Dielectrics for passivation of planar InP/InGaAs diodes

We have investigated dielectrics for passivating planar InP or InGaAs photodiodes: thermally evaporated Al₂O₃ and SiO, sputtered Si₃N₄ and SiO₂ and also SiO₂ using chemical vapour deposition. The measured bulk and field-effect properties of all dielectrics excluding sputtered SiO₂ were suitable for this application. In planar InGaAs diodes with Cd diffused or Mg implanted p⁺-region a disordered dielectric/semiconductor surface led to high reverse current densities above 1 mA/cm². In InP diodes with p⁺-diffusion and dielectrics exhibiting positive flatband voltages, e.g. Si₃N₄ and Al₂O₃, reverse current densities of 10 μA/cm² were measured probably caused by a slight inversion of the semiconductor surface. With a SiO or CVD-SiO₂ passivating layer on n-InP lowest leakage current densities (10 nA/cm²) were achieved. Very low dark-current planar photodiodes InP/InGaAsP/InGaAs have been fabricated using SiO passivation (30 nA/cm²).