IP Library Granted Patent US 10,276,746
Granted Patent B1
US 10,276,746 · App. 15/813,082 · Granted Apr 30, 2019

Polarization electric field assisted hole supplier and p-type contact structure, light emitting device and photodetector using the same

Inventors: Jianping Zhang (San Jose, CA); Ying Gao (San Jose, CA); Ling Zhou (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: BOLB INC.
H01L33/14H01L31/03048H01L31/1035H01L33/06H01L33/145H01L33/16H01L33/22H01L33/325H01L33/40H01L33/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,276,746
App. No.
15/813,082
Granted
Apr 30, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A hole supplier and p-contact structure for a light emitting device or a photodetector includes a p-type group III nitride structure and a hole supplier and p-contact layer made of Al-containing group III nitride formed on the p-type group III nitride structure and being under a biaxial in-plane tensile strain, the hole supplier and p-contact layer has a thickness in the range of 0.6-10 nm, and the p-type group III nitride structure is formed over an active region of the light emitting device or photodetector. A light emitting device and a photodetector with a hole supplier and p-contact structure.

Claims (67)

1. A hole supplier and p-contact structure for a light emitting device or a photodetector, comprising:

a p-type group III nitride structure; and

a hole supplier and p-contact layer made of Al-containing group III nitride formed on the p-type group III nitride structure and being under a biaxial in-plane tensile strain,

wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer has a thickness in the range of 0.6-10 nm, a room-temperature acceptor activation ratio of the hole supplier and p-contact layer is larger than 1%, and the p-type group III nitride structure is formed over an active region of the light emitting device or photodetector.

2. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 1 , wherein an acceptor activation energy of the hole supplier and p-contact layer is in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 eV, and a polarization induced electric field in the hole supplier and p-contact layer is in the range of 3×10 5 V/cm to 3×10 7 V/cm.

3. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 1 , wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is made of Al x Ga 1-x N with 0.7≤x≤1.

4. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 1 , wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is made of AlN and coherently formed on the p-type group III nitride structure.

5. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 1 , wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer has an Al-composition higher than that of the p-type group III nitride structure.

6. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 1 , wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is doped with Mg in a concentration of 1.0×10 20 cm −3 to 1.0×10 21 cm −3 .

7. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 1 , wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer can form an ohmic contact with a low-work-function metal.

8. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting diode, or a laser diode.

9. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 1 , wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is made of AlN and coherently formed on the p-type group III nitride structure.

10. A light emitting diode comprising:

an n-type AlGaN structure;

a p-type AlGaN structure;

a multiple quantum well active-region sandwiched between the n-type AlGaN structure and the p-type AlGaN structure; and

a hole supplier and p-contact layer made of c-plane Al x Ga 1-x N with 0.7≤x≤1 and formed on the p-type AlGaN structure,

wherein the hole supplier and p-contact a layer has a higher Al-composition than that of the p-type AlGaN structure, the multiple quantum well active-region, and the n-type AlGaN structure, and is of a thickness from 0.6 nm to 10 nm.

11. The light emitting diode according to claim 10 , wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is doped with Mg in a concentration of 1.0×10 20 cm −3 to 1.0×10 21 cm −3 .

12. The light emitting diode according to claim 10 , wherein the p-type AlGaN structure comprises:

a hole injecting and electron blocking layer in contact with the multiple quantum well active-region;

a first channel layer formed on the hole injecting and electron blocking layer;

a p-type barrier formed on first channel layer; and

a second channel layer formed on p-type barrier,

wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is formed on the second channel layer.

13. The light emitting diode according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second channel layers are made of p-type Al y Ga 1-y N with 0≤y≤0.1, respectively, and is of a thickness in the range of 0.5-1.5 nm, respectively.

14. The light emitting diode according to claim 12 , wherein the p-type barrier is made of p-type AlN and is of a thickness in the range of 1-3 nm.

15. The light emitting diode according to claim 12 , wherein the p-type AlGaN structure comprises multiple pairs of the p-type barrier and the first channel layer alternately stacked.

16. The light emitting diode according to claim 12 , wherein the hole injecting and electron blocking layer is a p-type AlGaN layer, or a p-type AlGaN superlattice structure, or a p-type multilayer structure.

