skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1-x}N-based back-illuminated solar-blind photodetectors with external quantum efficiency of 89%

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4829065· OSTI ID:22254136

We report on high performance Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}N-based solar-blind ultraviolet photodetector (PD) array grown on sapphire substrate. First, high quality, crack-free AlN template layer is grown via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Then, we systematically optimized the device design and material doping through the growth and processing of multiple devices. After optimization, uniform and solar-blind operation is observed throughout the array; at the peak detection wavelength of 275 nm, 729 μm{sup 2} area PD showed unbiased peak external quantum efficiency and responsivity of ∼80% and ∼176 mA/W, respectively, increasing to 89% under 5 V of reverse bias. Taking the reflection loses into consideration, the internal quantum efficiency of these optimized PD can be estimated to be as high as ∼98%. The visible rejection ratio measured to be more than six orders of magnitude. Electrical measurements yielded a low-dark current density: <2 × 10{sup −9} A/cm{sup 2}, at 10 V of reverse bias.

OSTI ID:
22254136
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 103, Issue 19; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English