WO2014140370A1 - Structure électroluminescente semi-conductrice ayant une région active comprenant ingan, et son procédé de fabrication - Google Patents

Structure électroluminescente semi-conductrice ayant une région active comprenant ingan, et son procédé de fabrication Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014140370A1
WO2014140370A1 PCT/EP2014/055314 EP2014055314W WO2014140370A1 WO 2014140370 A1 WO2014140370 A1 WO 2014140370A1 EP 2014055314 W EP2014055314 W EP 2014055314W WO 2014140370 A1 WO2014140370 A1 WO 2014140370A1
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Prior art keywords
layer
gai
layers
active region
semiconductor structure
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PCT/EP2014/055314
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English (en)
Inventor
Jean-Philippe Debray
Chantal Arena
Heather MCFAVILEN
Ding DING
Li Huang
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Soitec
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Priority claimed from FR1300823A external-priority patent/FR3003397B1/fr
Priority claimed from FR1300923A external-priority patent/FR3004585B1/fr
Application filed by Soitec filed Critical Soitec
Priority to JP2015562260A priority Critical patent/JP2016513879A/ja
Priority to CN201480015241.1A priority patent/CN105051920A/zh
Priority to DE112014001385.4T priority patent/DE112014001385T5/de
Priority to KR1020157026427A priority patent/KR102120682B1/ko
Publication of WO2014140370A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014140370A1/fr

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L33/00—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L33/005—Processes
    • H01L33/0062—Processes for devices with an active region comprising only III-V compounds
    • H01L33/0066—Processes for devices with an active region comprising only III-V compounds with a substrate not being a III-V compound
    • H01L33/007—Processes for devices with an active region comprising only III-V compounds with a substrate not being a III-V compound comprising nitride compounds
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L33/00—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L33/02—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof characterised by the semiconductor bodies
    • H01L33/26—Materials of the light emitting region
    • H01L33/30—Materials of the light emitting region containing only elements of group III and group V of the periodic system
    • H01L33/32—Materials of the light emitting region containing only elements of group III and group V of the periodic system containing nitrogen
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L33/00—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L33/02—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof characterised by the semiconductor bodies
    • H01L33/04—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof characterised by the semiconductor bodies with a quantum effect structure or superlattice, e.g. tunnel junction
    • H01L33/06—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof characterised by the semiconductor bodies with a quantum effect structure or superlattice, e.g. tunnel junction within the light emitting region, e.g. quantum confinement structure or tunnel barrier
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L33/00—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L33/02—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof characterised by the semiconductor bodies
    • H01L33/08—Semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof characterised by the semiconductor bodies with a plurality of light emitting regions, e.g. laterally discontinuous light emitting layer or photoluminescent region integrated within the semiconductor body
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C30—CRYSTAL GROWTH
    • C30B—SINGLE-CRYSTAL GROWTH; UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF EUTECTIC MATERIAL OR UNIDIRECTIONAL DEMIXING OF EUTECTOID MATERIAL; REFINING BY ZONE-MELTING OF MATERIAL; PRODUCTION OF A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; SINGLE CRYSTALS OR HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; AFTER-TREATMENT OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OR A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C30B29/00—Single crystals or homogeneous polycrystalline material with defined structure characterised by the material or by their shape
    • C30B29/10—Inorganic compounds or compositions
    • C30B29/40—AIIIBV compounds wherein A is B, Al, Ga, In or Tl and B is N, P, As, Sb or Bi
    • C30B29/403—AIII-nitrides
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C30—CRYSTAL GROWTH
    • C30B—SINGLE-CRYSTAL GROWTH; UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF EUTECTIC MATERIAL OR UNIDIRECTIONAL DEMIXING OF EUTECTOID MATERIAL; REFINING BY ZONE-MELTING OF MATERIAL; PRODUCTION OF A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; SINGLE CRYSTALS OR HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; AFTER-TREATMENT OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OR A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C30B29/00—Single crystals or homogeneous polycrystalline material with defined structure characterised by the material or by their shape
    • C30B29/10—Inorganic compounds or compositions
    • C30B29/40—AIIIBV compounds wherein A is B, Al, Ga, In or Tl and B is N, P, As, Sb or Bi
    • C30B29/403—AIII-nitrides
    • C30B29/406—Gallium nitride
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • 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
    • H01L21/02104—Forming layers
    • H01L21/02365—Forming inorganic semiconducting materials on a substrate
    • H01L21/02436—Intermediate layers between substrates and deposited layers
    • H01L21/02439—Materials
    • H01L21/02455—Group 13/15 materials
    • H01L21/02458—Nitrides
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • 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
    • H01L21/02104—Forming layers
    • H01L21/02365—Forming inorganic semiconducting materials on a substrate
    • H01L21/02436—Intermediate layers between substrates and deposited layers
    • H01L21/02494—Structure
    • H01L21/02496—Layer structure
    • H01L21/02505—Layer structure consisting of more than two layers
    • H01L21/02507—Alternating layers, e.g. superlattice
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2224/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies and methods related thereto as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2224/01—Means for bonding being attached to, or being formed on, the surface to be connected, e.g. chip-to-package, die-attach, "first-level" interconnects; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/42—Wire connectors; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/47—Structure, shape, material or disposition of the wire connectors after the connecting process
    • H01L2224/48—Structure, shape, material or disposition of the wire connectors after the connecting process of an individual wire connector
    • H01L2224/4805—Shape
    • H01L2224/4809—Loop shape
    • H01L2224/48091—Arched
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2224/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies and methods related thereto as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2224/01—Means for bonding being attached to, or being formed on, the surface to be connected, e.g. chip-to-package, die-attach, "first-level" interconnects; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/42—Wire connectors; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/47—Structure, shape, material or disposition of the wire connectors after the connecting process
    • H01L2224/48—Structure, shape, material or disposition of the wire connectors after the connecting process of an individual wire connector
    • H01L2224/481—Disposition
    • H01L2224/48151—Connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive
    • H01L2224/48221—Connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive the body and the item being stacked
    • H01L2224/48245—Connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive the body and the item being stacked the item being metallic
    • H01L2224/48247—Connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive the body and the item being stacked the item being metallic connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2924/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2924/15—Details of package parts other than the semiconductor or other solid state devices to be connected
    • H01L2924/181—Encapsulation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/30—Structure or shape of the active region; Materials used for the active region
    • H01S5/34—Structure or shape of the active region; Materials used for the active region comprising quantum well or superlattice structures, e.g. single quantum well [SQW] lasers, multiple quantum well [MQW] lasers or graded index separate confinement heterostructure [GRINSCH] lasers
    • H01S5/343—Structure or shape of the active region; Materials used for the active region comprising quantum well or superlattice structures, e.g. single quantum well [SQW] lasers, multiple quantum well [MQW] lasers or graded index separate confinement heterostructure [GRINSCH] lasers in AIIIBV compounds, e.g. AlGaAs-laser, InP-based laser
    • H01S5/34333—Structure or shape of the active region; Materials used for the active region comprising quantum well or superlattice structures, e.g. single quantum well [SQW] lasers, multiple quantum well [MQW] lasers or graded index separate confinement heterostructure [GRINSCH] lasers in AIIIBV compounds, e.g. AlGaAs-laser, InP-based laser with a well layer based on Ga(In)N or Ga(In)P, e.g. blue laser

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and light-emitting devices fabricated from such semiconductor structures that have an active region comprising InGaN, to methods of fabricating such light-emitting devices, and to devices that include such light-emitting devices.
  • LEDs are electrical devices that emit electromagnetic radiation in the form of visible light when a voltage is applied across an active region of the LED between an anode and a cathode.
  • LEDs typically comprise one or more layers of semiconductor material, within which electrons supplied from the anode and holes supplied from the cathode recombine. As the electrons and holes recombine within the active region of the LED, energy is released in the form of photons, which are emitted from the active region of the LED.
  • LEDs may be fabricated to include a wide range of different types of semiconductor materials including, for example, III-V semiconductor materials, and II-V semiconductor materials.
  • the wavelength of the light emitted from any particular LED is a function of the amount of energy released when an electron and a hole recombine.
  • the wavelength of the light emitted from the LED is a function of relative difference in energy between the energy level of the electron and the energy level of the hole.
  • the energy levels of the electrons and the energy levels of the holes are at least partially a function of the composition of semiconductor materials, the doping type and concentration, the configuration (i.e., crystal structure and orientation) of the semiconductor materials, and the quality of the semiconductor materials within which recombination of the electrons and holes occurs.
  • the wavelength of the light emitted from an LED may be selectively tailored by selectively tailoring the composition and configuration of the semiconductor materials within the LED.
  • LEDs that comprise III-V semiconductor materials, such as Group III nitride materials.
  • III-V semiconductor materials such as Group III nitride materials.
  • Group III nitride LEDs are known to be capable of emitting radiation in the blue and green visible regions of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, and are known to be capable of operating at relatively high power and luminosity.
  • the present disclosure includes a semiconductor structure comprising an In n Gai Vietnamese n N base layer having a polar growth plane with a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms.
  • An active region is disposed over the base layer, and the active regions comprises a plurality of layers of InGaN.
  • the plurality of layers of InGaN include at least one In w Ga 1-w N well layer, wherein 0.10 ⁇ w ⁇ 0.40, and at least one Iri b ia 3 ⁇ 4 barrier layer, wherein 0.01 ⁇ b ⁇ 0.10.
  • the semiconductor structure further includes an electron blocking layer disposed on a side of the active region opposite the In n Gaikos n N base layer, a p-type bulk layer disposed on the electron blocking layer, and a p-type contact layer disposed on p-type bulk layer.
  • the p-type bulk layer comprises In p Gai crea p N, wherein 0.00 ⁇ p ⁇ 0.08, and the p-type contact layer comprises In c Gai mutual c N, wherein 0.00 ⁇ c ⁇ 0.10.
  • the disclosure includes light emitting devices fabricated from such semiconductor structures.
  • the present disclosure includes a light emitting device comprising an ln beau( iai n N base layer having a polar growth plane with a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms.
  • An active region is disposed over the base layer, and the active region comprises a plurality of layers of InGaN.
  • the plurality of layers of InGaN include at least one well layer and at least one barrier layer.
  • the device further includes an electron blocking layer disposed over the active region, a p-type In,,Gai N bulk layer disposed over the electron blocking layer; and a p-type In,Gai_ N contact layer disposed over the p-type In p Gai_ p N bulk layer.
  • a critical strain energy of the light emitting device may be about 4500 or less.
  • the present disclosure includes methods of forming such semiconductor structures and light emitting devices.
  • the present disclosure includes a method of forming a semiconductor structure in which an InindexGaikosN base layer is provided that has a polar growth plane with a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 A.
  • a plurality of layers of InGaN are grown to form an active region over the base layer.
  • Growing the plurality of layers of InGaN comprises growing at least one In w Ga 1-w N well layer, wherein 0.10 ⁇ w ⁇ 0.40, and growing at least one lrt
  • the method further includes growing an electron blocking layer over the active region, growing a p-type In p Gai_ p N bulk layer over the electron blocking layer, wherein 0.00 ⁇ p ⁇ 0.08, and growing a p-type In c Gai_ c N contact layer over the p-type In p Gai_ p N bulk layer, wherein 0.00 ⁇ c ⁇ 0.10.
  • FIG. 1A is a simplified side view of a semiconductor structure that includes one or more InGaN well layers and one or more InGaN barrier layers in an active region of the semiconductor structure in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. IB is a simplified diagram illustrating the relative differences in the energy level of the conduction band in an energy band diagram for the different materials in the various layers of the semiconductor structure of FIG. 1A.
  • FIG. 2A is a simplified side view of another semiconductor structure similar to the semiconductor structure of FIG. 1A, but further including an electron stopping layer between an active region and a base layer of the semiconductor structure.
  • FIG. 2B is a simplified conduction band diagram for the semiconductor structure of FIG. 2A.
  • FIG. 3A is a simplified side view of another semiconductor structure similar to the semiconductor structure of FIG. I A, but further includin a strain relief layer between an active region and a base layer of the semiconductor structure.
  • FIG. 3B is a simplified conduction band diagram for the semiconductor structure of FIG. 3 A.
