Passivation of carbon acceptors during growth of carbon-doped GaAs,InGaAs, and HBTs by MOCVD

Carbon dopedp-type GaAs and In_0.53Ga_0.47As epitaxial layers have been grown by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using CC1₄ as the carbon source. Low-temperature post-growth annealing resulted in a significant increase in the hole concentration for both GaAs and In_0.53Ga_0.47As, especially at high doping levels. The most heavily doped GaAs sample had a hole concentration of 3.6 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³ after a 5 minute anneal at ≈400° C in N₂, while the hole concentration in In_0.53Ga_0.47As reached 1.6 × 10¹⁹ cm⁻³ after annealing. This annealing behavior is attributed to hydrogen passivation of carbon acceptors. Post-growth cool-down in an AsH₃/H₂ ambient was found to be the most important factor affecting the degree of passivation for single, uncapped GaAs layers. No evidence of passivation is observed in the base region of InGaP/GaAs HBTs grown at ≈625° C. The effect ofn-type cap layers and cool-down sequence on passivation of C-doped InGaAs grown at ≈525° C shows that hydrogen can come from AsH₃, PH₃, or H₂, and can be incorporated during growth and during the post-growth cool-down. In the case of InP/InGaAs HBTs, significant passivation was found to occur in the C-doped base region.     

Deep level investigation on n-In0.35Ga0.65As/GaAs structures

We have investigated the deep electronic levels in n-In_0.35Ga_0.65As epitaxial layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on graded In_xGa_1−xAs buffer/GaAs structures. In_xGa_1−xAs buffer layers with linear, parabolic and power composition grading law, respectively have been considered. The dependence of the deep levels distribution on the buffer grading law as well as on growth parameters such as the growth temperature and use of As₂ or As₄ beams is reported.     

Galvanomagnetic properties of two-dimensional electron gases in strain relaxed InxGa1−xAs(x<0.40) heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs substrates

We have investigated, as a function of indium content x, the galvanomagnetic and Shubnikov de Haas (SdH) properties of two-dimensional electron gases (2DEG) formed at lattice matched, strain relaxed InAlAs/InGaAs heterojunctions. These were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs misoriented substrates with a two degree offcut toward the nearest (110) plane. Variable temperature resistivity and Hall measurements indicate an increase in the electron sheet density n_s from 0.78×10¹²cm⁻² for x=0.15 to 1.80×10¹² cm⁻² for x=0.40 at 300K, and from 0.75×10¹²cm⁻² to 1.67×10¹²cm⁻² at T=1.6K. The room temperature electron mobility, measured along the in plane [110], direction is independent of indium content and equals approximately 9500 cm²/Vs. For T<50K, the mobility is independent of temperature decreasing with increasing x from 82000 cm²/Vs for x=0.15 to 33000 cm²/Vs for x=0.40. The ratios (τ_t/τ_q) at 1.6K between the electron relaxation time τ_t and the single particle relaxation time τq, for the strain relaxed specimens, as well as for pseudomorphically strained Al_0.35Ga_0.65As/In_0.15Ga_0.85As structures grown on GaAs substrates, and In_0.52Al_0.48As/In_0.53Ga_0.47As heterostructures grown lattice matched on InP substrates. Such a study indicates the presence of inhomogeneities in the 2DEGs of the strain relaxed specimens which appear to be related to the process of strain relaxation. Such inhomogeneities, however, have little effect on the electron relaxation time τ_t which, at low temperatures, is limited principally by alloy scattering.     

MOVPE grown Ga1−xInxAs solar cells for GaInP/GaInAs tandem applications

Lattice-mismatched Ga_1−xIn_xAs solar cells with an absorption edge between 900 and 1150 nm have been grown on GaAs substrates. Different graded Ga_1−xIn_xAs buffer layers and solar cell structures were evaluated to achieve a good electrical performance of the device. External quantum efficiencies comparable to our best GaAs solar cells were measured. The best 1 cm² cell with a bandgap energy of 1.18 eV has an efficiency of 22.6% at AM1.5g and a short circuit current density of 36.4 mA/cm². To our knowledge, this is the highest reported efficiency for a Ga_0.83In_0.17As solar cell.     

