KR20060040923A - Light emitting diode of high efficiency for light extraction and method for fabricating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein a protruding pattern such as a convex lens shape or a pyramid shape is formed on upper and lower surfaces or upper and lower surfaces of a substrate for manufacturing a light emitting diode. By reducing the total reflection to increase the light extraction efficiency, there is an excellent effect that can increase the amount of light emitted to the outside.

Total reflection, luminescence, protrusion, efficiency

Description

High light extraction efficiency light emitting diode and its manufacturing method {Light emitting diode of high efficiency for light extraction and method for fabricating the same}             

1 is a cross-sectional view of a gallium nitride light emitting diode according to the prior art

2 is a cross-sectional view of a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention.

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating protrusion pattern shapes formed on a substrate of a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention.

4 is another cross-sectional view of a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention.

5A to 5F are cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing process of a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention.

6A and 6B are cross-sectional views illustrating another manufacturing process of the high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention.

7 is a plan view of a state in which a photoresist pattern is formed on an upper surface of a sapphire substrate according to the present invention;

8A to 8C are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of forming a sapphire pattern protruding from an upper surface of a sapphire substrate according to the present invention.

9 is a cross-sectional view of the sapphire pattern protruding into a pyramid shape according to the present invention

10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating that total reflection of light is not generated by the sapphire pattern protruding from the high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: substrate 110: protruding pattern

130: N-type semiconductor layer 140: quantum well layer

150: P-type semiconductor layer 160: current diffusion layer

170a, 570a: N-metal electrode 170b, 570b: P-metal electrode

200,300,550: Sapphire substrate 201,261: Sapphire pattern

210: photoresist pattern 220: buffer layer

230: N-GaN layer 240,520: quantum well layer

250: P-GaN layer 310: silicon oxide film

320: silicon oxide film pattern 550a, 550b: protruding pattern

600: Submount Substrate

The present invention relates to a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to form a protrusion pattern on the manufacturing substrate of the light emitting diode to reduce the total reflection to increase the light extraction efficiency, thereby increasing the amount of light emitted to the outside A high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode and a method of manufacturing the same.

In general, nitride semiconductors have a light emission wavelength ranging from ultraviolet light to visible light, and are excellent in chemical and thermal stability, and are being actively promoted for application to high temperature or high power electronic devices.

At present, the most active product development is optical devices such as light emitting diodes and laser diodes. Currently, blue and green light emitting diodes are commercially available, and in addition to developing light emitting diodes having longer wavelengths and shorter wavelengths in the ultraviolet region. Attempts are being made actively.

Various attempts have been made to produce white light using light emitting diodes using a group III nitride-based semiconductor active layer. Currently, there are products using blue light emitting diodes and yellow phosphors. Attempts have been made to combine white light emitting diodes with RGB phosphors.

In addition, the 405nm laser diode has been selected as a recording light source for the next generation optical recording media, and efforts have been actively made to improve output and reliability.

As such, nitride semiconductor materials are currently being actively developed into blue, green, and white light sources, and efforts are being made to obtain high brightness for use in various applications.

A method of obtaining a high brightness light emitting diode is to improve the quality of the active layer to increase the internal quantum efficiency.

In addition, there is a method of increasing the external emission efficiency by helping to emit the light emitted from the active layer to the outside and collecting in the required direction.

At present, attempts have been made to improve both the internal efficiency and the external efficiency, but the external efficiency of the device electrode design, the shape of the device itself, and the packaging method is improved compared to the method of improving the quality of the material to improve the internal efficiency. Attempts have been made to increase the number.

The methods tried to date are mainly to improve the transmittance of the upper electrode or improve the shape to improve the emission efficiency, and when packaged, the reflector plate outside the device to collect the light emitted to the upper side to the lower sapphire or side The main form is to put.

Meanwhile, the external quantum efficiency of the light emitting diode is expressed as the product of the internal quantum efficiency and the light extraction efficiency of the light emitting diode.

In particular, light extraction in high power light emitting diodes serves as an important parameter in determining the light efficiency.

