Damian Pucicki

Determination of indium and nitrogen contents of InGaAsN quantum wells by HRXRD study supported by BAC calculation of the measured energy gap

Determination of indium and nitrogen content in InGaAsN quantum wells (QWs) is often based on the analysis of high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) measurements. The comparison of diffraction curves of two similar samples, with and without nitrogen, together with an assumption of constant indium incorporation efficiency during the growth of layers with and without nitrogen, may lead to a large deviation in the determined In and N content. The HRXRD curve simulations supported by bandgap determination and calculations seem to be a solution of this problem. Comparison of the results achieved from simulated HRXRD curves with the calculations of all QWs transitions measured by contactless electro-reflectance (CER) can lead to reduction of deviations in composition determination of InGaAsN quantum wells. The proposed algorithm was applied for investigation of InGaAsN QWs grown by atmospheric pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (APMOVPE).

Technology and characterisation of GaAsN/GaAs heterostructures for photodetector applications

The nitrogen-containing conventional AIIIBV semiconductor alloys, so-called diluted nitrides (AIIIBV-N), have been extensively studied recently. Unusual properties of these materials make them very promising for applications in lasers and very efficient multijunction solar cells. This work presents the technology and properties of undoped GaAs1-xNx/GaAs heterostructures used as active regions in the construction of metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors. The atmospheric pressure metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (APMOVPE) was applied for growing MSM test structures. Their structural and optical properties were examined using high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), photoluminescence (PL), and photoreflectance spectroscopy (PR). Chemical wet etching was applied for forming an active region and a multifinger Schottky metallization was used as MSM contacts. Dark and illuminated current-voltage characteristics were measured. Based on the obtained results, the main detector parameters as responsivity and spectral response were estimated

Influence of the AP MOVPE process parameters on properties of (In, Ga)(As, N)/ GaAs heterostructures for photovoltaic applications

GaAsN and InGaAsN semiconductor alloys with a small amount of nitrogen, so called dilute nitrides, are especially attractive for telecom lasers and very efficient multijunction solar cells applications. The epitaxial growth of these materials using MBE and MOVPE is a big challenge for technologists due to the large miscibility gap between GaAs and GaN. Additionally, elaboration of the growth process of quaternary alloys InGaAsN is more complicated than GaAsN epitaxy because a precise determination of their composition requires applying different examination methods and comparison of the obtained results. This work presents the influence of the growth parameters on the properties and alloy composition of the triple quantum wells 3×InGaAsN/GaAs grown by atmospheric pressure metal organic vapour phase epitaxy AP MOVPE. Dependence of the structural and optical parameters of the investigated heterostructures on the growth temperature and the nitrogen source concentration in the reactor atmosphere was analyzed. Material quality of the obtained InGaAsN quantum wells was studied using high resolution X-Ray diffraction HRXRD, contactless electro-reflectance spectroscopy CER, photoluminescence PL, secondary ion mass spectrometry SIMS, photocurrent PC and Raman RS spectroscopies, deep level transient spectroscopy DLTS and transmission electron microscopy TEM.

Influence of rapid thermal annealing on optical properties of (In, Ga)(As, N)/GaAs quantum wells

Dilute nitride (In, Ga)(As, N) alloys grown on GaAs substrate are a very attractive materials for optoelectronics. In this work we compare the optical properties of (In, Ga)(As, N)/GaAs triple quantum well grown by atmospheric pressure metal organic vapour phase epitaxy. As grown and annealed structures were investigated by means of photoluminescence and contactless electroreflectance spectroscopies. Energies of fundamental transition from each measurement were determined and compared, moreover the value of Stokes shift was assigned and discussed.

Structural Characterization of Doped Thick Gainnas Layers - Ambiguities and Challenges

Abstract GaInNAs alloys are mostly used as an active part of light sources for long wavelength telecom applications. Beside this, these materials are used as thin quantum wells (QWs), and a need is to grow thick layers of such semiconductor alloys for photodetectors and photovoltaic cells applications. However, structural characterization of the GaInNAs layers is hindered by non-homogeneity of the In and N distributions along the layer. In this work the challenges of the structural characterization of doped thick GaInNAs layers grown by atmospheric pressure metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy (APMOVPE) will be presented

Electro-optical properties of diluted GaAsN on GaAs grown by APMOVPE

In this paper we report on the optical and electrical studies of single GaAs1−xNx epitaxial layers grown on GaAs substrates by means of atmospheric pressure metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (APMOVPE). Three kinds of samples with 1.2 %, 1.6 % and 2.7 % nitrogen content were studied. Optical properties of the layers were investigated with the use of room temperature transmittance and reflectance measurements. Subsequently Schottky Au-GaAs1−xNx contacts were processed and characterized by current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements within 80–480 K temperature range. From the I-V and C-V characteristics the ideality factor, series resistance and built-in potential were determined. Obtained diodes can be used for further studies on defects with the use of DLTS method.