  • FIG. 4A is a simplified side view of another semiconductor structure similar to the semiconductor structure of FIG. 1A, but further including additional thin GaN barrier layers within the active region of the semiconductor structure.
  • FIG. 4B is a simplified conduction band diagram for the semiconductor structure of FIG. 4A.
  • FIG. 5A is a simplified side view of another semiconductor structure similar to the semiconductor structure of FIG. 1A, but further including a well overflow structure within the active region of the semiconductor structure.
  • FIG. 5B is a simplified band diagram for the semiconductor structure of FIG. 5A.
  • FIG. 6A is a simplified top plan view of an intermediate semiconductor structure that may be employed to fabricate a growth template utilized for fabrication of semiconductor structures in accordance with embodiments of methods of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional side view of the intermediate semiconductor structure of FIG. 6A.
  • FIG. 6C is a partial cross-sectional side view of a growth template that may be employed to fabricate semiconductor structures in accordance with embodiments of methods of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 6D illustrates layers of a growth stack epitaxial ly deposited on a growth template like that of FIG. 6C.
  • FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a light emitting device fabricated from semiconductor structures in accordance with embodiments of methods of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an additional light emitting device fabricated from semiconductor structures in accordance with embodiments of methods of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the relationship between internal quantum efficiency and the total strain energy of semiconductors structures formed in accordance with embodiments of methods of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 10A is a simplified side view of a previously known LED that includes InGaN well layers and GaN barrier layers in an active region of the LED.
  • FIG. 10B is a simplified conduction band diagram for the LED of FIG. 10A.
  • FIG. 11 A is a graph illustrating calculated band edges for the conduction band and the valence band with zero applied voltage across the active region of the LED of FIG. 10A, the calculations obtained using a computational model of the LED.
  • FIG. 1 IB is a graph similar to that of FIG. 11 A, but illustrating the calculated band edges for the conduction band and the valence band with a current density of 125 A/cm 2 flowing across the active region of the LED due to an applied voltage across the active region.
  • FIG. l lC is a graph illustrating the calculated intensity of emitted radiation as a function of wavelength for each InGaN quantum well layer in the LED of FIG. 11 A.
  • FIG. i 1 1 is a graph illustrating the calculated carrier injection efficiency as a function of applied current density across the active region of the LED of FIG. 11 A.
  • FIG. HE is a graph illustrating the calculated internal quantum efficiency as a function of applied current density across the active region of the LED of FIG. 11 A.
  • FIG. 12A is a simplified side view of an LED of the present disclosure, which is similar to that of FIG. 1A and includes InGaN well layers and InGaN barrier layers in an active region of the LED.
  • FIG. 12B is a simplified conduction band diagram for the LED of FIG. 12A.
  • FIG. 13A is a graph illustrating calculated band edges for the conduction band and the valence band with zero applied voltage across the active region of the LED of FIG. 12A, the calculations obtained using a computational model of the LED.
  • FIG. 13B is a graph similar to that of FIG. 13 A, but illustrating the calculated band edges for the conduction band and the valence band with a current density of 125 A/cm 2 flowing across the active region of the LED due to an applied voltage across the active region.
  • FIG. 13C is a graph illustrating the calculated intensity of emitted radiation as a function of wavelength for each InGaN quantum well layer in the LED of FIG. 13 A.
  • FIG. 13D is a graph illustrating the calculated carrier injection efficiency as a function of applied current density across the active region of the LED of FIG. 13 A.
  • FIG. 13E is a graph illustrating the calculated internal quantum efficiency as a function of applied current density across the active region of the LED of FIG. 13 A.
  • FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a luminary device that includes an LED of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. I A illustrates an embodiment of a semiconductor structure 100.
  • the semiconductor structure 100 comprises a plurality of Group III nitride layers (e.g., indium nitride, gallium nitride, aluminum nitride and their alloys) and includes a base layer 102, a p-type contact layer 104 and an active region 106 disposed between the base layer 102 and the p-type contact layer 104, the active region 106 comprising a plurality of layers of InGaN.
  • the active region 106 comprises at least one InGaN well layer and at least one InGaN barrier layer.
  • the active region 106 may be at least substantially comprised by InGaN (but for the presence of dopants).
  • the semiconductor structure 100 further comprises an electron blocking layer 108 disposed over the active region 106, a p-type bulk layer 110 disposed over the electron blocking layer 108 and a p-type contact layer 104 disposed over p-type bulk layer 110.
  • the base layer 102 may comprise an In n Ga 1-n N base layer 112, wherein a growth plane of the In n Gai mutual n N baser layer 112 is a polar plane with a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms.
  • a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode may be fabricated from the semiconductor structure 100, as described in detail subsequently herein.
  • a first electrode contact may be formed over a portion of the InindexGai ,,N base layer 112 and a second electrode contact may be formed over a portion of the p-type contact layer 104, such that an electrical voltage may be supplied between the electrode contacts across the active region 106 thereby causing electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light) to be emitted from a light emitting device fabricated from the semiconductor structure 100.
  • electromagnetic radiation e.g., visible light
  • Embodiments of semiconductor structures of the present disclosure which include an active region including at least one InGaN well layer and at least one InGaN barrier layer, may be fabricated using various types of methods for growing or otherwise forming Group III nitride layers such as InGaN.
  • the various Group III nitride layers may be grown or otherwise deposited using one or more of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition process (MOCVD), a vapor phase epitaxy (VPE) process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, a hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) process, a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, a chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) process, etc.
  • CVD chemical vapor deposition
  • MOCVD metalorganic chemical vapor deposition
  • VPE vapor phase epitaxy
  • ALD atomic layer deposition
  • HVPE hydride vapor phase epitaxy
  • MBE molecular beam epitaxy
  • CBE chemical beam epitaxy
  • FIG. 6A is a top plan view of an intermediate semiconductor structure 650 utilized in the formation of growth template 113 (of FIG. 1 A) on which one or more semiconductor structures and subsequent light emitting devices of the present disclosure may be fabricated
  • FIG. 6B is a simplified cross-sectional view of a portion of the intermediate semiconductor structure 650 utilized in the formation of the growth template 113.
  • the growth template 113 may be fabricated as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2010/0176490 Al and/or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2010/0109126.
  • the intermediate semiconductor structure 650 may include a sacrificial substrate 652, a layer of compliant material 654 disposed on the sacrificial substrate 652, and one or more In s Gai_ s N seed layers 656 each comprising a layer of Group III nitride material that is disposed over the compliant material 654.
  • the one or more In s Gai_ s N seed layers 656 may be used as a "seed" on which the various subsequent layers of the semiconductor structure 100 described herein may be formed.
  • the initial In s Gai mutual s N seed layer may be formed on an initial growth substrate and subsequently transferred to sacrificial substrate 652 utilizing methods such as ion implantation, bonding and subsequent separation of a portion of the initial In s Gai_ s N seed layer (not shown).
  • the initial growth substrate may comprise a growth substrate that is characterized in having a growth plane lattice mismatch with the initial In s Gai_ s N seed layer such that the Inimpuls( iui hinge seed layer is formed in a stained manner.
  • the initial growth substrate may comprise a sapphire substrate including a gallium polar GaN seed layer, such that the In s Gaizie s N seed layer formed comprises a gallium polar In s Gaizie s N seed layer that is subjected to tensile strain.
  • the initial In s Gai mutual s N seed layer may be formed or grown such that the In s Gai mutual s N seed layer comprises a growth plane that comprises a polar plane of the Group Ill-nitrides.
  • the growth plane may be formed such that the Iru ai seed layer comprises a Gallium- polar plane.
  • the initial In s Gai mutual s N seed layer may be grown or otherwise formed such that the composition of the IruGai S N seed layer is such that 0.05 ⁇ s ⁇ 0.10.
  • the In s Gai_ s N seed layer maybe also be grown or otherwise formed to a thickness of greater than about two hundred nanometers (200 nm).
  • the In s Gai_ s N seed layer is formed in such a manner that the In s Gai Vietnamese s N seed layer does not surpass the In s Gai_ s N seed layer critical thickness, which is the thickness at which the strain in the In s Gai_ s N seed layer relaxes by the formation of additional defects. This phenomenon is commonly referred to in the art as phase separation. Therefore, the In s Gai_ s N seed layer may comprises a strained, high quality seed material.
  • the process known in the industry as the SMART-CUT process may be used to transfer the In s Gai Vietnamese s N seed layer 656 to the sacrificial substrate 652 utilizing the layer of compliant material 654 as a bonding layer.
  • Such processes are described in detail in, for example, U.S. Patent No. RE39,484 to Bruel, U.S. Patent No. 6,303,468 to Aspar et al, U.S. Patent No. 6,335,258 to Aspar et al., 6,756,286 to Moriceau et al, 6,809,044 to Aspar et al., and 6,946,365 to Aspar et al.
  • the sacrificial substrate 652 may comprise a homogenous material or a heterogeneous (i.e., composite) material.
  • the support substrate 652 may comprise sapphire, silicon, Group Ill-arsenides, quartz ( Si( > ), fused silica (Si(3 ⁇ 4) glass, a glass-ceramic composite material (such as, for example, that sold by Schott North America, Inc. of Duryea, PA under the trademark ZERODUR®), a fused silica glass composite material (such as, for example, NiOi-TiOi or CU2-AI2O 3 -S1O2), aluminum nitride (A1N), or silicon carbine (SiC).
  • the layer of compliant material 654 may comprise, for example, a material having a glass transition temperature (T g ) of less than or equal to about 800 °C.
  • the layer of compliant material 654 may have a thickness in a range extending from about 0.1 ⁇ to about 10 ⁇ and, more particularly, about 1 iim to about 5 ⁇ .
  • the layer of compliant material 100 may comprise at least one of an oxide, a phosphosilicate glass (PSG), borosilicate (BSG), a borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), a polyimide.
  • a doped or undoped quasi-inorganic siloxane spin-on-glass SOG
  • an inorganic spin-on-glass i.e., methyl-, ethyl-, phenyl-, or butyl
  • a doped or undoped silicate i.e., methyl-, ethyl-, phenyl-, or butyl
  • the layer of compliant material 654 may be heated using, for example, an oven, furnace, or deposition reactor, to a temperature sufficient to decrease a viscosity of the layer of compliant material 654 to re flow the layer of compliant material 654 causing the one or more Iti Gai , seed layers 656 to at least partially relax the crystal lattice strain.
  • the tensile strain in the In s Gai mutual s N seed layer 656 may be at least partially relaxed or may even be eliminated, thereby forming an In s Gai_ s N seed layer 656 that comprises a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms.
  • the In s Gai_ s N seed layers 656 may be transferred to a support substrate, and subsequently the compliant material 654 and sacrificial substrate 652 may be removed to form the growth template 113 as illustrated in FIG 1A and FIG 6C.
  • the at least partially relaxed In s Gai_ s N seed layers 656 may be attached to a support substrate 658, and the sacrificial substrate 652 and compliant material 654 may be removed utilizing methods such as one or more of laser lift-off, wet etching, dry etching, and chemical mechanical polishing.
  • the support substrate 658 may comprise a homogenous material or a heterogeneous (i.e., composite) material.
  • the support substrate 658 may comprise sapphire, silicon, Group Ill-arsenides, quartz (Si(3 ⁇ 4), fused silica (Si0 2 ) glass, a glass-ceramic composite material (such as, for example, that sold by Schott North America, Inc. of Duryea, PA under the trademark ZERODUR®), a fused silica glass composite material (such as, for example, or CU 2 -AI 2 O 3 -S1O 2 ), aluminum nitride (A1N), or silicon carbine (SiC).
  • the growth template 113 may optionally include a layer of dielectric material 660 overlying the support substrate 100.
  • the layer of dielectric material 660 may. optionally, be formed over a major surface of the support substrate 658 or the one or more In s Gailiens s N seed layers 656, wherein the dielectric material 660 it utilized as a bonding layer to facilitate the bonding of the In s Gai mutual s N seed layer 656 to the support substrate 658.
  • the layer of dielectric material 660 may include, for example, silicon oxynitride (SiON), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), or silicon dioxide (Si(3 ⁇ 4), and may be formed using, for example, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), or atomic layer deposition (ALD). Therefore, the growth template 113, as shown in FIG. 1 ⁇ and FIG. 6C, comprises a support substrate 658 and an In s Gailiens s N seed layer 656 disposed on the support substrate 658.
