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Title: Sn-based Ge/Ge{sub 0.975}Sn{sub 0.025}/Ge p-i-n photodetector operated with back-side illumination

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4945816· OSTI ID:22591547
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125 (United States)

We report an investigation of a GeSn-based p-i-n photodetector grown on a Ge wafer that collects light signal from the back of the wafer. Temperature dependent absorption measurements performed over a wide temperature range (300 K down to 25 K) show that (a) absorption starts at the indirect bandgap of the active GeSn layer and continues up to the direct bandgap of the Ge wafer, and (b) the peak responsivity increases rapidly at first with decreasing temperature, then increases more slowly, followed by a decrease at the lower temperatures. The maximum responsivity happens at 125 K, which can easily be achieved with the use of liquid nitrogen. The temperature dependence of the photocurrent is analyzed by taking into consideration of the temperature dependence of the electron and hole mobility in the active layer, and the analysis result is in reasonable agreement with the data in the temperature regime where the rapid increase occurs. This investigation demonstrates the feasibility of a GeSn-based photodiode that can be operated with back-side illumination for applications in image sensing systems.

OSTI ID:
22591547
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 15; Other Information: (c) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English