Peter M. Sandvik

Solar-blind AlGaN photodiodes with very low cutoff wavelength

We report the fabrication and characterization of AlxGa1−xN photodiodes (x∼0.70) grown on sapphire by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The peak responsivity for −5 V bias is 0.11 A/W at 232 nm, corresponding to an internal quantum efficiency greater than 90%. The device response drops four orders of magnitude by 275 nm and remains at low response for the entire near-ultraviolet and visible spectrum. Improvements were made to the device design including a semitransparent Ni/Au contact layer and a GaN:Mg cap layer, which dramatically increased device response by enhancing the carrier collection efficiency.

Lateral epitaxial overgrowth of GaN on sapphire and silicon substrates for ultraviolet photodetector applications

Abstract Lateral epitaxial overgrowth of GaN thin films was conducted by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on basal plane sapphire and (111) silicon substrates. The films were characterized through X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and deep level transient spectroscopy. Schottky metal–semiconductor–metal ultraviolet photodetectors were fabricated on LEO grown GaN films for the first time. The spectral responsivity, its dependence on optical excitation power and bias voltage, and the device time decay properties were characterized. The orientation of the interdigitated fingers with respect to the LEO stripes was investigated.

Solar-blind AlxGa1-xN p-i-n photodetectors grown on LEO and non-LEO GaN

There is currently a strong interest in developing solid- state, UV photodetectors for a variety of applications. Some of these are early missile threat warning, covet space to space communications, flame monitoring, UV radiation monitoring and chemical/biological reagent detection. The III-Nitride material system is an excellent candidate for such applications due to its wide, reagent detection. The III-Nitride material system is an excellent candidate for such applications due to its wide, direct bandgaps and robust material nature. However, despite many inherent material advantages, the III-Nitride material system typically suffers from a large number of extended defects which degrade material quality and device performance. One technique aimed at reducing defect densities in these materials is lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO). In this work, we present a preliminary comparison between AlGaN UV, solar-blind p-i-n photodiodes fabricated form LEO GaN and non-LEO GaN. Improvements in both responsivity and rejection ratio are observed, however, further device improvements are necessary. For these, we focus on the optimization of the p- i-n structure and a reduction in contact resistivity to p- GaN and p-AlGaN layers. By improving the structure of the device, GaN p-i-n photodiodes were fabricated and demonstrate 86 percent internal quantum efficiency at 362 nm and a peak to visible rejection ratio of 105. Contact treatments have reduced the contact resistivity to p-GaN and p-AlGaN by over one order of magnitude form our previous results.

Schottky MSM photodetectors on GaN films grown on sapphire by lateral epitaxial overgrowth

We report the growth and characterization of Schottky based metal-semiconductor-metal ultraviolet photodetectors fabricated on lateral epitaxially overgrown GaN films. The lateral epitaxial overgrowth of GaN was carried out on basal plane sapphire substrates by low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition and exhibited lateral growth rates more than 5 times as high as vertical growth rates. The spectral responsivity, the dependence on bias voltage, on incident optical power, and the time response of these photodetectors have been characterized. Two detector orientations were investigated: one with the interdigitated finger pattern parallel and the other perpendicular to the underlying SiOx mask stripes.

AlxGa1-xN Materials and Device Technology for Solar Blind Ultraviolet Photodetector Applications

There has been a growing interest for the development of solar blind ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors for use in a variety of applications, including early missile threat warning, flame monitoring, UV radiation monitoring and chemical/biological reagent detection. The AlxGa1-xN material system has emerged as the most promising approach for such devices. However, the control of the material quality and the device technology are still rather immature. We report here the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, the n-type and the p-type doping of high quality AlxGa1-xN thin films on sapphire substrates over a wide range of Al concentration. The quality of this AlxGa1-xN material was verified through the demonstration of high performance visible and solar blind ultraviolet p-i-n photodiodes with a cut-off wavelength continuously tunable from 227 to 365 nm, internal quantum efficiencies up to 86% when operated in photovoltaic mode, and a ultraviolet-to-visible rejection ratio as high as six orders of magnitude. Both front and back side illuminated p-i-n photodiodes were realized. Photodetector devices were also demonstrated on GaN material obtained using lateral epitaxial overgrowth. The technology for such AlxGa1-xN based devices was improved in an effort to enhance their performance, including the development of ohmic metal contacts to both n-type and p-type AlxGa1-xN films with an Al concentration up to 40%.

LEO of III-nitride on Al2O3 and Si substrates

Lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) has recently become the method of choice to reduce the density of dislocations in heteroepitaxial GaN thin films, and is thus expected to lead to enhanced performance devices. We present here the LEO growth and characterization of GaN films by low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Various substrates were used, including basal plane sapphire and oriented Si substrates. The steps in the LEO growth technology will be briefly reviewed. The characterization results will be discussed in detail. The structural, electrical and optical properties of the films were assessed through scanning, atomic and transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, capacitance-voltage, deep level transient spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and scanning cathodoluminenscence measurements. Single-step and double- step LEO GaN was achieved on sapphire. Similarly high quality LEO grown GaN films were obtained on sapphire and silicon substrates. Clear and dramatic reduction in the density of defects are observed in LEO grown materials using the various characterization techniques mentioned previously.

Harsh-Environment Solid-State Gamma Detector for Down-hole Gas and Oil Exploration

The goal of this program was to develop a revolutionary solid-state gamma-ray detector suitable for use in down-hole gas and oil exploration. This advanced detector would employ wide-bandgap semiconductor technology to extend the gamma sensors temperature capability up to 200 C as well as extended reliability, which significantly exceeds current designs based on photomultiplier tubes. In Phase II, project tasks were focused on optimization of the final APD design, growing and characterizing the full scintillator crystals of the selected composition, arranging the APD device packaging, developing the needed optical coupling between scintillator and APD, and characterizing the combined elements as a full detector system preparing for commercialization. What follows is a summary report from the second 18-month phase of this program.