  • the In s Gai mutual s N seed layer 656 may be formed over support substrate 658 such that the composition of the In s Gai_ s N seed layer 656 may range from 0.05 ⁇ s ⁇ 0.10. Moreover, the In s Gai mutual s N seed layer 656 may have a polar growth plane 662 comprising a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms. The In s Gai_ s N seed layer may also be formed to a total layer thickness 7' of greater than about one hundred nanometers (100 nm).
  • the growth template 113 forms a portion of the base layer 102 of FIG. 1 ⁇ .
  • the base layer may, in some embodiments, also include an In n Gai votingN base layer 1 12, wherein the ln culinaryGai votingN base layer inherits the crystal properties of the adjacent In s Gai_ s N seed layer 656. Therefore the IngratGaikosN base layer 1 1 2 may also comprise a polar growth plane, for example a gallium polar growth plane, with a growth plane lattice parameter of great than about 3.2 Angstrom.
  • the IngatGai VietnameseN base layer 1 12 may comprise a layer of InariaGai ,,N, wherein 0.00 ⁇ n ⁇ 0.10, or in some embodiments wherein 0.02 ⁇ n ⁇ 0.08. As one particular non-limitin embodiment, n may be equal to about 0.05.
  • the ln culinaryGai n N base layer 1 1 2 may be doped.
  • the In n Gai_trustN base layer I 12 may be doped n-type by doping with elements that are electron donors, such as silicon or germanium.
  • the concentration of dopants in the In n Gai crea n N base layer I 12 may range from about 3e cm to about le cm , or, in some embodiments, the concentration of dopants in the InindexGai ,,N base layer I 12, may range from about 5e 17 cm "3 to about l e'" cm ! .
  • a first electrode contact may be formed on a portion of the InindexGaitivN base layer 1 1 2 after forming one or more of the other various layers of the semiconductor structure 100 comprisin InGaN to fabricate a light emitting device from semiconductor structure 100.
  • the completed base layer 102 comprises the growth template 113, as described herein above and the In n ai portrait base layer 1 12.
  • the various Group III nitride layers of the semiconductor structure 100 may be grown or otherwise formed in a layer-by-layer process as described in further detail subsequently herein.
  • the base layer 102 may comprise a base on which the other layers of the semiconductor structure 100 may be grown or otherwise formed.
  • the various ( iroup III nitride layers of the semiconductor structure 100 may be grown or otherwise formed sequentially beginning with the base layer 102 and moving in the direction from left to right from the perspective of FIG.
  • the structure may actually be oriented such that the base layer 102 is disposed on the bottom during fabrication.
  • the structure may be oriented ninety degrees cou nter-c I ock w ise from the orientation of FIG. 1 A during fabrication.
  • the active region 106 is disposed between the base layer 102 and the p-typc contact layer 104.
  • the active region 106 comprises at least one InGaN well layer 1 14 and at least one InGaN barrier layer I 16.
  • the active region 106 may be at least substantially comprised by InGaN (but for the presence of dopants), the indium content of the InGaN well layer 1 14 being strictly greater than the indium content of the InGaN barrier layer I 1 6.
  • the active region 106 may comprise at least one well layer I 14 comprising In w Ga 1-w N, wherein 0.10 ⁇ w ⁇ 0.40, or in some embodiments, wherein 0.12 ⁇ w ⁇ 0.25, or in further embodiments, wherein w is equal to about 0. 14.
  • the active region 106 also comprises least one barrier layer 1 16 comprising Iri b Gai ⁇ , ⁇ . wherein b ⁇ w and wherein 0.01 ⁇ b ⁇ 0.10, or in some embodiments, wherein 0.03 ⁇ b ⁇ 0.08, or in further embodiments, wherein b is equal to about 0.05.
  • the InGaN barrier layer I 16 may be pro imate (e.g., directly adjacent ) the at least one InGaN well layer 1 14.
  • the active region 106 of the semiconductor structure is the region of the semiconductor structure, when fabricated into a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED), in which electrons and holes recombine with one another to generate photons, which are emitted from the LED.
  • the photons are emitted in the form of visible light.
  • At least some of the visible light may have a wavelength or wavelengths within the range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum extending from about three hundred eighty nanometers (380 nm) to about five hundred and sixty nanometers (560 nm ).
  • the active region 106 of the semiconductor structure 100 comprises one or more InGaN well layers I 14 and one or more InGaN barrier layers 116, and may be at least substantially comprised by InGaN ( but for the presence of dopants ) in some embodiments.
  • the active region 106 may consist essentially of InGaN in some embodiments.
  • the active region 106 comprises one or more pairs of adjacent layers that include one well layer 114 and one barrier layer 116, wherein each well layer 114 comprises In w Ga 1-w N, in which 0.10 ⁇ w ⁇ 0.40, and wherein each barrier layer 116 comprises In b Gai_ b N, in which 0.01 ⁇ b ⁇ 0.10 and b ⁇ w.
  • the active region 106 of the semiconductor structure 100 includes one (1) pair of active layers (a well layer 114 and a barrier layer 116), although in additional embodiments, the active region 106 of the semiconductor structure 100 may include more than one pair of active layers.
  • the active region 106 of the semiconductor structure 100 may include from one (1) to twenty five (25) adjacent pairs of active layers, each pair including a well layer 114 and a barrier layer 116, such that the active region 106 includes a stack of alternating well layers 114 and barrier layers 116 (in embodiments including more than one pair).
  • the number of barrier layers 116 may not be equal to the number of well layers 114.
  • the well layers 114 may be separated from one another by the barrier layers 116.
  • the number of barrier layers 116 may be equal to, one more than, or one less than, the number of well layers 114 in some embodiments.
  • each well layer 114 may have an average layer thickness 7 of between about one nanometer (1 nm ) and about one thousand nanometers (1 ,000 nm ), between about one nanometer (1 nm ) and about one hundred nanometers (100 nm ), or even between about one nanometers (1 nm) and about ten nanometers (10 nm ).
  • the well layers I 14 may comprise quantum wells in some embodiments. In such embodiments, each well layer I 14 may have an average layer thickness 7V of about ten nanometers (10 nm ) or less.
  • the well layers I 14 may not comprise quantum wells, and each well layer 1 14 may have an average layer thickness 7V greater than about ten nanometers (10 nm ).
  • the active region 106 may comprise what are referred to in the art as "double heterostractures.”
  • Each barrier layer 116 may have an average layer thickness ⁇ of between about one nanometer (1 nm ) and about fifty (50 nm), or even between about one nanometers (1 nm ) and about ten nanometers (10 nm), although the barrier layers 116 may be thicker in other embodiments.
  • One or both of the well layers 1 14 and the barrier layers 116 may be doped.
  • one or both of the well layers I 14 and the barrier layers 1 16 may be doped n-type by doping with elements that are electron donors, such as silicon or germanium.
  • the concentration of 17 -3 19 -3 dopants in the well layers 1 14 may range from about 3c cm “ to about le ' cm " , or may range from about 3e 17 cm “3 to about 5e 17 cm “3 in some embodiments.
  • the concentration of dopants in the barrier layers 1 16 may range from about 3e 17 cm "3 to about le 19 cm or may range
  • One or both of the well layers 1 14 and the barrier layers I 16 may have a Wurtzite crystal structure. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or both of the well layers I 14 and the barrier layers 1 16 may comprise a polar growth surface, such as a gallium polar growth surface, which may have an average lattice constant in the growth plane parallel to the interface or interfaces between the well layers I 14 and the barrier layers I 16 that is greater than about 3.2 Angstroms. More specifically, in some embodiments, the average growth plane lattice constant c may be between about 3.2 Angstroms and about 3.3 Angstroms.
  • the active region 106 comprising at least one well layer and at least one barrier layer may have an average total thickness ranging between about forty nanometers (40 nm) and about one thousand nanometers (1,000 nm), between about forty nanometers (40 nm) and about seven hundred and fifty nanometers (750 nm), or even between about forty nanometers (40 nm ) and about two hundred nanometers (200 nm ).
  • the semiconductor structure 100 optionally may include additional layers between the active region 106 and the p-type contact layer 104, and/or between the active region 106 and the base layer 102.
  • the semiconductor structure 100 may comprise a spacer layer 118 between the active region 106 and the base layer 1 2.
  • the optional spacer layer 118 may comprise a layer of In sp Gai portrait sp N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ sp ⁇ 0.10, or wherein 0.03 ⁇ sp ⁇ 0.06, or wherein sp is equal to about 0.05.
  • the spacer layer 118 may be used to provide a more gradual transition between the base layer 102 and the layers of the active region 1 6, which may have a different composition (and, hence, lattice parameter) relative to the I n Ga 1-n N base layer 1 12.
  • the In sp Gai_ sp N spacer layer I 18 may be disposed directly between the base layer 102 and the active region 106 in some embodiments.
  • the In sp Gai_ sp N spacer layer 1 1 8 may have an average layer thickness T sp of between about one nanometer (1 nm ) and about one hundred nanometers (100 nm ), or even between about one nanometer (1 nm) and about one hundred nanometers (25nm).
  • the average layer thickness T sp may be equal to about ten nanometers (10 nm).
  • the In sp Gai_ sp N spacer layer 118 may be doped.
  • the In sp Gai- sp N spacer layer 118 may be doped n-type by doping with elements that are electron donors, such as silicon or germanium.
  • the concentration of dopants in the spacer layer 118 may range from about 3e 17 cm -"3 to about le 19 cm -"3 .
  • the spacer layer 118 may have a concentration of dopants therein equal to about 2e 18 cm "3 .
  • the semiconductor structure 100 may further include an optional In cp Gai_ cp N cap layer 120 disposed between the active region 106 and the p-type contact layer 104.
  • the optional In cp Gai portrait cp N cap layer 120 may comprise a layer of In cp Gai portrait cp N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ cp ⁇ 0.10, or wherein 0.03 ⁇ cp ⁇ 0.07.
  • the value of cp may be equal to about 0.05.
  • the In cp Gai_ cp N cap layer 120 may be used to avoid the dissolution and/or evaporation of indium in the underlying layers of the active region 106 upon subsequent processing at elevated temperatures, and/or may serve the same function of a spacer layer.
  • cap layer 120 may have an average layer thickness T cp of between about one nanometer (1 nm) and about one hundred nanometers (100 nm), or between about one nanometer (1 nm) and about twenty five nanometers (25 nm). As one particular non-limiting example, T cp may be equal to about ten nanometers (10 nm).
  • the cap layer 120 may be doped.
  • the cap layer 120 may be doped p-type by doping with elements that are electron acceptors, such as magnesium, zinc, and carbon. In other embodiments, however, the cap layer 120 may be doped n-type.
  • the concentration of dopants in the cap layer 120 may range from about 3e IT cm - " 3 to about le 19 ' cm - " 3 , or may range from about le 18 cm - “ 3 to about 5e 18 ' cm - " 3. As one particular non-limiting example, the concentration of dopants in the cap layer 120 may be equal about 2e 18 cm “3 .
  • the semiconductor structure 100 of the present disclosure may further include one or more electron blocking layers (EBLs) disposed between the active region 106 and the p-type contact layer 104.
  • EBLs electron blocking layers
  • Such electron blocking layers may comprise a material in which the energy level of the band edge of the conduction band is relatively high compared to the band edge in the conduction band in the active region 106, which may serve to confine electrons within the active region 106 and prevent carriers from over flowing out from the active region 106.
  • FIG. I A illustrates an electron blocking layer 108 disposed on a side of the cap layer 120 opposite the active region 106.
  • the electron blocking layer 108 may be disposed directly between the cap layer 120 and the p-type bulk layer 110.
  • the electron blocking layer 108 comprises a Group III nitride.
  • the electron blocking layer 108 may be at least substantially comprised by Ir .( iai e N (but for the presence of dopants), wherein 0.00 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.02 and may, in some embodiments, be at least substantially comprised by GaN (but for the presence of dopants).
  • the electron blocking layer 108 may be at least substantially comprised by Al e Gailiens e N, wherein 0.00 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.20.
  • the electron blocking layer 108 may be at least substantially comprised by Al e Gai_ e N (but for the presence of dopants).
  • the electron blocking layer 108 may be doped p-type with one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, and carbon.
