)自由支撑的LED薄膜去除AlN缓冲层后, PL光强随激光激发密度变化的线性关系增强, 光衰减得到改善.     

反射式GaN光电阴极表面势垒对量子效率衰减的影响

针对反射式GaN光电阴极长波段量子效率衰减较大, 短波段量子效率衰减较小的实验现象, 在考虑谷间散射的情况下, 利用玻尓兹曼分布和基于Airy函数的传递矩阵法, 计算了发射电子能量分布, 分析了表面势垒变化对量子效率衰减的影响, 理论与实验符合较好. 激活层有效偶极子数的减少使表面势垒宽度和高度增加, 引起长波光子激发产生的发射电子能量分布衰减较大, 短波光子激发产生的发射电子能量分布衰减较小, 这是量子效率在长波段衰减较大, 短波段衰减较小的根本原因.