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Journal ArticleDOI

p-type ZnSe by nitrogen atom beam doping during molecular beam epitaxial growth

12 Nov 1990-Applied Physics Letters (American Institute of Physics)-Vol. 57, Iss: 20, pp 2127-2129
TL;DR: In this paper, a novel approach to produce p-type ZnSe epitaxial layers is reported which involves nitrogen atom beam doping during molecular beam epitaxy growth, which achieves acceptor concentrations as large as 3.4×1017 cm−3.
Abstract: A novel approach to producing p‐type ZnSe epitaxial layers is reported which involves nitrogen atom beam doping during molecular beam epitaxial growth. Net acceptor concentrations as large as 3.4×1017 cm−3 have been measured in nitrogen atom beam doped ZnSe/GaAs heteroepitaxial layers which represents the highest acceptor concentration reported to date for ZnSe:N epitaxial material grown by molecular beam epitaxy. In addition, light‐emitting diodes based on ZnSe:N/ZnSe:Cl, p‐n homojunctions have been found to exhibit dominant electroluminescence in the blue region of the visible spectrum at room temperature.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The semiconductor ZnO has gained substantial interest in the research community in part because of its large exciton binding energy (60meV) which could lead to lasing action based on exciton recombination even above room temperature.
Abstract: The semiconductor ZnO has gained substantial interest in the research community in part because of its large exciton binding energy (60meV) which could lead to lasing action based on exciton recombination even above room temperature. Even though research focusing on ZnO goes back many decades, the renewed interest is fueled by availability of high-quality substrates and reports of p-type conduction and ferromagnetic behavior when doped with transitions metals, both of which remain controversial. It is this renewed interest in ZnO which forms the basis of this review. As mentioned already, ZnO is not new to the semiconductor field, with studies of its lattice parameter dating back to 1935 by Bunn [Proc. Phys. Soc. London 47, 836 (1935)], studies of its vibrational properties with Raman scattering in 1966 by Damen et al. [Phys. Rev. 142, 570 (1966)], detailed optical studies in 1954 by Mollwo [Z. Angew. Phys. 6, 257 (1954)], and its growth by chemical-vapor transport in 1970 by Galli and Coker [Appl. Phys. ...

10,260 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare the performance of SiC, GaN, and ZnSe for high-temperature electronics and short-wavelength optical applications and conclude that SiC is the leading contender for high temperature and high power applications if ohmic contacts and interface state densities can be further improved.
Abstract: In the past several years, research in each of the wide‐band‐gap semiconductors, SiC, GaN, and ZnSe, has led to major advances which now make them viable for device applications. The merits of each contender for high‐temperature electronics and short‐wavelength optical applications are compared. The outstanding thermal and chemical stability of SiC and GaN should enable them to operate at high temperatures and in hostile environments, and also make them attractive for high‐power operation. The present advanced stage of development of SiC substrates and metal‐oxide‐semiconductor technology makes SiC the leading contender for high‐temperature and high‐power applications if ohmic contacts and interface‐state densities can be further improved. GaN, despite fundamentally superior electronic properties and better ohmic contact resistances, must overcome the lack of an ideal substrate material and a relatively advanced SiC infrastructure in order to compete in electronics applications. Prototype transistors have been fabricated from both SiC and GaN, and the microwave characteristics and high‐temperature performance of SiC transistors have been studied. For optical emitters and detectors, ZnSe, SiC, and GaN all have demonstrated operation in the green, blue, or ultraviolet (UV) spectra. Blue SiC light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) have been on the market for several years, joined recently by UV and blue GaN‐based LEDs. These products should find wide use in full color display and other technologies. Promising prototype UV photodetectors have been fabricated from both SiC and GaN. In laser development, ZnSe leads the way with more sophisticated designs having further improved performance being rapidly demonstrated. If the low damage threshold of ZnSe continues to limit practical laser applications, GaN appears poised to become the semiconductor of choice for short‐wavelength lasers in optical memory and other applications. For further development of these materials to be realized, doping densities (especially p type) and ohmic contact technologies have to be improved. Economies of scale need to be realized through the development of larger SiC substrates. Improved substrate materials, ideally GaN itself, need to be aggressively pursued to further develop the GaN‐based material system and enable the fabrication of lasers. ZnSe material quality is already outstanding and now researchers must focus their attention on addressing the short lifetimes of ZnSe‐based lasers to determine whether the material is sufficiently durable for practical laser applications. The problems related to these three wide‐band‐gap semiconductor systems have moved away from materials science toward the device arena, where their technological development can rapidly be brought to maturity.

