Acceptor levels in indium selenide. An investigation by means of the Hall effect, deep-level-transient spectroscopy and photoluminescence

Abstract

Acceptor levels related to I, II, IV, and V group impurities in indium selenide are studied by means of the Hall effect, deep-level-transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and photoluminescence. Activation energies for hole concentrations in the range from 200 to 300 meV have been measured. A reversible change of sign of the Hall voltage has been observed below 215 K. This behaviour can be explained through a model in which acceptor levels are assumed to be shallow and interlayer planar precipitates of ionized shallow donors create potential wells that behave as deep donors and in which a low concentration of bidimensional free electrons can exist. This model also explains the capacitance-voltage characteristics of both ITO/p-InSe and Au/p-InSe barriers. DLTS results are coherent with this model: hole traps in high concentration located about 570 meV above the valence band are detected. Photoluminescence also confirms the shallow character of acceptor levels. A broad band whose intensity is related to p conductivity appears in the PL spectra of low resistivity p-InSe. The shape and temperature dependence of this band can be explained through self-activated photoluminescence in a complex center in which the ground acceptor level must be at about 50 meV above the valence band.