Graded Al Composition Research Articles

Polarization Engineered p-Type Electron Blocking Layer Free AlGaN Based UV-LED Using Quantum Barriers with Heart-Shaped Graded Al Composition for Enhanced Luminescence.

In this paper, in order to address the problem of electron leakage in AlGaN ultra-violet light-emitting diodes, we have proposed an electron-blocking free layer AlGaN ultra-violet (UV) light-emitting diode (LED) using polarization-engineered heart-shaped AlGaN quantum barriers (QB) instead of conventional barriers. This novel structure has decreased the downward band bending at the interconnection between the consecutive quantum barriers and also flattened the electrostatic field. The parameters used during simulation are extracted from the referred experimental data of conventional UV LED. Using the Silvaco Atlas TCAD tool; version 8.18.1.R, we have compared and optimized the optical as well as electrical characteristics of three varying LED structures. Enhancements in electroluminescence at 275 nm (52.7%), optical output power (50.4%), and efficiency (61.3%) are recorded for an EBL-free AlGaN UV LED with heart-shaped Al composition in the barriers. These improvements are attributed to the minimized non-radiative recombination on the surfaces, due to the progressively increasing effective conduction band barrier height, which subsequently enhances the carrier confinement. Hence, the proposed EBL-free AlGaN LED is the potential solution to enhance optical power and produce highly efficient UV emitters.

Effect of graded Al composition in w-shaped quantum wells and Δ-shaped quantum barriers on performance of AlGaN based UV-C light emitting diodes

In this paper, we theoretically investigate the effect of geometry of QWs and QBs on the optical performance of AlGaN based UV-C LEDs. It is observed that the graded Al composition in w-shaped QW, and Δ-shaped QB enhances the radiative recombinations while reducing polarization in the active zone. The proposed novel configuration concurrently improves the hole injection efficiency and reduces the electron seepage into the p-region, which increases the rate of radiative recombination in the active zone. In contrast to the reference structure's IQE and efficiency droop (31% and 11%), the IQE and efficiency droop of proposed structure has improved to 62% and 3%, respectively, at 200 A/cm2 current density. The improvement in the IQE is attributable to the modified structure's enhancement of the carrier waveform overlap in the active zone from 18% to 39%.

Normally-OFF AlGaN/GaN-based HEMTs with decreasingly graded AlGaN cap layer

In this work, an enhancement-mode (E-mode) AlGaN/GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) with a graded AlGaN cap layer (GACL) is proposed and numerically studied by Silvaco technology computer-aided design. The GACL is designed with a decreasingly graded Al composition x along [0001] direction and the initial x is smaller than the Al composition of the Al0.2Ga0.8N barrier layer (BL). This GACL scheme can simultaneously produce high-concentration polarization-induced holes and negative net polarization charges at the GACL/BL interface. This can facilitate the separation of the conduction band (E C) and Fermi level (E F) at the 2DEG channel and therefore benefit the normally-OFF operation of the device. The optimized graded-AlGaN-gated metal-semiconductor HEMT can achieve a large threshold voltage of 4 V. Furthermore, we demonstrated that shortening the gate length on the GACL and inserting an oxide layer between the gate and GACL can be both effective to suppress gate leakage current, enhance gate voltage swing, and improve on-state drain current of the device. These numerical investigations can provide insights into the physical mechanisms and structural innovations of the E-mode GaN-based HEMTs in the future.