  • a concentration of the one or more dopants within the electron blocking layer 108 may be in a range extending from about le 17 cm - " 3 to about le 21 cm -"3 , or in some embodiment may be equal to about 3e 19 cm - " 3.
  • the electron blocking layer 108 may have an average layer thickness T e in a range extending from about five nanometer (5 nm) to about fifty nanometers (50 nm), or may, in some embodiments, have an average layer thickness T e equal to about twenty nanometers (20 nm).
  • the semiconductor structure 100 may have an electron blocking layer, similar to the electron blocking layer 108, but wherein the electron blocking layer has a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of different materials, as illustrated in the inset 122 of FIG. 1A.
  • the electron blocking layer 108 may have a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of GaN 124 and In e Gai_ e N 124wherein 0.01 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.02.
  • the electron blocking layer may have a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of GaN 124 and Al e Gai- e N 126, wherein 0.01 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.20.
  • Each of the layers in such superlattice structures may have an average layer thickness of from about one nanometer (1 nm) to about twenty nanometers (20 nm).
  • the semiconductor structure 100 of the present disclosure may further include a p-type bulk layer 110 disposed between the electron blocking layer 108 and the p-type contact layer 104.
  • p-type bulk layers may comprise a p-doped Group III nitride material, such as p-doped In p Gai portrait p N.
  • Such p-type bulk layers may be used, for example, as a source of hole carriers and to enhance the electrical conduction and light extraction to and from the active region 106.
  • the incorporation of indium in the p-type bulk layer 110 is helpful for carrier flow reasons and for the confinement of carrier within the active region.
  • the p-type bulk layer 110 may be at least substantially comprised by In p Gai_ p N, (but for the presence of dopants) wherein 0.00 ⁇ p ⁇ 0.08, and preferably wherein 0.01 ⁇ p ⁇ 0.08.
  • the p-type bulk layer 110 may be at least substantially comprised by In p Gai_ p N wherein p is equal to about 0.02.
  • the p-type bulk layer 110 may be doped p-type with one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, and carbon. A concentration of the one or more dopants within the p-type bulk layer 110 may be in a range extending from about le 17 cm- " 3 to about le 21 cm- " 3 " .
  • the concentration of dopants in the p-type bulk layer 110 may be equal to about 3e 19 cm "3 .
  • the p-type bulk layer 110 may have an average layer thickness 3 ⁇ 4 in a range extending from about fifty nanometers (50 nm) to about six hundred nanometers (600 nm).
  • the average layer thickness T 3 ⁇ 4 may be equal to about one hundred and seventy five nanometers (175 nm).
  • the semiconductor structure 100 may further include a p-type contact layer 104 disposed on a side of the p-type bulk layer 110 opposite the electron blocking layer 108.
  • the p-type contact layer 104 may comprise a Group III nitride. Such p-type contact layers may be used, for example, to enhance the conduction of holes into the active region 106.
  • the p-type contact layer 104 may comprise a higher concentration of one or more dopants, such as p-type dopants, so as to limit the electrical resistance of an electrode contact formed over a portion of p-type contact layer during the fabrication of a light emitting device from semiconductor structure 100.
  • the p-type contact layer 104 may comprise In c Gai portrait c N that is doped p-type.
  • the p-type contact layer 104 may be at least substantially comprised by It -( iai ,-N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ c ⁇ 0.10 (but for the presence of dopants), and, in some embodiments, the p-type contact layer 104 may be at least substantially comprised by GaN (but for the presence of dopants).
  • the incorporation of indium in the p-type contact layer 104 is helpful in that it can reduce the energy barrier with the metallic electrode formed on the device resulting in a lower operating voltage for the device.
  • the p-type contact layer 104 may be doped p-type with one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, and carbon.
  • a concentration of the one or more dopants within the p-type contact layer 104 may be in a range extending from about le 17 cm - " 3 21 -3
  • the p-type contact layer 104 may have an average layer thickness T c in a range extending from about two nanometers (2 nm) to about fifty nanometers ( 50 nm). As one particular non-limiting example, the average layer thickness T c may be equal to about fifteen nanometers (15 nm). As shown in FIG. 1A, the p-type contact layer 104 may be formed directly on the p-type bulk layer 110.
  • the completed semiconductor structure 100 may be utilized in the fabrication of one or more semiconductor light emitting devices, such as an LED.
  • an electrode contact may be formed over a portion of the semiconductor layers of the base layer 102, such as over a portion of the In n Gai portrait c N base layer 112, and a further electrode contact may be formed over a portion the p-type contact layer 104, thereby allowing charge carriers to be injected into the active region 106 with a resultant emission of electromagnet radiation, which may be in the form of visible light.
  • FIG. IB is a simplified diagram illustrating the relative differences in the energy level of the conduction band 128 (in an energy band diagram) for the different semiconductor materials in the various layers of the semiconductor structure 100 of FIG. 1A (note the support substrate 658 and the bonding layer 660 are omitted).
  • FIG. IB is vertically aligned with the semiconductor structure 100 of FIG. 1 A.
  • the vertical dashed lines in FIG. IB are aligned with the interfaces between the various layers in the semiconductor structure 100 of FIG. 1A.
  • the vertical axis in FIG. IB is energy, with higher energy levels being located vertically above lower energy levels. It should be noted that FIG. IB illustrates a non-limiting example of the conduction band energy levels for an example semiconductor structure 100.
  • the relative horizontal conduction band energy levels may alter in relative position as a function of at least the composition and doping of the individual semiconductor layers, the composition ranges of the various semiconductors layers ranging as described hereinabove.
  • FIG. IB may be used to see the relative differences in the energy levels of the conduction band 128 in the various layers of the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the energy level of the conduction band 128 in the well layer 114 may be lower than the energy level of the conduction band 128 in other layers of the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the energy level of the conduction band 128 is a function of multiple variables, including, but not limited to, indium content and dopant levels.
  • the well layers 114 and the barrier layers 116 may be formed to have a composition and otherwise configured such that the energy level of the conduction band 128 in the well layers 114 is lower than the energy level of the conduction band 128 in the barrier layers 116.
  • charge carriers e.g., electrons
  • the barrier layers 116 may serve to impede migration of charge carriers (e.g.
  • the indium content in each well layer I 14 may be higher than the indium content in each barrier layer 1 16.
  • a difference between the indium content in each well layer 1 14 and the indium content in each barrier layer I 1 may be greater than or equal to about 0.05 (i.e. , w - b > 0.05), or in some embodiments may be greater than or equal to about 0.20 (i.e. , w - b > 0.20).
  • the dopant concentration in the barrier layers I 1 6 may be different than the dopant concentration in the well layers 1 14.
  • High doping concentrations may result in defects in the crystal structure of InGaN, and such defects may result in non-radiative combinations of electron-hole pairs.
  • the dopant concentration in the well layers 1 1 4 may be lower than the dopant concentration in the barrier layers 116 to reduce a rate of non-radiative combinations of electron-hole pairs in the well layers 1 14 relative to the rate of non-radiative combinations of electron-hole pairs in the barrier layers I 1 6.
  • the dopant concentration in the barrier layers 1 1 6 may be higher than the dopant concentration in the well layers 1 14.
  • the energy barrier provided by the electron blocking layer 108 may result from the difference in the energy level of the conduction band 128 in the electron blocking layer 108 and the cap layer 1 20 (or other layer immediately adjacent the electron blocking layer 108 on the side thereof closest to the active region 106).
  • the height of the energy barrier may be altered by altering the composition of the electron blocking layer 108.
  • the conduction energy level 130 shown as a solid line
  • the conduction band energy level within the electron blocking layer may be reduced relative to a GaN electron blocking layer, as illustrated by conduction band energy level 132 (shown as dashed line) by forming an electron blocking layer at least substantially comprised by In e Gai_ e N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.02.
  • the conduction band energy level may be increased, relative to a GaN electron blockin layer, as illustrated by conduction band energy level 134 (shown as dashed line) by forming an electron blocking layer at least substantially comprised by Al e Gai_ e N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.20. Therefore the energy level of the conduction band within the electron blocking layer may be to altered to provide a desired conduction band off-set between the electron blockin layer 108 and the other group III nitride layers of the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the conduction band energy level may increase and decrease in a periodic like manner as illustrated in the inset 136 of FIG. IB.
  • the electron blocking layer 108 may have a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of GaN 138 and Al e Gai_ e N 140, wherein 0.01 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.20, or alternatively, the superlattice structure may comprise alternating layers of GaN and In e Gai_ e N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.02.
  • the magnitude of the conduction band energy off-set between the alternating layers of different materials may be selected by the compositional difference between the GaN layers and the Al e Gai_ e N or In e Gai_ e N layers.
  • Semiconductor structures of the present disclosure may further include electron stopping layers disposed between the active region of the semiconductor structure and the InindexGaijaN base layer of the semiconductor structure.
  • Such electron stopping layers may comprise an n-doped Group III nitride material in which the energy level of the band edge of the conduction band is relatively higher compared to the band edge in the conduction band in the InindexGaiagiN base layer and/or the In sp Gai crea sp base layer, which may serve to further confine electrons within the active region and may prevent overflow of carriers from the active region, thereby providing an improved uniformity of carriers within the active region.
  • FIGS. 2 A and 2B illustrate an embodiment of a semiconductor structure 200 that includes such an electron sloppin layer 202.
  • the semiconductor structure 200 is similar to semiconductor structure 100 and includes an active region 106 comprising one or more InGaN well layers 1 14 and one or more InGaN barrier layers I 1 as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the semiconductor structure 200 also includes a base layer 102, a spacer layer 118, a cap layer 120, an electron blocking layer 108, a p-type bulk layer 1 10 and a p-type contact layer 104 as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the electron stopping layer 202 of the semiconductor structure 200 is disposed between the In n Gai_ n N base layer 112 and the spacer layer 118.
  • the electron stopping layer 202 comprises a Group III nitride.
  • the electron stopping layer 202 may comprise AlGaN that is doped n-type.
  • the electron stopping layer 202 may be at least substantially comprised by Al st Gai mecanic st N (but for the presence of dopants), wherein 0.01 ⁇ st ⁇ 0.20.
  • the electron stopping layer 202 may have a superlattice structure, as illustrated in inset 204, comprising alternating layers of Al st Ga 1-st N 206, wherein 0.01 ⁇ st ⁇ 0.20, and layers of GaN 208.
  • the semiconductor structure 200 may include any number (e.g., from about one (1) to about twenty (20)) of alternating layers of Al st Gai mecanic st N 206 and layers of GaN 208.
  • the layers 206 and 208 in such a superlattice structure may have an average layer thickness of from about one nanometer (1 nm) to about one hundred (100 nm).
  • the electron stopping layer 202 may be doped n-type with one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium. A concentration of the one or more dopants within the electron stopping layer 202 may be in a range extending from about O.le 18 cm - " 3 to 20e 18 cm -"3. In some embodiments, the electron stopping layer 202 may have an average layer thickness T st in a range extending from about one nanometer (1 nm) to about fifty nanometers (50 nm).
  • FIG. 2B is a simplified conduction band diagram and illustrates the relative energy levels of the conduction band 228 for the various materials in the semiconductor structure 200.
  • the energy level of the conduction band 228 within at least a portion of the electron stopping layer 202 of the semiconductor structure 200 is relatively higher than the energy level of the conduction band 200 within the InfindGai n base layer 112 and/or the energy level of the conduction band 228 within the spacer layer 118.
  • the electron stopping layer 202 comprises a superlattice structure, as illustrated in inset 210 of FIG. 2B, comprising alternating layers of Al st Gai- st N 206 wherein 0.01 ⁇ st ⁇ 0.20 and layers of GaN 208
  • the conduction band energy level may vary in periodic manner.
  • semiconductor structures of the present disclosure may include one or more layers of material between the active region and the In n Gai crea n N base layer that are employed to facilitate fabrication of the semiconductor structure.
  • the semiconductor structure, and the one or more light emitting devices fabricated from such structures, of the present disclosure may include one or more strain relief layers disposed between the active region and the InindexGai n base layer, wherein the strain relief layers are composed and configured to accommodate strain in the crystal lattice of the crystal structures of the various layers of the semiconductor structure between the In n Gaiggi n N base layer and the p-type contact layer, which layers may be grown epitaxially one upon one another in a layer-by-layer process.