17. The light emitting diode according to claim 10 , further comprising a p-ohmic contact formed on the hole supplier and p-contact layer which forms ohmic contact with the hole supplier and p-contact layer.

18. The light emitting diode according to claim 17 , wherein the p-ohmic contact is made of a metal selected from Pd, Pt, Rh, and Os.

19. The light emitting diode according to claim 17 , further comprising a transparent dielectric layer formed on the hole supplier and p-contact layer side-by-side with the p-ohmic contact.

20. A UV photodetector comprising:

an n-type AlGaN structure;

a p-type AlGaN structure;

a light absorbing layer sandwiched between the n-type AlGaN structure and the p-type AlGaN structure; and

a hole supplier and p-contact layer made of Al-containing group III nitride formed on the p-type AlGaN structure,

wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is made of Al x Ga 1-x N with 0.7≤x≤1 and has a thickness from 0.6 nm to 10 nm.

21. A hole supplier and p-contact structure for a light emitting device or a photodetector, comprising:

a p-type group III nitride structure; and

a hole supplier and p-contact layer made of Al-containing group III nitride formed on the p-type group III nitride structure and being under a biaxial in-plane tensile strain,

wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer has a thickness in the range of 0.6-10 nm, an acceptor activation energy of the hole supplier and p-contact layer is in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 eV, and a polarization induced electric field in the hole supplier and p-contact layer is in the range of 3×10 5 V/cm to 3×10 7 V/cm, and the p-type group III nitride structure is formed over an active region of the light emitting device or photodetector.

22. The hole supplier and p-contact structure according to claim 21 , wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is made of Al x Ga 1-x N with 0.7≤x≤1.

23. A hole supplier and p-contact structure for a light emitting device or a photodetector, comprising:

a p-type group III nitride structure; and

a hole supplier and p-contact layer made of Al x Ga 1-x N with 0.7≤x≤1 formed on the p-type group III nitride structure and being under a biaxial in-plane tensile strain,

wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer has a thickness in the range of 0.6-10 nm, and the p-type group III nitride structure is formed over an active region of the light emitting device or photodetector.

24. A light emitting diode comprising:

an n-type AlGaN structure;

a p-type AlGaN structure;

a multiple quantum well active-region sandwiched between the n-type AlGaN structure and the p-type AlGaN structure; and

a hole supplier and p-contact layer made of Al-containing group III nitride and formed on the p-type AlGaN structure,

wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer has a higher Al-composition than that of the p-type AlGaN structure, the multiple quantum well active-region, and the n-type AlGaN structure, and is of a thickness from 0.6 nm to 10 nm,

wherein the p-type AlGaN structure comprises:

a hole injecting and electron blocking layer in contact with the multiple quantum well active-region;

a first channel layer formed on the hole injecting and electron blocking layer;

a p-type barrier formed on first channel layer; and

a second channel layer formed on p-type barrier, wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer is formed on the second channel layer.

25. The light emitting diode according to claim 24 , wherein the first and second channel layers are made of p-type Al y Ga 1-y N with 0≤y≤0.1, respectively, and is of a thickness in the range of 0.5-1.5 nm, respectively.

26. The light emitting diode according to claim 24 , wherein the p-type barrier is made of p-type AlN and is of a thickness in the range of 1-3 nm.

27. A light emitting diode comprising:

an n-type AlGaN structure;

a p-type AlGaN structure;

a multiple quantum well active-region sandwiched between the n-type AlGaN structure and the p-type AlGaN structure;

a hole supplier and p-contact layer made of Al-containing group III nitride and formed on the p-type AlGaN structure, wherein the hole supplier and p-contact layer has a higher Al-composition than that of the p-type AlGaN structure, the multiple quantum well active-region, and the n-type AlGaN structure, and is of a thickness from 0.6 nm to 10 nm;

a p-ohmic contact formed on the hole supplier and p-contact layer which forms ohmic contact with the hole supplier and p-contact layer; and

a transparent dielectric layer formed on the hole supplier and p-contact layer side-by-side with the p-ohmic contact.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2021
From: BOLB INC.
To: TRINITY CAPITAL INC.
Reel/Frame 057783/0583 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2017
From: ZHANG, JIANPING; GAO, YING; ZHOU, LING
To: BOLB INC.
Reel/Frame 044125/0984 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62574083 · Oct 18, 2017