Ł. Gelczuk

Bi-induced acceptor level responsible for partial compensation of native free electron density in InP1-xBix dilute bismide alloys

Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) has been applied to study electron and hole traps in InPBi alloys with 2.2 and 2.4% Bi grown by molecular beam epitaxy. One donor-like trap with the activation energy of 0.45-0.47 eV and one acceptor-like trap with activation energy of 0.08 eV have been identified in DLTS measurements. For the reference sample (InP grown at the same temperature), the deep donor trap has also been observed, while the acceptor trap was not detected. According to the literature, the deep donor level found in InP(Bi) at 0.45-0.47 eV below the conduction band has been attributed to the isolated P-In defect, while the second trap, which is observed only for Bi containing samples at 0.08 eV above the valence band can be attributed to Bi clusters in InPBi. This acceptor level was proposed to be responsible for the observed partial compensation of native free electron density in InPBi layers. It is also shown that the deep donor traps are active in photoluminescence (PL). A strong radiative recombination between donor traps and the valence band are observed in PL spectra at energy 0.6-0.8 eV, i.e. similar to 0.47 eV below the energy gap of InPBi, which is determined by contactless electroreflectance.

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.

Origin and annealing of deep-level defects in GaNAs grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy

Deep-level defects were investigated by deep level transient spectroscopy on the as-grown and annealed GaNAs layers of various nitrogen (N) contents. The unintentionally doped (uid) GaNAs layers were grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy with N = 1.4%, 2.0%, 2.2%, and 2.4% on GaAs substrate. The possible origin and evolution of the deep-level defects upon annealing were analyzed with the use of the GaNAs band gap diagram concept [Kudrawiec et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 082109 (2012)], which assumes that the activation energy of donor traps decreases with N-related downward shift of the conduction band. On the basis of this diagram and in comparison with previous results, the N-related traps were associated with (N−As)As or (N−N)As split interstitials. It was also proposed that one of the electron traps and the hole trap, lying at the same level position in the bandgap of the annealed uid-GaNAs layers, can both act as one generation-recombination center partially responsible for poor optical properties of this alloy.

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

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.

Deep Level Defects in 4H-SiC Schottky Diodes Examined by DLTS

Deep-level defects in 4H-SiC Schottky diodes were studied using deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). The epitaxial layers, doped with N and grown on standard n+4H-SiC substrates were exposed to aluminium ion implantation process under the Schottky contact and of junction termination extension (JTE). The studies performed within 80-400 K temperature range revealed five deep electron traps, with a dominant double peak at around room temperature related to the Z1/Z2 defect. The thorough analysis of the DLTS-line shape and DLTS-line behaviour on DLTS measurement conditions made possible to distinguish and identify all the observed deep levels.

Electrically active defects in SiC Schottky barrier diodes

The electrical properties of deep-level defects in real packaged SiC Schottky barrier rectifiers were studied by deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). One deep-level trap with an activation energy in the 0.29–0.30 eV range was revealed to be present in all the tested samples. The electrical characteristics of the trap indicate it is probably attributed to dislocations or to metastable defects, which can be responsible for discrepancies observed in I-V characteristics (see Ref. [2]).

Characterization of deep-level defects in GaNAs/GaAs heterostructures grown by APMOVPE

Abstract Conventional deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and high-resolution Laplace DLTS techniques were used to study electrical properties of deep-level defects in dilute GaNAs epitaxial layers grown by atmospheric-pressure metalorganic vapourphase epitaxy (APMOVPE) on the GaAs substrate. Three samples with nitrogen concentrations of 1.2 %, 1.6 % and 2.7 % were investigated. In DLTS and LDLTS spectra of the samples, four predominant electron traps were observed. On the basis of the obtained electrical parameters and previously published results, one of the traps was associated with N-related complex defects, while the other traps with common GaAs-like native defects and impurities, called EL6, EL3 and EL2.

DLTS and PR Studies of Partially Relaxed InGaAs/GaAs Heterostructures Grown by MOVPE

The studies of electrical activity of deep electron traps and the optical response of partially-strain relaxed InxGa1-xAs layers (x=5.5%, 7.7% and 8.6%) grown by metalorganic vapourphase epitaxy (MOVPE) have been performed by means of deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and photoreflectance (PR). DLTS measurements revealed two electron traps. One of the trap has been attributed to electron states at α-type misfit dislocations. The other trap has been ascribed to the EL2 point defect. The PR spectra at room temperature were measured and analysed. By applying the results of theoretical calculations which include excitonic and strain effects, we were able to estimate the extent of strain relaxation and the values of residual strain in the partially relaxed epitaxial layers.