US20210104638A1 - Visible-swir hyper spectral photodetectors with reduced dark current - Google Patents
Visible-swir hyper spectral photodetectors with reduced dark current Download PDFInfo
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 41
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- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 claims description 8
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- ZAMOUSCENKQFHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chlorine atom Chemical compound [Cl] ZAMOUSCENKQFHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
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- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/0248—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies
- H01L31/0256—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by the material
- H01L31/0264—Inorganic materials
- H01L31/0304—Inorganic materials including, apart from doping materials or other impurities, only AIIIBV compounds
- H01L31/03046—Inorganic materials including, apart from doping materials or other impurities, only AIIIBV compounds including ternary or quaternary compounds, e.g. GaAlAs, InGaAs, InGaAsP
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/04—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer
- H01L21/18—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer the devices having semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic System or AIIIBV compounds with or without impurities, e.g. doping materials
- H01L21/30—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26
- H01L21/302—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26 to change their surface-physical characteristics or shape, e.g. etching, polishing, cutting
- H01L21/304—Mechanical treatment, e.g. grinding, polishing, cutting
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- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/04—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer
- H01L21/18—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer the devices having semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic System or AIIIBV compounds with or without impurities, e.g. doping materials
- H01L21/30—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26
- H01L21/302—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26 to change their surface-physical characteristics or shape, e.g. etching, polishing, cutting
- H01L21/306—Chemical or electrical treatment, e.g. electrolytic etching
- H01L21/3065—Plasma etching; Reactive-ion etching
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- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/02—Details
- H01L31/0232—Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
- H01L31/02327—Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device the optical elements being integrated or being directly associated to the device, e.g. back reflectors
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/08—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors
- H01L31/10—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. phototransistors
- H01L31/101—Devices sensitive to infrared, visible or ultraviolet radiation
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/08—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors
- H01L31/10—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. phototransistors
- H01L31/101—Devices sensitive to infrared, visible or ultraviolet radiation
- H01L31/102—Devices sensitive to infrared, visible or ultraviolet radiation characterised by only one potential barrier or surface barrier
- H01L31/109—Devices sensitive to infrared, visible or ultraviolet radiation characterised by only one potential barrier or surface barrier the potential barrier being of the PN heterojunction type
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/18—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
- H01L31/184—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof the active layers comprising only AIIIBV compounds, e.g. GaAs, InP
- H01L31/1844—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof the active layers comprising only AIIIBV compounds, e.g. GaAs, InP comprising ternary or quaternary compounds, e.g. Ga Al As, In Ga As P
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to photodetectors, and more particularly to wide bandwidth hyper spectral photodetectors, e.g., for use in hyper spectral imaging.
- Photodetectors with InGaAs lattice-matched to InP require smooth surfaces for adequate light admission, high quality interface for passivation, and require small diode areas to reduce dark current.
- a front InP cap is in the micron to sub-micron thickness range. Lateral diffusion in the cap increases the junction area and thus increases dark current.
- a method includes forming an assembly of layers including an InP cap layer on an InGaAs absorption region layer, wherein the InGaAs layer is on an n-InP layer, and wherein an underlying substrate layer underlies the n-InP layer.
- the method includes removing a portion of the InP cap layer by dry etching.
- the method can include growing the InP cap layer epitaxially on the InGaAs absorption region layer.
- the method can include chemical polishing and/or mechanical polishing of the InP substrate layer to remove on the order of hundreds of microns of thickness from the InP substrate layer prior to removing InP and InGaAs etch-stop layers by selective wet etching, and then a portion of the InP cap layer by dry etching.
- Dry etching can include removing only on the order of nanometers of the InP cap layer and substrate layer. Dry etching can include dry etching the InP cap layer and substrate layer down to a thickness that gives the assembly of layers sensitivity down into visible light wavelengths for hyper spectral imaging.
- the final thickness of InP can be tailored by Inductive Coupled Plasma (ICP) dry etch to a thickness range from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm with good surface quality comparable to epitaxial growth. Dry etching can include ICP etching.
- the ICP can be a chlorine free process.
- the method can include forming a dielectric passivation layer on the InP cap layer after removing the portion of the InP cap layer by dry etching.
- the method can include forming a diffusion area in the InP cap layer and InGaAs absorption region layer to form a photodiode.
- the n-InP layer can be a contact layer.
- the method can include removing the substrate layer and dry etching a portion of the n-InP layer away. Dry etching a portion of the n-InP layer away can include dry etching the n-InP layer down to a final thickness that ranges from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm.
- the method can include forming a multiple layer backside anti-reflective coating on the n-InP layer.
- a photodiode system includes InP cap layer on an InGaAs absorption region layer, wherein the InGaAs layer is on an n-InP layer.