2,514 citations

PatentDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a II-VI compound semiconductor laser diode is formed from overlaying layers of material including an n-type single crystal semiconductor substrate (12), adjacent N-type and p-type guiding lasers (14), a quantum well active layer (18), and a second electrode (30) is characterized by a Fermi energy, with shallow acceptors having a shallow acceptor energy, to a net acceptor concentration of at least 1 x 1017 cm 3.
Abstract: A II-VI compound semiconductor laser diode (10) is formed from overlaying layers of material including an n-type single crystal semiconductor substrate (12), adjacent n-type and p-type guiding lasers (14) and (16) of II-VI semiconductor forming a pn junction, a quantum well active layer (18) of II-VI semiconductor between the guiding layers (14) and (16), first electrode (32) opposite the substrate (12) from the n-type guiding layer (14), and a second electrode (30) opposite the p-type guiding layer (16) from the quantum well layer (18) Electrode layer (30) is characterized by a Fermi energy A p-type ohmic contact layer (26) is doped, with shallow acceptors having a shallow acceptor energy, to a net acceptor concentration of at least 1 x 1017 cm-3, and includes sufficient deep energy states between the shallow acceptor energy and the electrode layer Fermi energy to enable cascade tunneling by charge carriers

1,453 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Positron annihilation spectroscopy is particularly suitable for studying vacancy-type defects in semiconductors and combining state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical methods allows for detailed identification of the defects and their chemical surroundings as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Positron annihilation spectroscopy is particularly suitable for studying vacancy-type defects in semiconductors. Combining state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical methods allows for detailed identification of the defects and their chemical surroundings. Also charge states and defect levels in the band gap are accessible. In this review the main experimental and theoretical analysis techniques are described. The usage of these methods is illustrated through examples in technologically important elemental and compound semiconductors. Future challenges include the analysis of noncrystalline materials and of transient defect-related phenomena.

534 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, laser diode action in the blue green has been observed from (Zn,Cd)Se quantum wells within ZnSe/Zn(S,Se) p•n heterojunctions up to 250 K.
Abstract: Laser diode action in the blue‐green has been observed from (Zn,Cd)Se quantum wells within ZnSe/Zn(S,Se) p‐n heterojunctions up to 250 K. Operation is reported for two different configurations for which the GaAs substrate serves either as the n‐ or p‐type injecting contact. In pulsed operation, output powers exceeding 0.6 W have been measured in devices prepared on both n‐type and p‐type GaAs epitaxial buffer layers and substrates.

498 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, high-quality n-type ZnSe layers have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy using chlorine (Cl) as a dopant, showing mirrorlike morphology and good crystallinity, although some degrade in crystallinity is observed at a heavy doping.
Abstract: High‐quality n‐type ZnSe layers have been grown by molecular‐beam epitaxy using chlorine (Cl) as a dopant. The Cl‐doped ZnSe layers showed mirrorlike morphology and good crystallinity, although some degrade in crystallinity is observed at a heavy doping. The carrier concentration of the layer could be widely controlled by a ZnCl2 Knudsen cell temperature. The carrier concentration attained 1×1019 cm−3, where the resistivity was as low as 3×10−3 Ω cm, indicating a remarkable improvement compared to the previous work using group‐III elements as a dopant. Hall mobilities at room temperature were in the range of 200–400 cm2/(V s), depending on the doping level. The Cl‐doped ZnSe layer exhibited strong blue near‐band‐gap photoluminescence (PL) with suppressed deep‐level emission at room temperature. The 4.2‐K PL of the layer was dominated by strong emission of excitons bound to neutral donors originating from substitutional Cl atoms. It was found by a secondary ion‐mass‐spectroscopy analysis that diffusion of ...

151 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the epitaxial layers are p-type with net acceptor concentrations (NA−ND) as high as 8×1016 cm−3, the highest ever reported for molecular beam epitaxia ZnSe. The details of the electrical and optical characterization of these layers are presented.
Abstract: Lithium‐doped ZnSe has been grown on (100) GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy. The epitaxial layers are p‐type with net acceptor concentrations (NA−ND) as high as 8×1016 cm−3— the highest ever reported for molecular beam epitaxial ZnSe. Room temperature ac measurements show resistivities as low as 2.9 Ω cm. Higher Li concentrations give rise to self‐compensation and a decrease in NA−ND. The details of the electrical and optical characterization of these layers are presented. Rudimentary blue light emitting pn junction diodes have been fabricated. While these devices show dominant blue emission (463 nm) at room temperature, large turn‐on voltages indicate that the p‐ZnSe/p‐GaAs interface presents a large barrier to hole transport. Moreover, we find that difficulty in making device‐quality ohmic contacts to p‐ZnSe is the next major obstacle to the fabrication of efficient blue light emitting diodes.

119 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, blue electroluminescence has been obtained from ZnSe p-n junctions, which were grown on n-type GaAs(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy.
Abstract: Blue electroluminescence has been obtained from ZnSe p-n junctions. ZnSe films were grown on n-type GaAs(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The dopants used for n-and p-type ZnSe were Ga and O, respectively. The electron-beam-induced current strongly suggests the formation of a p-n junction. The built-in Potential of the p-n junction and carrier concentration of p-type ZnSe layer estimated from the capacitance-voltage relation were about 2.3 V and 1.2×1016cm-3, respectively. The electroluminescence spectra from the p-n junction were dominated by band-edge emissions of 466 nm at room temperature and 446 nm at 77 K.

57 citations