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of a semiconductor structure 300 that includes such a strain relief layer 302.
  • the semiconductor structure 300 is similar to semiconductor structure 100 and includes an active region 106 comprising one or more InGaN well layers 114 and one or more InGaN barrier layers 116 as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the semiconductor structure 300 also includes a base layer 102, a spacer layer 118, a cap layer 120, an electron blocking layer 108, a p-type bulk layer 110 and a p-type contact layer 104 as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the strain relief layer 302 of the semiconductor structure 300 is disposed between the ln mindfulGaikosN base layer 112 and the spacer layer 118. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the strain relief layer 302 is disposed directly between the ln mindfulGai n base layer 1 1 2 and the In sp Gal- sp N spacer layer 118.
  • the strain relief layer 302 may comprise a Group III nitride.
  • the strain relief layer 302 may have a superlattice structure, as illustrated in inset 304, comprising alternating layers of In sra Gai mutual sra N 306, wherein 0.01 ⁇ sra ⁇ 0.10, and layers of In srb Gai mutual srb N 308, wherein 0.01 ⁇ srb ⁇ 0.10. Further, sra may be greater than srb.
  • the semiconductor structure 300 may include any number (e.g., from about one (1) to about twenty (20)) of alternating layers of In sra Gai_ sra N layers 306 and In srb Gai_ srb N 308.
  • the layers 306 and 308 in such a superlattice structure may have an average layer thickness of from about one nanometer (1 nm) to about twenty nanometers (20 nm).
  • the strain relief layer 302 may be doped n-type with one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium. A concentration of the one or more dopants
  • FIG. 3B is a simplified conduction band diagram and illustrates the relative energy levels of the conduction band 328 for the various materials in the semiconductor structure 300. As shown in FIG. 3B, in the embodiment of the semiconductor structure 300 of FIG.
  • the energy level of the conduction band 328 within at least a portion of the strain relief layer 302 of the semiconductor structure 300 may be relatively lower than the energy level of the conduction band 328 within the InGaN base layer 112 and/or the energy level of the conduction band 328 within the spacer layer 118. In other embodiments, the energy level of the conduction band 328 within at least a portion of the strain relief layer 302 of the semiconductor structure 300 (FIG.3A) may be relatively higher than the energy level of the conduction band 328 within the InGaN base layer 112 and/or the energy level of the conduction band 328 within the spacer layer 118.
  • the conduction band energy level may vary in periodic manner.
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate yet another embodiment of a semiconductor structure 400 of the present disclosure.
  • the semiconductor structure 400 is similar to the semiconductor structure 100 and includes an active region 406 comprising one or more InGaN well layers 114 and one or more InGaN barrier layers 116 as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the semiconductor structure 400 also includes a base layer 102, a spacer layer 118, a cap layer 120, an electron blocking layer 108, a p-type bulk layer 110 and a p-type contact layer 104 as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the active region 406 of the semiconductor structure 400 further includes additional GaN barrier layers 402.
  • Each of the additional GaN barrier layers 402 may be disposed between an InGaN well layer 114 and an InGaN barrier layer 116.
  • the additional GaN barrier layers 402 may serve to further confine electrons within the well layers 114, where they may be more likely to recombine with holes and result in an increased probability of emission of radiation.
  • each GaN barrier layer 402 may be doped n-type with one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of silicon and germanium.
  • a concentration of the one or more dopants within the GaN barrier layers 402 may be in a range extending from about 1.0e 17 cm -"3 to 50e 17 cm - "" 3.
  • each GaN barrier layer 402 may have an average layer thickness 3 ⁇ 4 in a range extending from about one-half of a nanometer (0.5 nm) to about twenty nanometers (20 nm).
  • FIG. 4B is a simplified conduction band diagram and illustrates the relative energy levels of the conduction band 428 for the various materials in the semiconductor structure 400.
  • the energy level of the conduction band 428 within the GaN barrier layers 402 may be relatively higher than the energy level of the conduction band 428 within the InGaN barrier layers 116 and higher than the energy level of the conduction band 428 within the InGaN well layers 114.
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate yet further embodiments of the present disclosure comprising a semiconductor structure 500.
  • methods as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/362,866, which was filed January 31 , 2012 in the name of Arena et al. may be utilized for forming an active region 506.
  • the semiconductor structure 500 is similar to the semiconductor structure 100 and includes an active region 506 comprising one or more InGaN well layers 514 and one or more InGaN barrier layers 516 as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100.
  • the semiconductor structure 500 also includes a base layer, a spacer layer, a cap layer, an electron blocking layer, a p-type bulk layer 100 and a p-type contact layer as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100.
  • a base layer for clarity, only the layers surrounding the active region 506 are illustrated, and these layers may comprise the optional space layer 118 and cap layer 120 as well as the Inuß( iu i portraitN base layer 112 and the electron blocking layer 108. If the optional layers are omitted from the semiconductor structure 500, the active region 506 may be disposed directly between the In FocusGaivotedN base layer 1 1 2 and the electron blocking layer 108.
  • the active region 506 of the semiconductor structure 500 is similar to the active region of semiconductor structure 100, but further includes two or more InGaN barrier layers wherein the band-gap energy between subsequent barrier layers increases in a step-wise manner from right to left as viewed in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, i.e., in the direction extending from the cap layer 120 to the spacer layer 118.
  • Such a configuration of the active region 506 in the semiconductor structure 500 may assist in confinement of charge carriers within the active region 500 by preventing overflow of carriers out from the active region 506, thereby increasing the efficiency of light emitting devices fabricated from the semiconductor structure 500.
  • the barrier regions 516A C may have a material composition and structural configuration selected to provide each of the barrier regions 5 16 ⁇ ( ⁇ with respective band-gap energies 550, ⁇ t . where the band-gap energy is given by the energy difference between the conduction band energy 528 and the valence band energy 552 of each of the semiconductor materials comprising the semiconductor structure 500.
  • the band-gap energy 550A in the first barrier region 516A may be less than the band-gap energy 550B in the second barrier region 516B, and the band-gap energy 550B in the second barrier region 516B may be less than the band-gap energy 550c in the third barrier region 516c, as shown in the energy band diagram of FIG.
  • each of the band-gap energies of the quantum well regions 552 . . c may be substantially equal and may be less than each of the band-gap energies 5 16.. v ( ⁇ of the barrier regions 550, ⁇ ( .
  • a hole energy barrier 554A between the first quantum well 514A and the second quantum well 514 B may be less than an hole energy barrier 554B between the second quantum well 516B and the third quantum well 516c-
  • the hole energy barriers 554, V across the barrier regions 5 I 6 A ( may increase in a step-wise manner across the active region 506 in the direction extending from the cap layer 120 to the spacer layer 118.
  • the electron hole energy barriers 554 ⁇ ⁇ are the differences in the energies of the valence band 552 across the interfaces between the quantum well regions 5 14 A e and the adjacent barrier regions 5 I A ( .
  • the barrier regions 5 ⁇ , ⁇ ( ⁇ may have a material composition and structural configuration selected to provide each of the barrier regions 1 6 A ( ⁇ with their different, respective band-gap energies 550 A ( .
  • each barrier region 51 , v ( ⁇ may comprise a ternary Ill-nitride material, such as Iti h sC iai n , wherein b3 is at least about 0.01.
  • the second barrier region 516B may have a lower indium content relative to the first barrier region 516A
  • the third barrier region 516c may have a lower indium content relative to the second barrier region 516B-
  • the barrier regions 516A-C and well regions l 4,ve may doped and may have average layer thickness as previously described with respect to semiconductor structure 100.
  • the active region 106 may comprise at least one InGaN well layer and at least one InGaN barrier layer, and, in some embodiments, may be at least substantially comprised of InGaN (e.g., may consist essentially of InGaN, but for the presence of dopants).
  • InGaN e.g., may consist essentially of InGaN, but for the presence of dopants.
  • a majority of previously known light emitting device structures that comprise InGa well layers include GaN (at least substantially free of indium ) barrier layers.
  • the difference in the energy level of the conduction band between InGaN well layers and GaN barrier layers is relatively high, which, according to teachings in the art, provides improved confinement of charge carriers w ithin the well layers and may result in improved efficiency of the LED structures.
  • the prior art structures and methods may result in a decrease in device efficiency due to carrier overflow and piezoelectric polarization.
  • the one or more quantum well layers may be analogous to a water bucket, w ith their capability to capture and hold injected carriers diminishing at higher injection of carriers. When injected carriers are not captured or held, they overflow the active region and are wasted, contributing to a drop in device efficiency.
  • the band off-set i.e., the difference in conduction band energy levels between the quantum wells and barriers is significantly greater than the band offset for an active region substantially comprised of InGaN. as described in the embodiments herein.
  • the reduction in the band off-set in the structures described herein allows the injected carriers to more efficiently distribute across the quantum well regions of the active region, thereby increasing the efficiency of light emitting devices fabricated from the semiconductor structures described herein.
  • a relatively strong piezoelectric polari/ation occurs within the active region in such light emitting device structures.
  • the piezoelectric polari/ation may decrease the overlap between the wave functions for the electrons and the wave functions for the holes within the active regions of the light emitting device structures.
  • the piezoelectric polarization may result in what is referred to as "efficiency droop" in such light emitting device structures (e.g., LEDs).
  • the efficiency droop phenomena is a droop (a decrease ) in a graph of the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the LED structure w ith increasing current density.
  • IQE internal quantum efficiency
  • Embodiments of light emitting structure, such as LED structures of the present disclosure may alleviate or overcome problems of previously known LED structures that have InGaN well layers and GaN barrier layers associated with lattice mismatch, the carrier overflow, the piezoelectric polarization phenomena, and efficiency droop.
  • Embodiments of LEDs of the present disclosure may be configured, and the energy band structure thereof designed, such that the active region 106 exhibits a reduced piezoelectric polarization effect, and increased overlap of the wave function of the electrons and the wave function of the holes.
  • the light emitting device such as LEDs may exhibit improved uniformity of charge carriers across the active region 106, and reduced efficiency droop with increasing current density.
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate an embodiment of an LED 556 similar to previously known LEDs.
  • the LED 556 includes an active region 558 comprising five (5) InGaN well layers 562 with GaN barrier layers 564 disposed between the InGaN well layers 562.
  • the LED 556 also includes a base layer 560, a first spacer layer 566, a second spacer layer 568, an electron blocking layer 570, and an electrode layer 572.
  • the InGaN well layers 562 comprise layers of Ino.1sGao.82N, each having an average layer thickness of about two and one-half nanometers (2.5 nm).
  • the barrier layers 564 comprise layers of GaN, which may have an average layer thickness of about ten nanometers (10 nm).
  • the base layer 560 comprises a layer of doped GaN having an average layer thickness of about three hundred twenty-five nanometers (325 nm), which is doped n-type with silicon at a concentration of about 5e 18 cm "3 .
  • the first spacer layer 566 may comprise undoped GaN having an average layer thickness of about twenty-five nanometers (25 nm).
  • the second spacer layer 568 also may comprise undoped GaN having an average layer thickness of about twenty-five nanometers (25 nm).
  • the electron blocking 570 layer may comprise p-doped AlGaN.
  • the electrode layer 572 may comprise a layer of doped GaN, such electrode layer may have an average layer thickness of about one hundred twenty-five nanometers (125 nm), which is doped p-type with magnesium at a concentration of about 5c cm .
  • FIG. 10B is a simplified conduction band diagram similar to that of FIG. IB, and illustrates the relative differences in the energy level of the conduction band 574 (in an energy band diagram) for the different materials in the various layers of the LED 556 of FIG. 10A.
  • the vertical dashed lines in FIG. 10B are aligned with the interfaces between the various layers in the LED 556 of FIG. 10A.
  • the 8x8 Kane Model disclosed in, for example, S. L. Chuang and C. S. Chang, hp Method for Strained Wurtzite Semiconductors, Phys. Rev. B 54, 2491 (1996) may be used to characterize the structure of the valence band for group-Ill nitride materials such as GaN and InGaN.
  • group-Ill nitride materials such as GaN and InGaN.
  • the splitting of the heavy, light, and split-off branches of the valence bands in the center of the Briliouin zone may be assumed to be independent of the built-in electric field. Therefore, the valence subbands may be obtained from the solution of coupled Poisson and transport equations.
