Study of AlGaInP multiquantum-well/double heterostructure light-emitting diodes with In-added GaP window layer regrown by antimony-based liquid phase epitaxy

Abstract

The characteristics of surface-emitting AlGaInP multiquantum-well (MQW) and double heterostructure (DH) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a GaP window layer regrown by a GaP source melt with the addition of indium in the liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) system are studied. Using antimony in the source melt instead of gallium eliminates the phenomenon of melt back at the top layer of the LED during the LPE regrowth process. Meanwhile, adding In and Zn to the source melt significantly increases the GaP growth rate and effectively reduces residual melt during the regrowth process. Thus, the AlGaInP LED with a Zn-doped GaP window layer regrown by In being added, Sb-based LPE exhibits a lower turn-on voltage and higher light output power than that without the regrown GaP window layer. However, the emission peak wavelength of the MQW LED shifts a little after the LPE regrowth process. The DH LED does not shift. Thus, the DH structure is more suitable than the MQW structure for the LPE regrowth process of GaP.