- the InP cap layer can be sensitive down into visible light wavelengths desired for Visible to SWIR hyper spectral imaging. Reducing the InP cap layer thickness can reduce the lateral diffusion thus reducing the dark current. This can also favor fine pixel pitch fabrication due to the reduced lateral diffusion.
- the InP cap layer can range from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm in thickness.
- the InP cap layer and InGaAs absorption region layer can include a diffusion area.
- the InP cap layer and InGaAs absorption layer can have an inherent dark current which can be reduced by this thinned InP cap layer.
- An underlying substrate layer can underlie the n-InP layer.
- the system can include a dielectric passivation layer on the InP cap layer.
- the InP cap layer and InGaAs absorption region layer can include a diffusion area.
- the InP cap layer and the InGaAs absorption layer can have an inherent dark current which can be reduced by this thinned InP cap layer.
- the n-InP layer can have a thickness of less than or equal to hundreds of nm achieved by this substrate thinning technique finishing with dry etch.
- the system can include a multiple layer backside anti-reflective coating on the n-InP layer.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of an embodiment of a system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the InP cap layer before reducing thickness thereof;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of the system of FIG. 1 , showing the InP cap layer after reducing the thickness thereof, in a configuration for front side illumination sensitivity.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of an embodiment of a system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing a back-side illumination configuration prior to reducing thickness of the InP cap layer and prior to reducing thickness of the contact layer;
- FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of the system of FIG. 3 , showing the InP cap layer and the contact layer after reduction of their thicknesses.
- FIG. 1 a partial view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100 .
- FIGS. 2-4 Other embodiments of systems in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided in FIGS. 2-4 , as will be described.
- the systems and methods described herein can be used to form hyper spectral photodetectors, e.g. for use in focal plane arrays or the like.
- a method includes forming an assembly 100 of layers including an InP cap layer 102 on an InGaAs absorption region layer 104 , which is in turn on an n-InP layer 106 .
- An underlying substrate layer 108 underlies the n-InP layer 106 , which is a buffer layer.
- the InP cap layer 102 can be grown epitaxially on the InGaAs absorption region layer 104 .
- the method can include dry etching of the InP cap layer 102 to remove on the order of hundreds of nanometers of thickness from the InP cap layer, while still leaving a smooth, thin layer for the subsequent passivation and contact steps.
- the dry etching process can include inductive coupled plasma (ICP) etching, and the ICP can be a chlorine free process.
- ICP inductive coupled plasma
- the method can include forming a dielectric passivation layer 110 on the InP cap layer 102 .
- the method can include forming a diffusion area 112 in the InP cap layer 102 and InGaAs absorption region layer 104 to form a photodiode.
- InP absorbs wavelengths shorter than 920 nm, so in traditional systems photosensitivity is limited to infrared when using InP. Absorption increases with InP substrate thickness. Reducing the InP cap thickness will decrease a device's dark current, while reduction of the substrate and or/InP cap allows improved sensitivity to shorter wavelengths of light.
- the processes described herein allow for reliable thinning of the InP cap layer 102 (with reliable control of thickness and surface smoothness) down until the InP cap layer 102 is thin enough to allow sensitivity in visible wavelengths due to incomplete absorption below 920 nm.
- the InP cap layer 102 is can be less than or equal to one hundred nanometers thick, which allows for sensitivity down into visible light wavelengths for hyper spectral imaging.
- the InP cap layer 102 and InGaAs absorption layer 104 can have an inherent dark current that is reduced due to the thinned InP cap layer thickness, in which the corresponding lateral diffusion area is also decreased.
- the stacking defects at the InP surface can be removed through dry etching, which improves the epitaxial surface and further reduces dark current by removing leaky paths.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 provide a system and process for front side illumination structures, i.e. where the system 100 in FIG. 2 is sensitive to illumination from above as oriented in FIG. 2 .
- a system 200 includes an assembly of layers 202 including an InP cap layer 102 and an InGaAs absorption region layer 104 similar to those described above.
- the n-InP layer 206 is similar to the layer 106 described above, but is a contact layer in this application.
- the method includes removing material from the InP cap layer 102 for dark current reduction, depositing a dielectric passivation layer 110 , and forming a diffusion area 112 as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 .
- the method can also include removing the substrate layer 208 through chemical mechanical lapping and polishing followed by selective wet etching and selective wet etching the InGaAs sacrificial layer 212 away as shown in FIGS.
- Dry etching a portion of the n-InP contact layer 206 away can include dry etching the n-InP contact layer 206 down to a final thickness from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm thick.
- the method can include forming a multiple layer backside anti-reflective (AR) coating 214 on the n-InP layer. This system as shown in FIG. 4 is sensitive to illumination from the back side, i.e. illumination entering from the bottom as oriented in FIG. 4 , and can provide for hyperspectral imaging as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 .