High electron mobility 18300 cm2/V·s in the InAIAs/lnGaAs pseudomorphic structure obtained by channel indium composition modulation

The highest electron mobility yet reported for an InP-based pseudomorphic structure at room temperature, 18300 cm²/V·s, has been obtained by using a structure with an indium composition modulated channel, namely, In_0.53Ga_0.47As/ In_0.8Ga_0.2As/InAs/In_0.8Ga_0.2As/In_0.53Ga_0.47As. Although the total thickness of the high In-content layers (In_0.8Ga_0.2As/InAs/In_0.8Ga_0.2As) exceeds the critical thick-ness predicted by Matthews theory, In_0.8Ga_0.2As insertion makes it possible to form smooth In_0.53Ga_0.47As/In_0.8Ga_0.2As and In_0.8Ga_0.2As/InAs heterointerfaces. This structure can successfully enhance carrier confinement in the high In-content layers. This superior carrier confinement can be expected to lead to the highest yet reported electron mobility.     

Properties of Ge-doped GaAs and Alx Ga1−xAs,Sn-doped Alx Ga1−xAs and Si-Te-doped GaAs

In order to better understand the electrical and optical properties of GaAs and Al_xGa_1-x As used in making double heterojunction lasers, we have studied the Hall coefficient, resistivity and photoluminescence behavior of doped epitaxial samples of these materials. In particular, we report results on Ge-doped GaAs and Al_x Ga_1-x As, Sn-doped Al_xGa_1-x As and Si-Te-doped GaAs single crystal layers which were grown on GaAs substrates by the liquid phase epitaxial method. The effects of impurities in the solution on the carrier concentration, mobility, photoluminescence spectra and possible recombination processes in these layers are discussed.     

In0.48Ga0.52P/In0.20Ga0.80As/GaAs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors grown by solid-source molecular-beam epitaxy using a valved phosphorus cracker cell

In_0.48Ga_0.52P/In_0.20Ga_0.80As/GaAs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (p-HEMT) structures were grown by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy (SSMBE) using a valved phosphorus cracker cell. The sheet carrier density at room temperature was 3.3 × 10¹²cm^?2. A peak transconductance (G _m) of 267 mS mm^?1 and peak drain current density (I _ds) of 360 mA mm^?1 were measured for a p-HEMT device with 1.25 µm gate length. A high gate-drain breakdown voltage (BV _gd) of 33V was measured. This value is more than doubled compared with that of a conventional Al_0.30Ga_0.70As/In_0.20Ga_0.80As/GaAs device. The drain-source breakdown voltage (BV _ds) was 12.5V. Devices with a mushroom gate of 0.25 µm gate length and 80 µm gate width achieved a peak transconductance (G _m) of 420 mS mm^?1 and drain current density of nearly 500mA mm^?1. A high cutoff frequency (f _T) of 58GHz and maximum oscillation frequency (f _max) of 120 GHz were obtained. The results showed that the In_0.48Ga_0.52P/In_0.20Ga_0.80As/GaAs material system grown by SSMBE using the valved phosphorus cracker cell for the In^0.48Ga^0.52P Schottky and spacer layers is a viable technology for high frequency p-HEMT device applications.     

20-nm enhancement-mode metamorphic GaAs HEMT with highly doped InGaAs source/drain regions for high-frequency applications

In this article, the DC and RF performance of a SiN passivated 20-nm gate length metamorphic high electron mobility transistor (MHEMT) on GaAs substrate with highly doped InGaAs source/drain (S/D) regions have investigated using the Synopsys TCAD tool. The 20-nm enhancement-mode (E-mode) MHEMT device also features δ-doped sheets on either side of the In_0.53Ga_0.47As/InAs/In_0.53Ga_0.47As channel which exhibits a transconductance of 3100 mS/mm, cut-off frequency (f_T) of 740 GHz and a maximum oscillation frequency (f_max) of 1040 GHz. The threshold voltage of the device is found to be 0.07 V. The room temperature Hall mobilities of the 2-dimensional sheet charge density are measured to be over 12,600 cm²/Vs with a sheet charge density larger than 3.6 × 10¹² cm^?2. These high-performance E-mode MHEMTs are attractive candidates for sub-millimetre wave applications such as high-resolution radars for space research, remote atmospheric sensing, imaging systems and also for low noise wide bandwidth amplifier for future communication systems.     