  • the wave functions of electrons and holes may be assumed to be in the form.:
  • u n and u p s are the Bloch amplitudes of electrons and holes corresponding to the center of the Bri I luetic zone
  • k n and k ? arc in-plane quasi-moment vectors
  • ⁇ ⁇ and ⁇ ⁇ s are the envelope functions
  • the subscript "s" can be heavy (hh), light (lh), or split-off (so) holes.
  • the one-dimensional Schrodinger equations for electron and hole envelope functions are:
  • B is the radiative recombination coefficient
  • n is the electron concentration
  • p is the hole concentration
  • F n - F p is the quasi-Fermi level separation. Electron and hole concentration and quasi -Fermi level separation varies with position across the active region of an LED.
  • the maximum radiative recombination rate may be identified in any quantum well and considered as the peak radiative recombination rate for that respective quantum well.
  • FIG. I I ⁇ is a graph illustrating the calculated energy of the band edge of the conduction band 574 and the valence band 576 for the LED 550 of FIGS. 10A and 10B, with zero applied current across the LED 556, as a function of position (in nanometers) across the LED 556 beginning at the surface of the base layer 560 opposite the active region 558.
  • FIG. 1 IB is a graph similar to that of FIG. 11 A, but illustrating the calculated energy of the band edge of the conduction band 574 and the valence band 576 for the LED 556 of FIGS. 10A and 10B at an applied current density across the LED 556 of one hundred twenty-five amps per square centimeter (125 A/cm 2 ).
  • FIG. 1 1 illustrates the calculated injection efficiency of the LED 556 as a function of applied current density. As shown in FIG. I I D, the LED 550 may exhibit an injection efficiency of about 75.6% at an applied current density of 125 A/cm 2 .
  • FIG. I I D the LED 550 may exhibit an injection efficiency of about 75.6% at an applied current density of 125 A/cm 2 .
  • HE illustrates the calculated internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the LED 556 as a function of applied current density.
  • the LED 556 may exhibit an internal quantum efficiency of about 45.2% at an applied current density of 125 A/cm 2 .
  • the internal quantum efficiency of the LED 556 may drop from over 50% at an applied current density of about 20 A/cm to under 40% at an applied current density of 250 A/cm 2 .
  • efficiency droop such a drop in the IQE is referred to in the art as efficiency droop.
  • Table 1 shows the calculated Wave Function Overlap and Peak Radiative Recombination Rate for each of the five quantum well layers 562 in the LED 550 of FIGS. 10A and I OB. TABLE I
  • radiative recombinations come principally from the last well layer 562 (closest to the p-doped side, or anode), which is quantum well number five (i.e., QW5) in the LED 556. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 IE, the LED 556 exhibits efficiency droop, which may result at least in part due to the piezoelectric polarization caused by the use of InGaN well layers 562 and GaN barrier layers 564 as previously discussed herein.
  • Embodiments of LEDs of the present disclosure that include an active region including at least one InGaN well layer and at least one InGaN barrier layer, such as the active region 106 of the LED 100, may exhibit improved uniformity in the radiative recombinations occurring in the well layers, and may exhibit reduced efficiency droop.
  • a comparison of an embodiment of an LED of the present disclosure with the LED 550 is provided with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, and 13A through 13E below.
  • FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate another example of an embodiment of an LED 600 of the present disclosure.
  • the LED 600 includes an active region 106 comprising five (5) InGaN well layers 114 with InGaN barrier layers 116 disposed between the InGaN well layers 114.
  • the InGaN well layers 114 and the InGaN barrier layers 116 may be as previously described in relation to the semiconductor structure 100 with reference to FIGS. 1A and IB.
  • the LED 600 also includes a base layer 112, a first spacer layer 118, a cap layer 120, and an InGaN electrode layer 104.
  • the InGaN well layers 114 comprise layers of Ino.i 8 Gao.
  • the barrier layers 116 comprise layers of Ino. 08 Ga .92N, and each may have an average layer thickness of about ten nanometers (10 nm).
  • the base layer 112 comprises a layer of doped Ino. 0 5Gao.95N having an average layer thickness of about three hundred nanometers (300 nm), which is doped n-type with silicon at a concentration of about 5c cm "" .
  • the first spacer layer 118 may comprise undoped Ino . osGao.92N having an average layer thickness of about twenty-five nanometers (25 nm).
  • the cap layer 120 also may comprise undoped Ino.
  • FIG. 12B is a simplified conduction band diagram illustrating the relative differences in the energy level of the conduction band 602 (in an energy band diagram) for the different materials in the various layers of the LED 600 of FIG. 12A.
  • FIG. 13A is a graph illustrating the calculated energy of the band edge of the conduction band 602 and the valence band 604 for the LED 600 of FIGS. 12 A and 12B, with zero applied current across the LED 600, as a function of position (in nanometers) across the LED 600 beginning at the surface of the base layer 1 1 2 opposite the active region 106.
  • FIG. 13B is a graph similar to that of FIG. 13 A, but illustrating the calculated energy of the band edge of the conduction band 602 and the valence band 604 for the LED 600 of FIGS. 12A and 1 2B at an applied current density across the LED 600 of one hundred twenty-five amps per square centimeter (125 A/cm ).
  • FIG. 13A is a graph illustrating the calculated energy of the band edge of the conduction band 602 and the valence band 604 for the LED 600 of FIGS. 12A and 1 2B at an applied current density across the LED 600 of one hundred twenty-five amps per square centimeter (125 A/cm
  • FIG. 13C is a graph that illustrates the calculated intensity as a function of wavelength for each of the live quantum well layers 108 of the LED 600 with the applied current density across the LED 600 of one hundred twenty-five amps per square centimeter ( 125 A/cm 2 ).
  • QW1 is the leftmost quantum well layer 108
  • QW5 is the rightmost quantum well layer 108 from the perspective of FIGS. 12A and 12B.
  • FIG. 13D illustrates the calculated injection efficiency of the LED 600 as a function of applied current density. As shown in FIG. 1 3D.
  • the LED 600 may exhibit an injection efficiency of about 87.8% at an applied current density of 125 A/cm , and may exhibit a carrier injection efficiency of at least about 80% over a range of current densities extending from about 20 A/cm ' to about 250 A/cm 2 .
  • FIG. 13E illustrates the calculated internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the LED 600 as a function of applied current density. As shown in FIG. 13E, the LED 600 may exhibit an internal quantum efficiency of about 58.6% at an applied current density of 1 25 A/cm 2 . As also shown in FIG. 13E, the internal quantum efficiency of the LED 600 may remain between about 55% and about 60% at an applied current density in the range extending from about 20 A/cm 2 to 250 A/cm 2 . Thus, the LED 600 exhibits very little efficiency droop, and significantly less efficiency droop than the efficiency droop exhibited by the LED 500 (which LED 500 does not conform to embodiments of the present disclosure).
  • Table 2 below shows the calculated Wave Function Overlap and Peak Radiative Recombination Rate for each of the five quantum well layers 108 in the LED 600 of FIGS. 12A and 12B. TABLE 2
  • the LED 550 of FIGS. 10A and 10B and the LED 600 of FIGS. 12A and 12B were modeled using SiLENSe software, which is commercially available from STR Group, Inc.
  • the SiLENSe software was also used to produce the graphs of FIGS. 1 1 ⁇ - 1 IE and 13A-13E, and to obtain the data set forth in Tables 1 and 2.
  • the LEDs may exhibit an internal quantum efficiency of at least about 45% over a range of current density
  • LEDs of the present disclosure may exhibit a carrier injection efficiency of at least about 80% over a range of current densities extending from about 20 A/cm 2 to about 250 A/cm 2 .
  • Non-limiting examples of methods that may be utilized to fabricate semiconductor structures and light emitting devices, such as LEDs, of the embodiments of the disclosure are briefly described below with reference to FIGS. 6C through FIGS. 6D and examples of light emitting devices fabricated by such methods are described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.
  • a growth template 113 (fabricated as previously described hereinabove) may be disposed within a deposition chamber, and layers comprising Group III nitride materials, commonly referred to as the growth stack 682 (see FIG. 6D), may be epitaxially, sequentially grown on one or more seed layers 656 of the growth template 113.
  • the seed layer is illustrated as one or more islands of Group III nitride material, in some embodiments, the seed layer may comprise a continuous film over the support substrate 658.
  • FIG. 6D illustrates semiconductor structure 680, comprising a growth template 1 13 comprising two seed layers 656, each having various layers of the semiconductor structure 100 of FIGS.
  • an In n Gai n N base layer 112 of a semiconductor structure 100 is epitaxially deposited directly on each of the seed layer structures 656, with an InGaN spacer layer 118, an InGaN well layer I 14, an InGaN barrier layer 116, an InGaN cap layer 120, an electron blocking layer 108, a p-type bulk layer 110 and a p-type contact layer 104 sequentially, epitaxially deposited over the growth template 112.
  • the various layers of the semiconductor structure 680 comprising the growth stack 682 may be deposited, for example, using a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process and system within a single deposition chamber, i.e., without the need for unloading or unloading the growth stack during the deposition process.
  • MOCVD metalorganic chemical vapor deposition
  • the pressure within the deposition chamber may be reduced to between about 50 mTorr and about 500 m ' i ' orr.
  • the pressure within the reaction chamber during the deposition process may be increased and/or decreased during the deposition of the growth stack 682 and therefore tailored for the speci ic layer being deposited.
  • the pressure in the reaction chamber during the deposition of the InfindGai ,,N base layer 1 12, the spacer layer 118, the one or more well 1 14/ barrier layers 116, the cap layers 120 and the electron barrier layer 108 may range between about 50 m ' i ' orr and about 500 mTorr, and may in some embodiments be equal to about 440 m ' i ' orr.
  • the pressure within the reaction chamber for the deposition of the p-type bulk layer 110 and the p-type contact layer 104 may range between about 50 m ' i ' orr and about 250 mTorr, and may in some embodiments be equal to about 100 mTorr.
  • the growth template 113 may be heated to a temperature between about 600°C and about 1 ,000°C within the deposition chamber.
  • Metalorganic precursor gases and other precursor gases then may be caused to flow through the deposition chamber and over the one or more seed layers 656 of the growth template 1 13.
  • the metalorganic precursor gases may react, decompose, or both react and decompose in a manner that results in the epitaxial deposition of group II nitride layers, such as InGaN layers, on the growth template 113.
  • trimethylindium may be used as a metalorganic precursor for the indium of the InGaN
  • triethylgallium (TMG) may be used as a metalorganic precursor for the gallium of the InGaN
  • trielhylaluminum ( I ' M A ) may be used as a metalorganic precursor for the AlGaN
  • ammonia may be used as a precursor for the nitrogen of the group III nitride layers.
  • S1H 4 may be used as a precursor for introducing silicon into the InGaN when it is desired to dope the group III nitride n-type
  • Cp2Mg bis(cyclopentadienl)magnesium
  • the percentage of indium incorporated into the InGaN may be controlled as the InGaN is epitaxially grown by controlling the growth temperature. Relatively higher amounts of indium will be incorporated at relatively lower temperatures, and relatively lower amounts of indium will be incorporated at relatively higher temperatures. As non-limiting examples, the InGaN well layers 108 may be deposited at temperatures in a range extending from about 600°C to about 950°C
  • the deposition temperature of the various layers of the growth stack 100 may be increased and/or decreased during the deposition process and therefore tailored for the specific layer being deposited.
  • the deposition temperature during the deposition of the !n,,Gai portrait base layer 112, the p-type bulk layer 110 and the p-type contact layer 104 may range between about 600° to about 950°C, and may in some embodiments be equal to about 900 °C.
  • the p-type bulk layer 110 and the p-type contact layer 104 may range between about one nanometer per minute (1 nm/min ) to about thirty nanometers per minute (30 nm/min ), and in some embodiments, the growth rate of the In n Gai portrait n N base layer 1 12, the p-type bulk layer 110 and the p-type contact layer 104 may be equal about 6 nanometers per minute (6 nm/min).
  • the deposition temperature during the deposition of the spacer layer 118, the one or more well layers I 14, the one or more barrier layers 116, the cap layer 120 and the electron blocking layer 108 may range between about 600° to about 950°C, and may in some embodiments be equal to about 750°C.