Investigation of deep-level defects in InGaAsN/GaAs 3xQWs structures grown by AP-MOVPE

We have investigated deep-level defects in InGaAsN/GaAs 3xQW structures by means of conventional as well as high-resolution deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). The three samples were grown by atmospheric pressure metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy (AP-MOVPE) in different growth temperatures (566°C, 575°C and 585°C). The DLTS measurements revealed four electron traps E1 (0.17-0.24 eV), E2 (0.36-0.38 eV), E3 (0.46-0.49 eV) and E4 (0.81-0.84 eV) and one hole trap H1(0.8 eV) in our structures. The electron trap E1 was associated with N-related complexes while the other electron traps with native defects, usually observed in GaAs-based structures EL6, EL3 and EL2, respectively. Finally, the trap E2 and H1, observed in the structure grown at lowest temperature, were associated with the same trap, which can act as both an electron and hole trap. It was thus concluded that E2/H1 may be a generation-recombination center.

LP-MOVPE growth and properties of high Si-doped InGaAs contact layer for quantum cascade laser applications

Abstract The work presents doping characteristics and properties of high Si−doped InGaAs epilayers lattice−matched to InP grown by low pressure metal−organic vapour phase epitaxy. Silane and disilane were used as dopant sources. The main task of investigations was to obtain heavily doped InGaAs epilayers suitable for usage as plasmon−confinement layers in the construction of mid−infrared InAlAs/InGaAs/InP quantum−cascade lasers (QCLs). It requires the doping concentration of 1×1019 cm–3 and 1×1020 cm–3 for lasers working at 9 μm and 5 μm, respectively. The electron concentration increases linearly with the ratio of gas−phase molar fraction of the dopant to III group sources (IV/III). The highest electron concentrations suitable for InGaAs plasmon−contact layers of QCL was achieved only for disilane. We also observed a slight influence of the ratio of gas−phase molar fraction of V to III group sources (V/III) on the doping efficiency. Structural measurements using high−resolution X−ray diffraction revealed a distinct influence of the doping concentration on InGaAs composition what caused a lattice mismatch in the range of –240 ÷ –780 ppm for the samples doped by silane and disilane. It has to be taken into account during the growth of InGaAs contact layers to avoid internal stresses in QCL epitaxial structures.

DLTFS INVESTIGATION OF InGaAsN/GaAs TANDEM SOLAR CELL

Abstract In this paper authors present the results of identification of emission and capture processes in tandem solar cell structures based on quaternary InGaAsN semiconductor alloys by DLTFS (Deep Level Transient Fourier Spectroscopy) and by ana- lytical evaluation processes. The energies of five trap levels ET1=0.77 eV, ET2=0.47 eV, ET3=0.64 eV, HT1=0.62 eV and HT2=0.53 eV were identified with reliable accuracy. These values were obtained by available analytical procedures, verified by simulations and confirmed by reference structures with basic layer types and compared with possible reference trap data. Native structural defects in GaAs were stated as the origin of these deep energy levels

Influence of the MOVPE growth parameters on the properties of InGaAsN/GaAs MQW structures for solar cells application

This work presents the epitaxial growth of undoped multiple quantum well (MQW) - 3 × In_yGa_1-yAs_1-xN_x/GaAs - structures obtained by atmospheric pressure metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy (APMOVPE). The relations between the hydrogen flow rate through the bubblers with TBHy, TMGa, TMIn and the composition of the resulting In_yGa_1-yAs_1-xN_x films were investigated. The influence of the growth temperature on the quantum well In_yGa_1-yAs_1-xN_x parameters were observed. Based upon this experiment, the technology parameters were estimated. These results were applied to the optimization of the hydrogen flow rate through the bubblers with TBHy, TMGa, TMIn and temperature for the growth of quantum well of In_yGa_1-yAs_1-xN_x.