Hall and photoluminescence studies of effects of the thickness of an additional In0.3Ga0.7As layer in the center of In0.15Ga0.85As/Al0.25Ga0.75As/GaAs high electron mobility transistors

In order to reduce the noise and carrier–donor scattering and thereby increase the carrier mobility of the pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs high electron mobility transistors (pHEMTs), we have grown Al_0.25Ga_0.75As/In_0.15Ga_0.85As/In_0.3Ga_0.7As/GaAs pHEMTs with varied In_0.3Ga_0.7As thickness, and studied the effects of the In_0.3Ga_0.7As thickness on the electron mobility and sheet density by Hall measurements and photoluminescence measurements. We calculated the electron and hole subbands and obtained good agreement between calculated and measured PL energies. It was found that the additional In_0.3Ga_0.7As layer could be used to reduce the carrier–donor scattering, but due to the increased interface roughness as the In_0.3Ga_0.7As layer becomes thicker, the interface scattering reduced the electron mobility. An optimal thickness of the In_0.3Ga_0.7As was found to be 2 nm.     

Liquid phase epitaxial growth and characterization of high purity lattice matched GaxIn1-xAs ON <111>B InP

High purity Ga_xIn_1-x As has been grown lattice matched on <111>B InP by liquid phase epitaxy. Silicon, the residual impurity, is purged from the melt by long time baking in a hydrogen atmosphere with slight ambient water vapor concentration. Epitaxial layers with a net electron concentration as low as 3.5 × 10¹⁴ cm^-3 and a liquid nitrogen mobility of 70,000 cm²/Vsec have been grown. The room temperature mobility is shown to be significantly higher than GaAs over a wide range of net electron concentrations useful for device applications, with the highest value of μ₃₀₀ = 13,800 cm²/Vsec on a sample with n = 1.9 × I0¹⁵ cm_-3     

The effects of quantum dot coverage in InAs/(In)GaAs nanostructures for long wavelength emission

We present a study on the effects of quantum dot coverage on the properties of InAs dots embedded in GaAs and in metamorphic In_0.15Ga_0.85As confining layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs substrates. We show that redshifted emission wavelengths exceeding 1.3 μm at room temperature were obtained by the combined use of InGaAs confining layers and high quantum dot coverage. The use of high InAs coverage, however, leads to detrimental effects on the optical and electrical properties of the structures. We relate such behaviour to the formation of extended structural defects originating from relaxed large-sized quantum dots that nucleate in accordance to thermodynamic equilibrium theories predicting the quantum dot ripening. The effect of the reduced lattice-mismatch of InGaAs metamorphic layers on quantum dot ripening is discussed in comparison with the InAs/GaAs system.     

Zn-Doped InGaP Grown by the LP- MOCVD

Zn-doped In_0.485Ga_0.515P epitaxial layers were grown on semi-insulating GaAs substrates by low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (LP-MOCVD) at the temperatures 520,560, and 720°C. Growth conditions were optimized with respect to surface morphology for each growth temperature and the growth rates were in the range from 0.6 to 1.4 μm/h. Diethylzinc was used as a Zn precursor and the dependencies of hole concentrations, mobilities, and photoluminescence spectra on the growth conditions were studied. Doping levels from 3 × 10¹⁷ to 3 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ were obtained at different growth temperatures. The highest hole mobilities were measured in the layers grown at 560°C. The acceptor activation energy of 21 meV was measured from the photoluminesce spectra in our samples. As the results are not directly comparable with the data from the literature, theoretical models of Zn incorporation are discussed. A desorption energy of 0.55 eV of Zn atoms was calculated from the temperature dependence of the zinc distribution coefficient K_zn .     