- the n-InP layer can have a thickness from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm thick.
- the thinned InP cap/substrate in combination with AR coating improves quantum efficiency (QE) over the (visible and near infrared) Vis-NIR and SWIR range with enhanced spectral response, responsivity and sensitivity characteristics comparable to standard InGaAs, and can have excellent corrected uniformity across a broad part of a sensor's dynamic range.
- QE quantum efficiency
- the methods and systems of the present disclosure as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for photodetectors with wide bandwidth hyper spectral sensitivity. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
Abstract
Description
- The present disclosure relates to photodetectors, and more particularly to wide bandwidth hyper spectral photodetectors, e.g., for use in hyper spectral imaging.
- Photodetectors with InGaAs lattice-matched to InP require smooth surfaces for adequate light admission, high quality interface for passivation, and require small diode areas to reduce dark current. Traditionally, a front InP cap is in the micron to sub-micron thickness range. Lateral diffusion in the cap increases the junction area and thus increases dark current.
- The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved systems and methods for hyper spectral imaging with low dark current. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.
- A method includes forming an assembly of layers including an InP cap layer on an InGaAs absorption region layer, wherein the InGaAs layer is on an n-InP layer, and wherein an underlying substrate layer underlies the n-InP layer. The method includes removing a portion of the InP cap layer by dry etching.
- The method can include growing the InP cap layer epitaxially on the InGaAs absorption region layer. The method can include chemical polishing and/or mechanical polishing of the InP substrate layer to remove on the order of hundreds of microns of thickness from the InP substrate layer prior to removing InP and InGaAs etch-stop layers by selective wet etching, and then a portion of the InP cap layer by dry etching.
- Dry etching can include removing only on the order of nanometers of the InP cap layer and substrate layer. Dry etching can include dry etching the InP cap layer and substrate layer down to a thickness that gives the assembly of layers sensitivity down into visible light wavelengths for hyper spectral imaging. The final thickness of InP can be tailored by Inductive Coupled Plasma (ICP) dry etch to a thickness range from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm with good surface quality comparable to epitaxial growth. Dry etching can include ICP etching. The ICP can be a chlorine free process.
- The method can include forming a dielectric passivation layer on the InP cap layer after removing the portion of the InP cap layer by dry etching. The method can include forming a diffusion area in the InP cap layer and InGaAs absorption region layer to form a photodiode.
- The n-InP layer can be a contact layer. The method can include removing the substrate layer and dry etching a portion of the n-InP layer away. Dry etching a portion of the n-InP layer away can include dry etching the n-InP layer down to a final thickness that ranges from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm. The method can include forming a multiple layer backside anti-reflective coating on the n-InP layer.
- A photodiode system includes InP cap layer on an InGaAs absorption region layer, wherein the InGaAs layer is on an n-InP layer. For front illuminated detectors the thinned the InP cap layer can be sensitive down into visible light wavelengths desired for Visible to SWIR hyper spectral imaging. Reducing the InP cap layer thickness can reduce the lateral diffusion thus reducing the dark current. This can also favor fine pixel pitch fabrication due to the reduced lateral diffusion. The InP cap layer can range from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm in thickness.
- The InP cap layer and InGaAs absorption region layer can include a diffusion area. The InP cap layer and InGaAs absorption layer can have an inherent dark current which can be reduced by this thinned InP cap layer. An underlying substrate layer can underlie the n-InP layer. The system can include a dielectric passivation layer on the InP cap layer.
- For back illuminated detectors, the InP cap layer and InGaAs absorption region layer can include a diffusion area. The InP cap layer and the InGaAs absorption layer can have an inherent dark current which can be reduced by this thinned InP cap layer. The n-InP layer can have a thickness of less than or equal to hundreds of nm achieved by this substrate thinning technique finishing with dry etch. The system can include a multiple layer backside anti-reflective coating on the n-InP layer.