  • the growth rate of the spacer layer 118, the one or more well layers 1 14, the one or more barrier layers 116, the cap layer 120 and the electron blocking layer 108 may range between about one nanometer per minute (1 nm/min ) to about thirty nanometers per minute (30 nm/min ). and in some embodiments the growth rate of the spacer layer 1 1 8, the one or more well layers 1 14, the one or more barrier layers 116, the cap layer 120 and the electron blocking layer 108 may be equal to about one nanometer per minute (1 nm/min ).
  • the flow rate ratio of the precursor gases may be selected to provide InGaN layers of high quality.
  • the methods for forming the InGaN layers of semiconductor structure 100 may comprise selecting the gas ratio to provide one or more InGaN layers with a low defect density, substantially free of stain relaxation and substantially free of surface pits.
  • the flow ratio (%) of trimethyl indium (TMI) to triethylgallium (TMG) may defined as:
  • the flow ratio during the deposition of the ln,,( lai ,,N base layer 1 1 2 and the p-type bulk layer 110 may range from between about 50% to about 95°C, and may in some embodiments be equal to about 85%.
  • the flow ratio during the deposition of the spacer layer 118, the one or more barrier layers 1 1 6 and the cap layer 1 20 may range between about 1% to about 50%, and may in some embodiments be equal to about 2%.
  • the flow ratio during the deposition of the one or more quantum well layers I 14 may range between about 1% to about 50%, and may in some embodiments be equal to about 30%.
  • the growth template 113 optionally may be rotated within the deposition chamber during the deposition processes.
  • the growth template I 13 may be rotated within the deposition chamber during the deposition processes at a rotational speed of between about 50 revolutions per minute (RPM) and about 1500 revolutions per minute (RPM), and may in some embodiments rotates at a rotational speed of equal to about 450 revolutions per minute (RPM).
  • the rotational speed during the deposition process may be increased and/or decreased during the deposition and therefore tailored for the specific layer being deposited.
  • the rotational speed of the growth template during the deposition of the InrareGai toN base layer 1 12, the spacer layer I 1 , the one or more well layers 1 14, the one or more barrier layers 116, the cap layers 120 and the electron barrier layer 108 may range between about 50 revolutions per minute (RPM) and about 1500 revolutions per minute (RPM), and may in some embodiments rotated at a rotational speed of equal to about 440 revolutions per minute (RPM).
  • the rotational speed of the growth template 113 during the deposition of the p-type bulk layer 110 and the p-type contact layer 104 may range between about 50 revolutions per minute (RPM) and about 1500 revolutions per minute (RPM), and may in some embodiments rotate at a rotational speed of equal to about 1000 revolutions per minute (RPM).
  • the strain energy of the one or more InGaN layers comprising the growth stack 682 epitaxial ly deposited over the growth template 113 may affect the efficiency of the light emitting devices fabricated from such semiconductor structures.
  • the total strain energy developed within the growth stack 682 may be related to the efficiency, as defined by the internal quantum efficiency (IQE), of the semiconductor structures of the present disclosure.
  • the strain energy stored within an n th layer of InGaN is proportional to the average total thickness T n of the n th layer of InGaN, and to the concentration of indium %///struct in the n th layer of InGaN.
  • the total strain energy stored with the plurality of InGaN layers comprising the growth stack 682 is proportional to the sum of the average total thickness T fur of each of the InGaN layers and to the concentration of indium /// admir in the each of the InGaN layers, therefore the total strain energy within the InGaN layers comprising the growth stack 702 may be estimated using the following equation:
  • the average total thickness T Tin of the n* layer is expressed in nanometers (nm) and the concentration of indium in the n 1 InGaN layer /// admir is expressed as an atomic percentage.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a graph 900 showing the relationship between IQE (a.u.) and total strain energy (a.u.) for the semiconductor structures of the present disclosure.
  • the IQE of the semiconductor structures of the present disclosure may decrease at a value of total strain energy referred to as the "critical strain energy" of the semiconductor structure, as illustrate by line 902 of graph 900.
  • the IQE of the semiconductor structures below the critical strain energy (as represented by line 904) may be substantially greater than the IQE of the semiconductor structures above the critical strain energy (as represented by line 906), for example, graph 900 illustrates IQE values (as shown by rectangular indicators) for several semiconductor structures of the present disclosure.
  • the IQE below the critical strain energy may be about 500% greater than the IQE above the critical strain energy. In further embodiments, the IQE below the critical strain energy may be about 250% greater than the IQE above the critical strain energy. In yet further embodiments, the IQE below the critical strain energy may be about 100% greater than the IQE above the critical strain energy.
  • the critical strain energy 902 defined by the sum of the product of each layer thickness (in nm) by each layer indium content (in %), may have a value of about 1800 or less, about 2800 or less, or even about 4500 or less.
  • the plurality of Group III nitride layers comprising the growth stack 682 of FIG. 6D may be deposited in such a manner that the growth stack 682 is substantially fully strained to match the crystal lattice of the In s Gai_ s N seed layer 656 of growth template 113.
  • the growth stack 682 may inherit the lattice parameter of the In s Gai_ s N seed layer.
  • the In s Gai_ S N seed layer may exhibit a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than 3.2 Angstroms and the growth stack may exhibit a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than 3.2 Angstroms. Therefore, in non-limiting examples, the semiconductor structures 100,200, 300, 400 and 500 may be formed in such a manner to be composed of fully strained materials, and may have such a growth plane lattice parameter.
  • the plurality of Group III nitride layers comprising the growth stack 682 of FIG. 6D may be deposited in such a manner that the growth stack 682 is partially relaxed, i.e., the lattice parameter of the growth stack 682 differs from the underling In s Gai_ S N seed layer.
  • the percentage strain relaxation (R) may be defined as.
  • a is the average growth plane lattice parameter for the growth stack 682
  • a s is the average growth plane lattice parameter of the In s Gai_ s N seed and ai is the equilibrium (or natural state) average growth plane lattice parameter for the growth stack.
  • the growth stack 682 may exhibit a percentage strain relaxation (R) of less than about 0.5%
  • the growth stack 682 may exhibit a percentage strain relaxation (R) of less than about 10%
  • the growth stack 682 may exhibit a percentage strain relaxation (R) of less than about 50%.
  • Electrodes may be formed on the layers of Group III nitride materials using processes known in the art and briefly described below with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.
  • FIG. 7 An example of a light emitting device 700, such as a LED, fabricated from the semiconductor structure 100 is illustrated in FIG. 7. Although the following description describes embodiments for fabricating light emitting devices from semiconductor structure 100, it should be noted that such fabrication processes may also be applied to the semiconductor structures 200, 300, 400 and 500.
  • a portion of the semiconductor structure 100 may be removed thereby exposing a portion of the In n iffyaN base layer 112.
  • the removal of a select portion of the semiconductor structure 100 may be realized by applying a photosensitive chemical to the exposed surface of the p-contact layer 100 of semiconductor structure 100 (not shown).
  • the photosensitive layer may be utilized as a "mask layer" to allow for select removal of the Group III nitride layers above the In,,( iai electoral N base layer 112.
  • Removal of a select portions of the Group III nitride layers above the 1 ⁇ ( ⁇ doctoraN base layer 112 may comprise an etching process, for example a wet chemical etch and / or a dry plasma based etch (e.g., reactive ion etching, inductively couple plasma etching).
  • etching process for example a wet chemical etch and / or a dry plasma based etch (e.g., reactive ion etching, inductively couple plasma etching).
  • a first electrode contact 702 may be formed over a portion of the exposed In n Gi_ n aN base layer 112.
  • the first electrode contact 702 may comprise one or more metals which may include titanium, aluminum, nickel, gold and one or more alloys thereof.
  • a second electrode contact 704 may be formed over a portion of the p-contact layer 104, the second electrode contact 704 may comprise one or more metals layers, which may include nickel, gold, platinum, silver and one or more alloys thereof.
  • current may be passed through the light emitting device 700 to produce electromagnetic radiation, e.g., in the form of visible light.
  • the light emitting device 700 is commonly referred to as a "lateral device" in the art since at least of portion the current pathway between the first electrode contact 702 and the second electrode contact 704 comprises a lateral pathway.
  • FIG.8 A further example of a light emitting device 800, such as a LED, fabricated from the semiconductor structure 100 is illustrated in FIG.8, again although the following description describes embodiments for fabricating light emitting devices from semiconductor structure 100, it should be noted that such fabrication processes may also be applied to the semiconductor structure 200, 300, 400 and 500.
  • a light emitting device 800 such as a LED
  • all or a portion of the growth template 113 may be removed from semiconductor structure 100 to enable exposure of either the In s Gaiggi s N 656 layer or in some embodiment to enable exposure of the In n Gaiggi n N base layer 112.
  • the removal of all or a portion of the growth template 113 may comprise one or more removal methods including wet etching, dry etching, chemical mechanical polishing, grinding and laser lift-off.
  • a first electrode contact 802 may be applied to the In n Gai_ n N base layer 112 as described hereinabove.
  • a second electrode contact 804 may be applied to a portion of the p-contact layer 104, thereby forming the light emitting device 800. .
  • current may be passed through the light emitting device 800 to produce electromagnetic radiation, e.g., in the form of visible light.
  • the light emitting device 800 is commonly referred to as a "vertical device” in the art since the current pathway between the first electrode layer 802 and the second electrode layer 804 comprises a substantially vertical pathway.
  • Light emitting device such as LEDs according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be fabricated and used in any type of light-emitting device that incorporates one or more LEDs therein.
  • Embodiments of LEDs of the present disclosure may be particularly suitable for use in applications that benefit from LEDs that operate under relatively high power and that require relatively high luminosity.
  • LEDs of the present disclosure may be particularly suitable for use in LED lamps and LED-based light bulbs, which may be used for lighting buildings, street lighting, automotive lighting, etc.
  • Additional embodiments of the present disclosure include luminary devices for emitting light that include one or more LEDs as described herein, such as the light emitting device 700 of FIG. 7 and light emitting device 800 of FIG. 8.
  • the luminary devices may be as described in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 6,600,175, which issued July 29, 2003 to Baretz et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, but including one or more LEDs as described herein.
  • FIG. 14 illustrates an example embodiment of a luminary device 900 of the present disclosure that includes a light emitting device, such device 700, 800 as described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
  • the luminary device 900 may include a container 902, at least a portion of which is at least substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the visible region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.
  • the container 902 may comprise, for example, an amorphous or crystalline ceramic material (e.g., a glass) or a polymeric material.
  • the LED 800 is disposed within the container 902, and may be mounted on a support structure 904 (e.g., a printed circuit board or other substrate) within the container 902.
  • a support structure 904 e.g., a printed circuit board or other substrate
  • the luminary device 900 further includes a first electrical contact structure 906, and a second electrical contact structure 908.
  • the first electrical contact structure 906 may be in electrical communication with one of the electrode contacts of the LED, such as the first electrode contact 802 (FIG.8), and the second electrical contact structure 908 may be in electrical communication with the other of the electrode contacts of the LED, such as the second electrode contact 804 (FIG.8).
  • the first electrical contact structure 906 may be in electrical communication with the first electrode contact 804 through the support structure 904, and a wire 910 may be used to electrically couple the second electrical contact structure 908 with the second electrode contact 804.
  • the luminary device 900 optionally may further include a fluorescent or phosphorescent material that will itself emit electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light) when stimulated or excited by absorption of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the one or more LEDs 800 within the container 902.
  • a fluorescent or phosphorescent material that will itself emit electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light) when stimulated or excited by absorption of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the one or more LEDs 800 within the container 902.
  • an inner surface 912 of the container 902 may b at least partially coated w ith such a fluorescent or phosphorescent material.
  • the one or more LEDs 800 may emit electromagnetic radiation at one or more specific wavelengths, and the fluorescent or phosphorescent material may include a mixture of different materials that w ill emit radiation at different visible wavelengths, such that the luminary device 900 emits white light outward from the container 902.
  • the fluorescent or phosphorescent material may include a mixture of different materials that w ill emit radiation at different visible wavelengths, such that the luminary device 900 emits white light outward from the container 902.
  • Various types of fluorescent and phosphorescent materials are known in the art and may be employed in embodiments of luminary devices of the present disclosure. For example, some such materials are disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 6,600,175.