Growth and characterization of totally relaxed InGaAs thick layers on strain-relaxed paramorphic InP substrates

In this paper, we present a technological process that can be used to prepare strain-relaxed InAsP/InGaAs bilayer membranes, 0.8% lattice mismatched to InP substrates, with diameters up to 300 μm. It is shown that high-quality thick In_0.65Ga_0.35As layers can be grown fully relaxed on these membranes, without any structural defect, as demonstrated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) characterizations. The critical thickness of InAs layers grown on InAs_0.25P_0.75 templates is enhanced from 15 ? to 60 ? when compared to InP substrates.     

Analysis of temperature coefficients for III–V multi‐junction concentrator cells

The temperature dependence of the I–V parameters of different III–V multi‐junction concentrator cells at several concentration levels was investigated. Moreover, the influence of spectral changes on the temperature coefficients of multi‐junction solar cells was examined. Complete sets of temperature coefficients of a metamorphic Ga_0.35In_0.65P/Ga_0.83In_0.17As dual‐junction cell, a metamorphic Ga_0.35In_0.65P/Ga_0.83In_0.17As/Ge triple‐junction cell and a lattice‐matched Ga_0.50In_0.50P/Ga_0.99In_0.01As/Ge triple‐junction cell determined under well‐controlled laboratory conditions are reported. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optical transitions of Al0.35Ga0.65As/GaAs asymmetric double quantum wells grown on GaAs(n11)A (n≤4) substrates

The optical transitions in Al_0.35Ga_0.65As/GaAs asymmetric double quantum wells (ADQWs) grown on GaAs(n11)A (n≤4) substrates were studied by photoluminescence at low temperatures. The redshift of two PL peaks for substrate orientation far from the (100) plane is attributed to the large anisotropy of the heavy-hole band in the different GaAs orientations. The energy difference of the two transitions also shows a similar shift. By comparing the PL measurements with a simple effective mass calculation, the effective mass of the heavy hole on GaAs(n11)A (n=1, 2, 3, 4) planes is found to be about 0.95, 0.73, 0.54 and 0.41m₀, respectively. The effect of As pressures on PL peak energies in ADQWs is also studied. The As pressure-dependence of PL peak energies is attibuted to a decrease of the Ga desporption rate with increasing As pressures on GaAs(n11)A substrates.     

Thermal characteristics of InP, InAlAs, and AlGaAsSb metamorphic buffer layers used in In0.52Al0.48As/In0.53Ga0.47As heterojunction bipolar transistors grown on GaAs substrates

In_0.52Al_0.48As/In_0.53Ga_0.47As heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) were grown metamorphically on GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. In these growths, InAlAs, AlGaAsSb, and InP metamorphic buffer layers were investigated. The InAlAs and AlGaAsSb buffer layers had linear compositional grading while the InP buffer layer used direct binary deposition. The transistors grown on these three layers showed similar characteristics. Bulk thermal conductivities of 10.5, 8.4, and 16.1 W/m K were measured for the InAlAs, AlGaAsSb, and InP buffer layers, as compared to the 69 W/m K bulk thermal conductivity of bulk InP. Calculations of the resulting HBT junction temperature strongly suggest that InP metamorphic buffer layers should be employed for metamorphic HBTs operating at high power densities.     

High C-doping of MOVPE grown thin AlxGa1−xAs layers for AlGaAs/GaAs interband tunneling devices

High hole concentrations in LP-MOVPE grown GaAs and AlGaAs layers can be achieved by intrinsic C-doping using TMGa and TMAl as carbon sources. Free carrier concentrations exceeding 10²⁰ cm⁻³ were realised at low growth temperatures between 520–540°C and V/III ratios <1.2. The C-concentration increases significantly with the Al-content in Al_xGa_1−xAs layers. We observed an increase in the atom- and free carrier concentration from 5·10¹⁹ cm⁻³ in GaAs to 1.5·10²⁰ cm⁻³ in Al_0.2Ga_0.8As for the same growth conditions. Interband tunneling devices with n-type Si and p-type C-doped AlGaAs layers and barriers made of Al_0.25Ga_0.26In_0.49P have been investigated.     