Effects of polarized-induced doping and graded composition in an advanced multiple quantum well InGaN/GaN UV-LED for enhanced light technology

In this paper, a light-emitting diode in the ultra-violet range (UV-LED) with multiple-quantum wells (MQWs) of InGaN/GaN is designed and analyzed through Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) simulations. The polarization effects in III-nitride heterojunction and the effects of graded composition in the electron blocking layer (EBL) are exploited to enhance the performance of the proposed UV-LED. It is observed that the effect of graded composition in the EBL helps to enhance the electrical and optical performance of the LED, thereby enabling the achievement of some promising results. The simulation-based results demonstrated that superior internal efficiency and an inferior leakage current are achieved by using a graded Al composition in the EBL rather than a uniform composition. The reported results also confirm the remarkable improvement of the light output power by 17% at ∼100 mA when using the graded composition and also show a reduction in series resistance leading to more current. Graded Al composition in the EBL results in the enhancement of electroluminescence spectra (i.e., an increase in the peak of the spectral density).

High-performance GaAs nanowire cathode for photon-enhanced thermionic emission solar converters

GaAs nanowire cathodes with exponential doping and graded Al composition structures are proposed for photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) devices. The conversion efficiency models with these two nanowire cathodes are deduced on the basis of one-dimensional continuity equations. The conversion efficiency as a function of wire length, wire width, Al composition distribution, cathode temperature, emissive surface and back interface recombination velocity are also simulated, respectively. Results show that exponential doping and graded Al composition cathode structures can obviously improve the conversion efficiency of devices through introducing a built-in electric field along the growth direction of nanowire. Besides, the optimum wire length and wire width range are 300–340 nm and 5.9–6.4 μm, respectively. Moreover, wider Al composition range is beneficial to achieve higher conversion efficiency. These simulations provide an interesting attempt to explore the working mechanism of GaAs nano-based PETE devices and are expected to be verified by the experimental results in the future.

High quantum efficiency transmission-mode GaAlAs photocathode with a nanoscale surface structure

To obtain a high quantum efficiency transmission-mode GaAlAs photocathode, a photocathode with a graded Al composition structure is designed, in which the Al composition of the emission layer is decreased gradually from bulk to surface, and the outermost layer is GaAs. Based on the graded Al composition structure, GaAlAs photocathodes with different thicknesses of GaAs layers are prepared. The experimental results show that the quantum efficiency of the GaAlAs photocathode in blue-green light significantly increased when the thickness of the outermost GaAs achieves a dozen nanometers. The peak quantum efficiency of a GaAlAs photocathode with a nanoscale GaAs layer could achieve 31%, which appears at 620 nm. The nanoscale surface structure has a quantum confinement effect, which is the main factor in the increased quantum efficiency of the GaAlAs photocathode.

Improving the performance of AlGaN-based deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes using electron blocking layer with a heart-shaped graded Al composition

We propose a design for highly efficient AlGaN-based deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (DUV LEDs) using a heart-shaped graded Al composition electron-blocking layer (EBL). This novel structure reduced downward band bending at the interface between the last quantum barrier and the EBL and flattened the electrostatic field in the interlayer between the barriers of the multi-quantum barrier EBL. Consequently, electron leakage was significantly suppressed and hole injection efficiency was found to have improved. The parameter values of simulation were extracted from the experimental data of the reference DUV LEDs. Using the SimuLED, we compared the electrical and optical properties of three structures with different Al compositions in the active region and the EBL. The internal quantum efficiency of the proposed structure was shown to exceed those of the reference DUV LEDs by a factor of 1.9. Additionally, the output power at 20 mA was found to increase by a factor of 2.1.

Photoemission characteristics of graded band-gap AlGaAs/GaAs wire photocathode

A photoemission model of graded band-gap AlGaAs/GaAs wire NEA photocathode is developed based on the numerical solution of coupled Poisson and continuity equations. The emission current density and integral sensitivity of graded band-gap AlGaAs/GaAs wire photocathode as a function of incident light wavelength, Al composition range, and wire length, are simulated according to the model. The simulation results show that, compared with the GaAs (Al composition 0) wire photocathode, the peak integral sensitivities for the photocathodes with wire width of 1µm and linearly graded Al composition ranges of 0 to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 increase by 29.5%, 38.5%, 42.1%, and 43.8%, respectively. The optimum wire lengths are 4.7, 5.9, 7.1, and 8.4µm for the wire photocathodes with Al composition ranges of 0 to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4, respectively.