Conventional light emitting diode manufacturing methods have a limitation in light extraction.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a gallium nitride light emitting diode according to the related art, and includes a gallium nitride buffer layer 11, an N-GaN layer 12, and a multi-quantum well layer (MQW) on a sapphire substrate 10 ( 13) and the P-GaN layer 14 are sequentially formed, and a mesa is etched from the P-GaN layer 14 to the N-GaN layer 12 to form part of the N-GaN layer 12. Is exposed, a current spreading layer 15 is formed on the P-GaN layer 14, and an N-metal electrode 16 is formed on the exposed N-GaN layer 12. The P-metal electrode 17 is formed on the current diffusion layer 15.

In the gallium nitride light emitting diode configured as described above, the gallium nitride buffer layer 11, the N-GaN layer 12, the multi-quantum well layer 13, and the P-GaN layer 14 are sequentially formed on the sapphire substrate 10 by MOCVD. Next, Mesa is etched from the P-GaN layer 14 to the N-GaN layer 12.

Thereafter, a current spreading layer 15 is formed on the P-GaN layer 14, and then an N-metal electrode 16 is formed on the exposed N-GaN layer 12. The P-metal electrode 17 is formed on the current spreading layer 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of photons generated in the multi-quantum well layer cause total reflection at the sapphire and gallium nitride interface, and also total reflection in the sapphire and the outside air or resin, which is a light loss. It causes a problem of lowering the light efficiency of the device.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode that can increase the amount of light emitted to the outside by forming a protruding pattern on the light emitting diode manufacturing substrate to reduce the total reflection to increase the light extraction efficiency. And a method for producing the same.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor buffer layer, an N-type semiconductor layer, a quantum well layer, and a P-type semiconductor layer are sequentially formed on a substrate having a pattern protruding from an upper surface thereof. ;

Mesa etching from the P-type semiconductor layer to the N-type semiconductor layer to expose a portion of the N-type semiconductor layer;

A current spreading layer is formed on the P-type semiconductor layer;

An N-metal electrode is formed on the exposed N-type semiconductor layer and a P-metal electrode is formed on the current diffusion layer.

Another preferred aspect for achieving the above objects of the present invention is a first step of forming a pattern protruding from the sapphire substrate upper surface;

A second step of sequentially forming a semiconductor buffer layer, an N-type semiconductor layer, a quantum well layer and a P-type semiconductor layer on an upper surface of the sapphire substrate on which the protruding pattern is formed;

Mesa etching from the P-type semiconductor layer to the N-type semiconductor layer;

A fourth forming a current spreading layer on the P-type semiconductor layer, forming an N-type metal electrode on the exposed N-type semiconductor layer, and forming a P-type metal electrode on the current diffusion layer Provided is a method of manufacturing a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode comprising the step.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention. The semiconductor buffer layer 120, the N-type semiconductor layer 130, and the quantum well are disposed on the substrate 100 having the pattern 110 protruding from the upper surface. The layer 140 and the P-type semiconductor layer 150 are sequentially formed, and Mesa is etched from the P-type semiconductor layer 150 to the N-type semiconductor layer 130 to form the N-type semiconductor layer 130. Is exposed, a current spreading layer 160 is formed on the P-type semiconductor layer 150, and an N-metal electrode 170a is disposed on the exposed N-type semiconductor layer 130. ) Is formed, and a P-metal electrode 170b is formed on the current diffusion layer 160.

Here, the protruding pattern 110 formed on the upper surface of the substrate 100 is preferably made of the same material as the substrate 100.

The substrate 100 is preferably a sapphire substrate, and the semiconductor is preferably GaN.

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating protrusion patterns formed on a substrate of a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The protrusion patterns of the substrate have a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other. Is preferably a convex lens shape or a pyramid shape as shown in FIG. 3B.

4 is another cross-sectional view of the high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention, in which a protruding pattern 111 is also formed on the lower surface of the substrate 100 having the pattern 110 protruding from the upper surface thereof.

5A to 5F are cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing process of a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention. First, a circular photoresist pattern 210 is formed on a top surface of a sapphire substrate 200 by a photolithography process. (FIG. 5A)

In this case, the thickness t of the photoresist pattern is preferably about 3-10 μm, and as shown in FIG. 7, the diameter d of the patterned circle is preferably about 3-5 μm.