  • Embodiment 1 A semiconductor structure, comprising: an InfindGaivotedN base layer having a polar growth plane with a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms; an active region disposed over the base layer, the active region comprising a plurality of layers of InGaN, the plurality of layers of InGaN including at least one In w Ga 1-w N well layer, wherein 0.10 ⁇ w ⁇ 0.40, and at least one lni,Gai ⁇ , ⁇ barrier layer, w herein 0.01 ⁇ b ⁇ 0.10; an electron blocking layer disposed on a side of the active region opposite the ln n ( iai ,, base layer: a p-type bulk layer disposed on the electron blocking layer, the p-type bulk layer comprisin ln,,Gai ,, , wherein 0.00 ⁇ p ⁇ 0.08; and a p-type contact layer disposed on p-type bulk layer, the p-type contact layer comprisin In
  • Embodiment 2 The semiconductor structure of Embodiment 1, w herein the base layer further comprises a growth template, the growth template comprising: a support substrate: and an In s Gai_ s N seed layer disposed on the support substrate, w herein a growth plane of the In s Gai_ s N seed layer is a polar plane w ith a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms, w herein 0.05 ⁇ s ⁇ 0.10, and wherein a bonding interface is disposed between the support substrate and the In s Gaizie s N seed layer.
  • a growth template comprising: a support substrate: and an In s Gai_ s N seed layer disposed on the support substrate, w herein a growth plane of the In s Gai_ s N seed layer is a polar plane w ith a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms, w herein 0.05 ⁇ s ⁇ 0.10, and wherein a bonding interface
  • Embodiment 3 The semiconductor structure of Embodiment 3, further comprising an In sp Gai_ sp N spacer layer disposed on the In s Gai_ s N seed layer on a side thereof opposite the Inender( iai hingeN base layer, wherein 0.01 ⁇ sp ⁇ 0.10.
  • Embodiment 4 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 3, further comprising an In cp Gai mutual cp N cap layer disposed between the active region and electron blocking layer, wherein 0.01 ⁇ cp ⁇ 0.10.
  • Embodiment 5 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 4, wherein the electron blocking layer comprises In e Gai hinge e N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.02.
  • Embodiment 6 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments I through 5, wherein the electron blocking layer is at least substantially comprised of GaN.
  • Embodiment 7 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments I through 6, wherein the electron blocking layer is at least substantially comprised of Al e Gai_ e N, wherein 0.1 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.2.
  • Embodiment 8 The semiconductor structure of Embodiment 7, wherein the electron blocking layer has a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of GaN and Al c Gai_ e N, wherein 0.1 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.2.
  • Embodiment 9 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 8, further comprising an electron stopping layer disposed between the In Agent( i i hingeN base layer and the active region, wherein the electron stopping layer comprises Al st Gai mutual st N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ st ⁇ 0.20.
  • Embodiment 10 The semiconductor structure of Embodiment 9, wherein the electron stopping layer has a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of GaN and Al st Ga ! repeat st N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ st ⁇ 0.2.
  • Embodiment 11 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 10, further comprising a strain relief layer disposed between the In n Gai_ n N base layer and the active region, the strain relief layer having a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of In sra Ga sra N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ sra ⁇ 0.10, and In sr bGa-l sr bN, wherein 0.01 ⁇ srb ⁇ 0.10, and wherein sra is greater than srb.
  • Embodiment 12 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 11 , wherein the active region further comprises an additional barrier layer comprising GaN disposed between the at least one well layer and the at least one barrier layer.
  • Embodiment 13 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 1 2. wherein a critical strain energy of the semiconductor structure is about 4500 or less.
  • Embodiment 14 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 13, wherein the In Focus( iai hingeN base layer, the active region, the electron blocking layer, the p- type bulk layer and the p-type contact layer define a growth stack exhibiting a percentage strain relaxation of less than 10%.
  • Embodiment 15 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 14, wherein the p-type contact layer is at least substantially comprised of GaN.
  • Embodiment 16 The semiconductor structure of any one of Embodiments 1 through 15, further comprising a first electrode contact over at least a portion of the In n Gai_ n N base layer and a second electrode contact over at least a portion of the a p-type contact layer.
  • Embodiment 17 A light emitting device, comprising: an InfindGaivotedN base layer having a polar growth plane with a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms; an active region disposed over the base layer, the active region comprising a plurality of layers of InGaN, the plurality of layers of InGaN including at least one well layer, and at least one barrier layer; an electron blocking layer disposed over the active region; a p-type In p Gai_ p N bulk layer disposed over the electron blocking layer; and a p-type In c Gai_ c N contact layer disposed over the p-type In p Gai_ p N bulk layer, wherein a critical strain energy of the light emitting device is about 4500 (a.u.) or less.
  • Embodiment 18 The light emitting device of Embodiment 17, wherein
  • Embodiment 19 The light emitting device of Embodiment 17 or Embodiment 18, wherein the at least one well layer comprises In w Gaiggi w N, wherein 0.10 ⁇ w ⁇ 0.40.
  • Embodiment 20 The light emitting device of any one of Embodiments 17 through 19, wherein the at least one barrier layer comprises Iri b ui ⁇ , ⁇ . wherein 0.01 ⁇ b ⁇ 0.10.
  • Embodiment 2 1 The light emitting device of any one of Embodiments 17 through 20, wherein the electron blocking layer is at least substantially comprised of GaN.
  • Embodiment 22 The light emitting device of any one of Embodiments 17 through 2 1 , wherein 0.00 ⁇ p ⁇ 0.08 in the p-type In p Gai portrait p N bulk layer.
  • Embodiment 23 The light emitting device of any one of Embodiments 1 7 through 22, wherein 0.01 ⁇ c ⁇ 0.10 in the p-type In c Gai portrait c N contact layer.
  • Embodiment 24 The light emitting device of any one of Embodiments 1 7 through 23, wherein the p-type In c Gai hinge c N contact layer is substantially comprised of GaN.
  • Embodiment 25 The light emitting device of any one of Embodiments 17 through 24, further comprising a first electrode contact over at least a portion of the In n Gai_ n N base layer and a second electrode contact over at least a portion of the a p-type In c Gai C N contact layer.
  • Embodiment 26 The light emitting device of any one of Embodiments 17 through 25, wherein the InfindGaija base layer, the active region, the electron blocking layer, the p- type In p Gai crea p N bulk layer and the p-type In c Gaikos c N contact layer form a growth stack exhibits a percentage strain relaxation of less than 1 %.
  • Embodiment 27 A method of forming a semiconductor structure, comprising: providing an In n Gaj press n N base layer having a polar growth plane with a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 A; growing a plurality of layers of InGaN to form an active region over the base layer, growing the plurality of layers of InGaN comprising: growing at least one In w Ga 1-w N well layer, wherein 0.10 ⁇ w ⁇ 0.40, and growing at least one Ini.
  • i bN barrier layer on the at least one well layer, wherein 0.01 b ⁇ 0.10; growing an electron blocking layer over the active region; growing a p-type In p Gai_ p N bulk layer over the electron blocking layer, wherein 0.01 ⁇ p ⁇ 0.08; and growing a p-type In c Gai_ c N contact layer over the p-type In p Gai_ p N bulk layer, wherein 0.00 ⁇ c ⁇ 0.10.
  • Embodiment 28 The method of Embodiment 27, wherein providing the In n Gai Vietnamese facedN base layer further comprises forming a growth template, forming the growth template comprising: providing a support substrate; and bonding an ItiGaija seed layer to the support substrate, wherein a growth plane of the In s Gai_ s N seed layer is a polar plane with a growth plane lattice parameter of greater than about 3.2 Angstroms, and wherein 0.05 ⁇ s ⁇ 0.10 in the Ir ai ,N seed layer.
  • Embodiment 29 The method of Embodiment 28, further comprising growing an
  • Embodiment 30 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 29, further comprising growing an In cp Gai_ cp N cap layer disposed between the active region and electron blocking layer, wherein 0.01 ⁇ cp ⁇ 0.10 in the In cp Gai portrait cp N cap layer.
  • Embodiment 3 1 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 30, wherein growing the electron blocking layer comprises growing the electron blocking layer to be at least substantially comprised by ⁇ 1 ⁇ 4.(3 ⁇ 4_ ⁇ ⁇ , wherein 0.00 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.02.
  • Embodiment 32 The method of Embodiment 3 1 . wherein growing the electron blocking layer comprises growing the electron blocking layer to be at least substantially comprised by GaN.
  • Embodiment 33 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 32, wherein growing the electron blocking layer comprises growing the electron blocking layer to comprise Al e Gai hinge e N, wherein 0.1 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.2.
  • Embodiment 34 The method of Embodiment 33, wherein growing the electron blocking layer further comprises growing the electron blocking layer to have a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of GaN and Al e Gai_ e N, wherein 0.1 ⁇ e ⁇ 0.2.
  • Embodiment 35 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 34, further comprising growing an electron stopping layer disposed between the ln beau( iai hinge base layer and the active region, wherein the electron stopping layer comprises Al st Gai_ st N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ st ⁇ 0.20.
  • Embodiment 36 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 35, further comprising growing a strain relief layer disposed between the In Focus( iai electoralN layer and the active region, the strain relief layer having a superlattice structure comprising alternating layers of In sra Ga sra N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ sra ⁇ 0.10, and In srb Ga-l SIb N, wherein 0.01 ⁇ srb ⁇ 0.10, and wherein sra is greater than srb.
  • Embodiment 37 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 36, wherein forming the active region further comprises growing one more an additional barrier layers comprising GaN between the at least one In w Ga 1-w N well layer and the at least one ]3 ⁇ 4( ia
  • Embodiment 38 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 37, wherein the In,,( iai n N base layer, the active region, the electron blocking layer, the p-type bulk layer and the p-type contact layer together define a growth stack exhibiting a percentage strain relaxation of less than 1%.
  • Embodiment 39 The method of Embodiment 38, further comprising forming the growth stack to have a critical strain energy of about 4500 or less.
  • Embodiment 40 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 39, wherein growing the p-type In c Gai_ c N contact layer comprises growing the p-type In c Gai_ c N contact to be at least substantially comprised of GaN.
  • Embodiment 41 The method of Embodiment 38 or Embodiment 39, further comprising growing the growth stack in a single chemical vapor deposition system at pressures between about 50 and about 500 m ' i ' orr.
  • Embodiment 42 The method of any one of Embodiments 27 through 41, further comprising growing the !n hassleGai votingN base and the p-type ln,,( lai ,, bulk layer in a chamber while flowin trimethy I indium (TMI) and triethylgallium (TMG) through the chamber, wherein a flow ratio (%) of the flow rate of the trimethylindium (TMI) to a flow rate of the triethylgallium (TMG) is between about 50% and 95%.
  • TMI trimethy I indium
  • TMG triethylgallium

Abstract

Une structure semi-conductrice comprend une région active entre une pluralité de couches d'InGaN. La région active peut être au moins sensiblement constituée d'InGaN. La pluralité de couches d'InGaN comprend au moins une couche de puits comprenant InwGa1-wN, et au moins une couche barrière comprenant InbGa1-bN à proximité de la ou des couches de puits. Selon certains modes de réalisation, la valeur de w dans l'InwGa1-wN de la couche de puits peut être supérieure ou égale à environ 0,10 et inférieure ou égale à environ 0,40 selon certains modes de réalisation, et la valeur de b dans l'InbGa1-bN de la ou des couches barrières peut être supérieure ou égale à environ 0,01 et inférieure ou égale à environ 0,10. Des procédés de formation de structures semi-conductrices consiste à procéder à la croissance desdites couches d'InGaN pour former une région active d'un dispositif électroluminescent, tel qu'une DEL. Les luminaires comprennent lesdites DEL.
PCT/EP2014/055314 2013-03-15 2014-03-17 Structure électroluminescente semi-conductrice ayant une région active comprenant ingan, et son procédé de fabrication WO2014140370A1 (fr)

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JP2016513880A (ja) 2016-05-16
WO2014140371A1 (fr) 2014-09-18
JP2016513879A (ja) 2016-05-16
JP2016517627A (ja) 2016-06-16
CN105051918A (zh) 2015-11-11
DE112014001385T5 (de) 2015-12-17
DE112014001423T5 (de) 2015-12-24
DE112014001352T5 (de) 2015-11-26
WO2014140372A1 (fr) 2014-09-18

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