Efficiency improvements in AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes using inverted-V-shaped graded Al composition electron blocking layer

This paper principally presents the numerical investigation of electron blocking layers (EBL) structures with different Al concentration gradient changing in AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet light emitting diodes (DUV-LEDs). Compared to conventional EBL structure with constant Al composition, the LED with inverted-V-shaped EBL structure has higher output power and carriers recombination rate, but the efficiency droop will decrease obviously while the electron leakage current can reduce much as well. Therefore, the result indicates that appropriate Al component in LED can enhance electron and hole recombination rate in the active region. The improved performance is mainly attribute the sufficient electron-barrier height and relatively higher hole injection efficiency which results from the mitigated band-bending.

Effects of graded band-gap structures on spectral response of AlGaAs/GaAs photocathodes.

The effects of AlGaAs/GaAs layer thickness and Al composition range on the spectral response and integral sensitivities of reflection-mode graded band-gap AlGaAs/GaAs photocathodes have been investigated and simulated. The experimental results demonstrate that the spectral response over the wavelength region of interest for graded band-gap photocathodes is greater than that for uniform band-gap cathodes, and the increase in long-wavelength response is more pronounced. These results can be attributed to the built-in electric field in the graded band-gap AlGaAs layer. We established a spectral response model of graded band-gap photocathodes based on the numerical solution of coupled Poisson and continuity equations. According to the model, we calculated the theoretical spectral response and sensitivities of graded band-gap cathodes, and found the optimum Al(x)Ga(1-x)As layer thicknesses are 6, 10, 16, and 22 μm for the reflection-mode cathodes with linearly graded Al composition x ranges of 0 to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4, respectively.

Carrier Transport Improvement in Blue InGaN Light-Emitting Diodes Via Reduced Polarization Using a Band-Engineered Electron Blocking Layer

This study numerically investigates the effect of using a new electron blocking layer (EBL) for blue InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to improve hole injection efficiency and electron confinement. Simulation results suggest that the carrier transportation behavior of the EBL can be appropriately modified by adept control of the graded AlGaN layer. Furthermore, when compared with the conventional LED structure, the redesigned LED with graded AlGaN layer shows a slight improvement in forward voltage Vf and a significant enhancement in light output power. The redesigned LED can achieve an exceptional increment of 106.6% in light output power at 100 mA when compared with conventional LED. The observed improvement in the photoelectric performance of blue LEDs is primarily due to the reduced polarization effect at the last-barrier/EBL interface, as a result of the graded Al composition in EBL.

Comparative research for GaAs photocathodes with graded compositional AlxGa1−xAs buffer layer

The graded Al compositional structure design in AlxGa1−xAs buffer layer can well increase the quantum efficiency than the stationary Al compositional structure design, especially at short-wave band. For deep study, the samples of two structures were prepared by metal organic chemical vapor deposition for carrying out the comparative research between surface photovoltage before Cs–O activation and spectral response current after Cs–O activation. Through fitting calculations and analyzes, the mixed structure of graded Al composition in AlxGa1−xAs buffer layer and exponential doping concentration in GaAs active layer cannot only form continuous internal electric field throughout window layer and active layer, but also decrease the misfit dislocations and stacking faults arising from lattice mismatch at the AlxGa1−xAs/GaAs interface. The better interface properties can further decrease the back interface recombination velocity than the standard structure design. Furthermore the continuous internal electric field can well increase the electron diffusion and drift length for active layer and surface escape probability for surface barriers and can also drive more photo-excited electrons at short-wave band in buffer layer to cathode surface.