Thereafter, the photoresist pattern 210 is reflowed in an oven or a hot plate at about 130-150 ° C. to make a convex lens shape (FIG. 5B).

Next, the sapphire substrate 200 is etched using the convex lens-shaped photoresist pattern 211 as a mask to form a convex lens-shaped sapphire pattern 201 on the upper surface of the sapphire substrate 200. 5c)

In this case, the convex lens-shaped sapphire pattern 201 is formed by etching the upper surface of the flat sapphire substrate 200, and each convex lens shape is spaced apart from each other to form a pattern.

Here, the etching process uses ICP (Inductive-Coupled Plasma) -RIE (Reactive Ion Etching) method, the rough conditions are as follows.

In the ICP-RIE etching process, (Ar + BCl ₃ + Cl ₂ ) gas is used. The ICP power is 500-800 W, the RF bias is 200 V, and the working pressure is 5 mTorr.

At this time, when the time proceeds until the photoresist mask is completely removed, a convex lens-shaped sapphire pattern is formed.

The gallium nitride buffer layer 220, the N-GaN layer 230, the quantum well layer 240 and the P-GaN layer 250 are formed on the upper surface of the sapphire substrate on which the convex lens-shaped sapphire pattern formed by the above-described process is formed. It is formed sequentially. (FIG. 5D)

Then, Mesa is etched from the P-GaN layer 250 to the N-GaN layer 230 (FIG. 5E).

Thereafter, a current spreading layer 260 is formed on the P-GaN layer 250, and then an N-metal electrode 270a is formed on the exposed N-GaN layer 230. The P-metal electrode 270b is formed on the current spreading layer 260 (FIG. 5F).

6A and 6B are cross-sectional views illustrating another manufacturing process of a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention, and the convex lens shape is formed on the lower surface of the sapphire substrate 200 in the same manner as in FIGS. 5A to 5C. A sapphire pattern 261 is formed. (FIGS. 2G and 2H).

Meanwhile, Table 1 shows the light extraction efficiency of the conventional light emitting diode and the light extraction efficiency of the light emitting diode according to the present invention. The light extraction efficiency of the conventional light emitting diode measured using a simulator called "Light Tools" is shown. Is 25.3%, and the light extraction efficiency of the light emitting diode of the present invention is 65.5%, indicating that the light extraction efficiency of the light emitting diode of the present invention is excellent.

division Conventional The present invention Light extraction efficiency 25.3% 65.5%

And, Table 2 shows the light extraction efficiency measured according to the sapphire pattern size of the convex lens shape according to the present invention, when the diameter of the lens is 3 ~ 5㎛, shows a high light extraction efficiency of 57 ~ 58.5% When the lens height was 1 탆 and the lens diameter was about 4 탆, the highest light extraction efficiency was obtained.

Therefore, the diameter of the convex lens-shaped sapphire pattern according to the present invention is preferably 3 to 5㎛.

Lens diameter (μm) Pitch (μm) Lens Height (μm) Light extraction efficiency (%) 3 6 One 57 4 8 One 65.5 5 10 One 58.5 7 14 One 56.7 10 20 One 48.5

8A to 8C are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of forming a sapphire pattern protruding from an upper surface of a sapphire substrate according to the present invention. First, a silicon oxide film 310 is formed on the sapphire substrate 300. 8a)

Here, the thickness of the silicon oxide film is preferably 2 ~ 4㎛.

Thereafter, the silicon oxide film 310 is sequentially dry and wet etched to form a silicon oxide film pattern 320 (FIG. 8B).

In this case, when wet etching the silicon oxide film 310, the inclination angle may be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the wet time to wet the side surface of the silicon oxide film 310.

Next, the sapphire substrate 300 is dry-etched by using the silicon oxide layer pattern 320 as a mask to form a sapphire pattern protruding in a pyramid shape on the upper surface of the sapphire substrate 300 (FIG. 8C).

At this time, it can be seen that the light extraction efficiency is changed according to the size and the slope of the pyramid as shown in Table 3 showing the light extraction efficiency measured according to the pyramid width and the inclination angle.