- These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
- So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of an embodiment of a system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the InP cap layer before reducing thickness thereof; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of the system ofFIG. 1 , showing the InP cap layer after reducing the thickness thereof, in a configuration for front side illumination sensitivity. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of an embodiment of a system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing a back-side illumination configuration prior to reducing thickness of the InP cap layer and prior to reducing thickness of the contact layer; and -
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of the system ofFIG. 3 , showing the InP cap layer and the contact layer after reduction of their thicknesses. - Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
FIG. 1 and is designated generally byreference character 100. Other embodiments of systems in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided inFIGS. 2-4 , as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can be used to form hyper spectral photodetectors, e.g. for use in focal plane arrays or the like. - A method includes forming an
assembly 100 of layers including anInP cap layer 102 on an InGaAsabsorption region layer 104, which is in turn on an n-InP layer 106. Anunderlying substrate layer 108 underlies the n-InP layer 106, which is a buffer layer. TheInP cap layer 102 can be grown epitaxially on the InGaAsabsorption region layer 104. - The method can include dry etching of the
InP cap layer 102 to remove on the order of hundreds of nanometers of thickness from the InP cap layer, while still leaving a smooth, thin layer for the subsequent passivation and contact steps. The dry etching process can include inductive coupled plasma (ICP) etching, and the ICP can be a chlorine free process. - With reference now to
FIG. 2 , after theInP cap layer 102 has been thinned by dry etching, the method can include forming adielectric passivation layer 110 on theInP cap layer 102. The method can include forming adiffusion area 112 in theInP cap layer 102 and InGaAsabsorption region layer 104 to form a photodiode. - InP absorbs wavelengths shorter than 920 nm, so in traditional systems photosensitivity is limited to infrared when using InP. Absorption increases with InP substrate thickness. Reducing the InP cap thickness will decrease a device's dark current, while reduction of the substrate and or/InP cap allows improved sensitivity to shorter wavelengths of light. The processes described herein allow for reliable thinning of the InP cap layer 102 (with reliable control of thickness and surface smoothness) down until the
InP cap layer 102 is thin enough to allow sensitivity in visible wavelengths due to incomplete absorption below 920 nm. TheInP cap layer 102 is can be less than or equal to one hundred nanometers thick, which allows for sensitivity down into visible light wavelengths for hyper spectral imaging. TheInP cap layer 102 andInGaAs absorption layer 104 can have an inherent dark current that is reduced due to the thinned InP cap layer thickness, in which the corresponding lateral diffusion area is also decreased. The stacking defects at the InP surface can be removed through dry etching, which improves the epitaxial surface and further reduces dark current by removing leaky paths. - The description above with respect to
FIGS. 1 and 2 provides a system and process for front side illumination structures, i.e. where thesystem 100 inFIG. 2 is sensitive to illumination from above as oriented inFIG. 2 . - With reference now to
FIG. 4 , for back side illumination, asystem 200 includes an assembly oflayers 202 including anInP cap layer 102 and an InGaAsabsorption region layer 104 similar to those described above. The n-InP layer 206 is similar to thelayer 106 described above, but is a contact layer in this application. The method includes removing material from theInP cap layer 102 for dark current reduction, depositing adielectric passivation layer 110, and forming adiffusion area 112 as described above with respect toFIGS. 1 and 2 . The method can also include removing thesubstrate layer 208 through chemical mechanical lapping and polishing followed by selective wet etching and selective wet etching the InGaAssacrificial layer 212 away as shown inFIGS. 3-4 . Dry etching a portion of the n-InP contact layer 206 away can include dry etching the n-InP contact layer 206 down to a final thickness from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm thick. The method can include forming a multiple layer backside anti-reflective (AR) coating 214 on the n-InP layer. This system as shown inFIG. 4 is sensitive to illumination from the back side, i.e. illumination entering from the bottom as oriented inFIG. 4 , and can provide for hyperspectral imaging as described above with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 . The n-InP layer can have a thickness from below 200 nm, down to 10 nm thick. - The thinned InP cap/substrate in combination with AR coating improves quantum efficiency (QE) over the (visible and near infrared) Vis-NIR and SWIR range with enhanced spectral response, responsivity and sensitivity characteristics comparable to standard InGaAs, and can have excellent corrected uniformity across a broad part of a sensor's dynamic range. The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for photodetectors with wide bandwidth hyper spectral sensitivity. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
Claims (19)
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US16/593,793 US20210104638A1 (en) | 2019-10-04 | 2019-10-04 | Visible-swir hyper spectral photodetectors with reduced dark current |
EP19214976.3A EP3800672B1 (en) | 2019-10-04 | 2019-12-10 | Method of manufacturing visible-swir hyper spectral photodetectors with reduced dark current |
US17/972,047 US11923470B2 (en) | 2019-10-04 | 2022-10-24 | Visible-swir hyper spectral photodetectors with reduced dark current |
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KR100464333B1 (en) | 2003-03-28 | 2005-01-03 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Photo detector and method for fabricating thereof |
JP4094471B2 (en) * | 2003-04-15 | 2008-06-04 | 株式会社東芝 | Semiconductor photo detector |
US7081415B2 (en) | 2004-02-18 | 2006-07-25 | Northrop Grumman Corporation | Method of dry plasma etching semiconductor materials |
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US7598582B2 (en) | 2007-06-13 | 2009-10-06 | The Boeing Company | Ultra low dark current pin photodetector |
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