Yingmin Fan

Charge transport mechanisms of graphene/semiconductor Schottky barriers: A theoretical and experimental study

Graphene has been proposed as a material for semiconductor electronic and optoelectronic devices. Understanding the charge transport mechanisms of graphene/semiconductor Schottky barriers will be crucial for future applications. Here, we report a theoretical model to describe the transport mechanisms at the interface of graphene and semiconductors based on conventional semiconductor Schottky theory and a floating Fermi level of graphene. The contact barrier heights can be estimated through this model and be close to the values obtained from the experiments, which are lower than those of the metal/semiconductor contacts. A detailed analysis reveals that the barrier heights are as the function of the interface separations and dielectric constants, and are influenced by the interfacial states of semiconductors. Our calculations show how this behavior of lowering barrier heights arises from the Fermi level shift of graphene induced by the charge transfer owing to the unique linear electronic structure.

Self-adaptive electronic contact between graphene and semiconductors

Understanding the contact properties of graphene on semiconductors is crucial to improving the performance of graphene optoelectronic devices. Here, we show that when graphene is in contact with a semiconductor, the charge carrier transport into graphene leads to a self-adaptive shift of the Fermi level, which tends to lower the barrier heights of the graphene contact to both n- and p-type semiconductors. A theoretical model is presented to describe the charge carrier transport mechanism and to quantitatively estimate the barrier heights. These results can benefit recent topical approaches for graphene integration in various semiconductor devices.

Constant current etching of gold tips suitable for tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

We introduce a setup and method to produce gold tips that are suitable for tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy by using a single step constant current electrochemical etch. The etching process is fully automated with only three preset parameters: the etching current, the reference voltage and the immersed length of gold wires. By optimizing these parameters, reproducible high quality tips with smooth surface and a radius curvature of about 20 nm can be formed. Tips prepared with this method were examined by tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy experiments on the samples of single-wall carbon nanotube, p-aminothiophenol, and graphene. In the Raman mapping of single-wall carbon nanotubes, the spatial resolution is about 15 nm.

Mechanical Properties of Nanoporous GaN and Its Application for Separation and Transfer of GaN Thin Films

Nanoporous (NP) gallium nitride (GaN) as a new class of GaN material has many interesting properties that the conventional GaN material does not have. In this paper, we focus on the mechanical properties of NP GaN, and the detailed physical mechanism of porous GaN in the application of liftoff. A decrease in elastic modulus and hardness was identified in NP GaN compared to the conventional GaN film. The promising application of NP GaN as release layers in the mechanical liftoff of GaN thin films and devices was systematically studied. A phase diagram was generated to correlate the initial NP GaN profiles with the as-overgrown morphologies of the NP structures. The fracture toughness of the NP GaN release layer was studied in terms of the voided-space-ratio. It is shown that the transformed morphologies and fracture toughness of the NP GaN layer after overgrowth strongly depends on the initial porosity of NP GaN templates. The mechanical separation and transfer of a GaN film over a 2 in. wafer was demonstrated, which proves that this technique is useful in practical applications.

Graphene in ohmic contact for both n-GaN and p-GaN

The wrinkles of single layer graphene contacted with either n-GaN or p-GaN were found both forming ohmic contacts investigated by conductive atomic force microscopy. The local I–V results show that some of the graphene wrinkles act as high-conductive channels and exhibiting ohmic behaviors compared with the flat regions with Schottky characteristics. We have studied the effects of the graphene wrinkles using density-functional-theory calculations. It is found that the standing and folded wrinkles with zigzag or armchair directions have a tendency to decrease or increase the local work function, respectively, pushing the local Fermi level towards n- or p-type GaN and thus improving the transport properties. These results can benefit recent topical researches and applications for graphene as electrode material integrated in various semiconductor devices.

Surface acoustic waves in semi-insulating Fe-doped GaN films grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy

The propagation properties of surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in semi-insulating Fe-doped GaN films grown on sapphire substrates by hydride vapor phase epitaxy are investigated. Compared with native n-type GaN, Fe-doped GaN exhibits a higher electromechanical coupling coefficient due to its high electrical resistivity. In addition, guided longitudinal leaky surface acoustic wave (LLSAW) was observed experimentally with a very high phase velocity (about 7890 m/s), and this mode was verified by numerical simulations. The small propagation attenuation of LLSAW along liquid/solid interfaces was demonstrated in glycerol solutions, which implies the potential applications in high-frequency chemical sensing.

Two-photon-absorption-induced nonlinear photoresponse in GaAs∕AlGaAs quantum-well infrared photodetectors

Using a free-electron laser(FEL) source, we have studied the two-photon-absorption (TPA) effect in GaAs∕AlGaAs quantum-well infrared photodetector (QWIP). The TPA-induced photoresponse in QWIPs has been measured under different FEL excitation power by the photoconductivity method. The effective-mass approximation theory is used for the QWIP structure to explain the photoresponse behavior. It is demonstrated that the TPA-induced photocarrier density is proportional to the square of the excitation power. Based on the experimental results, the TPA coefficients of QWIPs were obtained to be 0.0045, 0.0030, 0.0103, and 0.0061cm∕MW for the excitation lines of 10.6, 10.7, 11.9 and 13.2μm, respectively. The dependence the TPA coefficients on the excitation wavelength is explained by our theoretical model.Using a free-electron laser(FEL) source, we have studied the two-photon-absorption (TPA) effect in GaAs∕AlGaAs quantum-well infrared photodetector (QWIP). The TPA-induced photoresponse in QWIPs has been measured under different FEL excitation power by the photoconductivity method. The effective-mass approximation theory is used for the QWIP structure to explain the photoresponse behavior. It is demonstrated that the TPA-induced photocarrier density is proportional to the square of the excitation power. Based on the experimental results, the TPA coefficients of QWIPs were obtained to be 0.0045, 0.0030, 0.0103, and 0.0061cm∕MW for the excitation lines of 10.6, 10.7, 11.9 and 13.2μm, respectively. The dependence the TPA coefficients on the excitation wavelength is explained by our theoretical model.

Local ultra-violet surface photovoltage spectroscopy of single thread dislocations in gallium nitrides by Kelvin probe force microscopy

The local carrier properties, including minority diffusion lengths and surface recombination velocities, were measured at single thread dislocations in GaN film by a combination of surface photovoltage spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy. The thread dislocations introduced by a nanoindentation were observed as V-pits, where the photovoltage was lower than that on plane surface under ultra-violet illumination. A model is proposed to fit the spatially resolved surface photovoltage spectroscopy curves. Compared with those on plane surface, the hole diffusion length is 90 nm shorter and the surface electron recombination velocity is 1.6 times higher at an individual thread dislocation.

Nonperturbative dynamic photon absorption of quantum wells

Optical photoresponse of quantum wells in the nonperturbative regime has been studied by high-power and ultrafast-oscillating free-electron laser (FEL) experiments, which revealed a profound deviation of the nonlinear power from conventional perturbative multiple photon absorption processes. By combining the experimental and theoretical works we have shown that the nonperturbative solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation is essential to understand the experimental observations. Optical transitions of electrons are dynamic. One photon is absorbed or emitted when an electron transits from one electron state to the other. The rates of absorption and emission are proportional to the time interval in the femtosecond time scale. In the picosecond time scale, multiphoton processes emerge. The strong and fast-oscillating FEL source intensifies the dynamic photon absorption and emission processes in the quantum wells, resulting in a much enhanced nonlinearity in the photoresponse spectrum.