That is, when the inclination α of the sapphire pattern protruding into the pyramid shape is 45 ° to 65 °, the height h of the sapphire pattern is 1 μm, and the width w is 3 to 5 μm, light extraction is performed. The efficiency was measured at a relatively high 54.6 to 61.1.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the inclination α of the sapphire pattern projecting in the pyramid shape is preferably 45 ° to 65 °, and the width w when the height h of the sapphire pattern is 1 μm. ) Is preferably 3 to 5 µm.

Pyramid width (μm) Slope (°) Pyramid Height (μm) Light extraction efficiency (%) 3 45 One 61.1 3 65 One 58.2 3 80 One 46.4 4 45 One 60.1 5 45 One 54.6 7 45 One 52.4 10 45 One 46.7

10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating that total reflection of light is not generated by the sapphire pattern protruding from the high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode according to the present invention. Electrodes and P-metal electrodes 570a and 570b are bonded to the sub-mount substrate 600.

In this state, the light generated in the quantum well layer 520 is continuously changed in the incident angle and the reflection angle by the protruding patterns 550a and 550b formed on the upper and lower portions of the sapphire substrate 550, resulting in total reflection. This reduction allows more light to escape from the device.

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect of increasing the amount of light emitted to the outside by increasing the light extraction efficiency by reducing the total reflection by forming a protruding pattern on the manufacturing substrate of the light emitting diode.

Although the invention has been described in detail only with respect to specific examples, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit of the invention, and such modifications and variations belong to the appended claims.

Claims (10)

A semiconductor buffer layer, an N-type semiconductor layer, a quantum well layer and a P-type semiconductor layer are sequentially formed on the substrate having a pattern protruding from the upper surface thereof; Mesa etching from the P-type semiconductor layer to the N-type semiconductor layer to expose a portion of the N-type semiconductor layer; A current spreading layer is formed on the P-type semiconductor layer; An N-metal electrode is formed on the exposed N-type semiconductor layer, and a P-metal electrode is formed on the current diffusion layer. The method of claim 1, On the lower surface of the substrate, A high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode, characterized in that a protruding pattern is further formed. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The protruding pattern is a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode, characterized in that made of the same material as the substrate. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The substrate is a sapphire substrate, A high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode, characterized in that the semiconductor is GaN. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The protrusion pattern of the substrate is A plurality of protrusions are spaced apart from each other, The protrusion pattern is a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode, characterized in that the convex lens shape or pyramid shape. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The protrusion pattern of the substrate is A plurality of protrusions are spaced apart from each other, The protrusion pattern shape is a convex lens shape or pyramid shape, The diameter of the convex lens is 3 ~ 5㎛, A high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode, characterized in that the inclination (α) of the pyramid shape is 45 ° ~ 65 °. Forming a pattern protruding from an upper surface of the sapphire substrate; A second step of sequentially forming a semiconductor buffer layer, an N-type semiconductor layer, a quantum well layer and a P-type semiconductor layer on an upper surface of the sapphire substrate on which the protruding pattern is formed; Mesa etching from the P-type semiconductor layer to the N-type semiconductor layer; A fourth forming a current spreading layer on the P-type semiconductor layer, forming an N-type metal electrode on the exposed N-type semiconductor layer, and forming a P-type metal electrode on the current diffusion layer A method of manufacturing a high light extraction efficiency light emitting diode comprising a step. The method of claim 7, wherein After the fourth step, And a fifth step of forming a pattern protruding from the lower surface of the sapphire substrate. The method of claim 8, The first step or the fifth step, Forming a photoresist pattern on the upper or lower surface of the sapphire substrate; Reflowing the photoresist pattern to form a convex lens shape; A sapphire substrate is etched using the convex lens-shaped photoresist pattern as a mask, thereby manufacturing a convex lens-shaped sapphire pattern on the upper or lower surface of the sapphire substrate. Way. The method of claim 8, The first step or the fifth step, Forming a silicon oxide film on the sapphire substrate; Forming a silicon oxide layer pattern by sequentially performing dry etching and wet etching of the silicon oxide layer; And dry etching the sapphire substrate using the silicon oxide layer pattern as a mask to form a sapphire pattern protruding in a pyramid shape on an upper surface of the sapphire substrate.

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