Performance improvements in InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes using electron blocking layer with V-shaped graded Al composition

In this study, AlGaN electron blocking layers (EBLs) with graded Al compositions have been numerically investigated to improve hole injection and electron confinement in InGaN/GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Compared to LEDs with reference structure the output power of the proposed LEDs with decreasing/increasing (V-shaped) grading of the Al composition along the EBL growth direction was increased by a factor of ∼2.5, whereas the efficiency droop at high currents was greatly reduced. In addition, the forward voltage was reduced from 3.69V to 3.42V at 20mA. These results indicate that well-designed EBLs using a V-shaped graded Al composition can enhance hole injection and electron confinement by reducing the polarization effect in these devices.

Tailoring of polarization in electron blocking layer for electron confinement and hole injection in ultraviolet light-emitting diodes

The influence of the AlGaN electron blocking layer (EBL) with graded aluminum composition on electron confinement and hole injection in AlGaN-based ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are investigated. The light output power of LED with graded AlGaN EBL was markedly improved, comparing to LED with conventional EBL. In experimental results, a high increment of 86.7% can be obtained in light output power. Simulation analysis shows that via proper modification of the barrier profile from the last barrier of the active region to EBL, not only the elimination of electron overflow to p-type layer can be achieved but also the hole injection into the active region can be enhanced, compared to a conventional LED structure. The dominant factor to the performance improvement is shown to be the modulation of polarization field by the graded Al composition in EBL.

Improved efficiency droop characteristics in an InGaN/GaN light-emitting diode with a novel designed last barrier structure

In this study, the characteristics of nitride-based light-emitting diodes with different last barrier structures are analysed numerically. The energy band diagrams, electrostatic field near the last quantum barrier, carrier concentration in the quantum well, internal quantum efficiency, and light output power are systematically investigated. The simulation results show that the efficiency droop is markedly improved and the output power is greatly enhanced when the conventional GaN last barrier is replaced by an AlGaN barrier with Al composition graded linearly from 0 to 15% in the growth direction. These improvements are attributed to enhanced efficiencies of electron confinement and hole injection caused by the lower polarization effect at the last-barrier/electron blocking layer interface when the graded Al composition last barrier is used.

Improvement of GaN-based light-emitting diodes using p-type AlGaN/GaN superlattices with a graded Al composition

We investigated the effect of graded Al composition in the p-type AlGaN/GaN superlattices (SLs) of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to improve their performance. The light output power and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of LEDs with Al composition grading was increased compared with those of LEDs without Al grading, indicating that the efficiency droop was reduced. The improved output power and EQE of LEDs with a graded Al composition was attributed to the increased hole injection by the reduced AlGaN barrier height and the suppression of potential spikes between the graded AlGaN and GaN layers in SLs.

Three-dimensional hole gas induced by polarization in (0001)-oriented metal-face III-nitride structure

Polarization-doping via graded AlGaN layer on N-face (0001¯) GaN has been demonstrated as an inspiring p-type doping method for wide-band-gap nitrides. However, the polarity of III-nitrides grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition is metal-face typically. In this paper, we show that three-dimensional mobile hole gas induced by polarization can be formed in (0001)-oriented metal-face III-nitride structure. The hole concentration of a Mg-doped AlxGa1−xN layer with graded Al composition from x=0.3 to 0 grown on AlN buffer layer is remarkably enhanced, compared with that of a Mg-doped GaN layer grown under the same conditions. In addition, the hole concentration in the graded AlGaN layer is absence of freezeout as the temperature decreases, indicating that the hole is induced by polarization. This p-type doping method paves a way for achieving high-efficiency in wide-band-gap semiconductor light-emitting devices with p-type doping problem.

High-performance, graded AlGaAs injector, GaAs Gunn diodes at 94 GHz

The advantages of using AlGaAs layers of graded Al composition to engineer the cathode of a GaAs Gunn diode are discussed. The specific target of high power operation (68 mW at room temperature) at 94 GHz over a wide range (>1.4 V) of voltage bias has been achieved. Other advantages of the cathode structure are briefly discussed. >