Growth and characterization of lattice-matched epitaxial films of GaxIn1−xAs/InP by liquid-phase epitaxy

We determined the conditions for successful lattice-matched growth by liquid-phase epitaxy near T = 620‡ C of Ga_XIn_1−XAs on [111B] InP substrates. We have used the results of the growth of both lattice-matched and intentionally lattice-mismatched epitaxial layers, (0.4 ≤ X ≤ 0.7) to calculate a phase diagram which gives the correct liquidus temperature, (T_L ± 1‡ C), and the correct solid composition, (± 5 % of the nominal composition), for the entire range of growth solutions considered for this important ternary semi-conductor system. The parameters appropriate to this calculation are significantly different from those used to describe the growth of Ga_XIn_1−XAs on GaAs. The results of this calculation play an important part in the better understanding of the quaternary alloy Ga_XIn_1−XAs_yP_1−y. Our measurements show that the ternary alloy lattice-matched to InP is Ga_0.47In_0.53As, semiconductor with a direct band gap about 0.75 eV at room temperature. We have grown p-n junction homostructures and double-heterostructures on InP substrates. These wafers have been used to make detectors in the 1.0 – 1.7/um range of the optical spectrum.     

High indium content graded channel GainAs/AlinAs pseudomorphic MODFETs

We report on the electrical and microstructural properties of InP/Ga_xIn ₁ -xAs/Al_0.48In_0.52As modulation doped layers having compositionally graded active channels with different channel thicknesses. The layers were grown by solid source molecular beam epitaxy on Fe-doped InP substrates. The undoped GaInAs two dimensional electron gas channel layers were grown having indium compositions graded fromx = 0.53 at the substrate buffer tox= 0.65 at the heterointerface by varying the Ga cell temperature during growth. Active channel thicknesses of 20 nm and 30 nm were compared with lattice matched layers. Transmission electron microscope image analysis indicates no misfit dislocations in these structures. Hall-effect measurements at 300 K show an increase in the mobility from 8,380 cm²/Vs for the lattice matched layer to 12,500 cm²/Vs for the 30 nm pseudomorphic layer. Small gate-length, 0.25 μn, MODFETs were fabricated to determine effective velocity values from transconductance (g _m ) and current gain (h ₂₁ ) measurements. The peak dc extrinsicg _m increased from 367 mS/mm for the lattice matched layer to 668 mS/mm for the 30 nm pseudomorphic layer. The effective electron carrier velocity increased from 1.57 × 10⁷ cm/s for the lattice matched layer to 1.88 × 10⁷ cm/s for the 30 nm pseudomorphic layer. Our results show that compositional grading is a useful technique to obtain thick pseudomorphic layers with good transport properties.     

Effect of Se-doping on deep impurities in AlxGa1−xAs grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

We have studied the effect of Se-doping on deep impurities in Al_xGa_1−xAs (x = 0.2∼0.3) grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Deep impurities in various Se-doped Al_xGa_1−xAs layers grown on GaAs substrates were measured by deep level transient spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. We have found that the commonly observed oxygen contamination-related deep levels at E_c-0.53 and 0.70 eV and germanium-related level at E_c-0.30 eV in MOCVD grown Al_xGa_1−xAs can be effectively eliminated by Se-doping. In addition, a deep hole level located at E_y + 0.65 eV was found for the first time in Se-doped Al_xGa_1-xAs when Se ≥2 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ or x ≥ 0.25. The concentration of this hole trap increases with increasing Se doping level and Al composition. Under optimized Se-doping conditions, an extremely low deep level density (N_t less than 5 × 10¹² cm⁻³, detection limit) Al_0.22Ga_0.78As layer was achieved. A p-type Al_0.2Ga_0.8As layer with a low deep level density was also obtained by a (Zn, Se) codoping technique.