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Description
Multiple quantum well (MQW) structures have been employed in a variety of solid state devices. The InGaAs/GaAs material system is of special interest for many optoelectronic applications. This study examines epitaxial growth and defect creation in InGaAs/GaAs MQWs at its initial stage. Correlations between physical properties, crystal perfection of epitaxial

Multiple quantum well (MQW) structures have been employed in a variety of solid state devices. The InGaAs/GaAs material system is of special interest for many optoelectronic applications. This study examines epitaxial growth and defect creation in InGaAs/GaAs MQWs at its initial stage. Correlations between physical properties, crystal perfection of epitaxial structures, and growth conditions under which desired properties are achieved appear as highly important for the realization and final performance of semiconductor based devices.

Molecular beam epitaxy was utilized to grow InGaAs/GaAs MQW structures with a variation in deposition temperature Tdep among the samples to change crystalline and physical properties. High resolution x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to probe crystal properties, whereas photoluminescence spectroscopy evaluated optical response. An optimal growth temperature Tdep=505°C was found for 20% In composition. The density of 60° primary and secondary dislocation loops increased continuously at lower growth temperatures and reduced crystal perfection, as evaluated by lateral and vertical coherence lengths and diffuse scattering in reciprocal space maps. Likewise, the strength of non-radiative Shockley-Read-Hall recombination increased as deposition temperature was reduced. Elevated deposition temperature led to InGaAs decay in the structures and manifested in different crystalline defects with a rather isotropic distribution and no lateral ordering. High available thermal energy increased atomic surface diffusivity and resulted in growth surface instability against perturbations, manifesting in lateral layer thickness undulations. Carriers in structures grown at elevated temperature experience localization in local energy minima.InGaAs/GaAs MQW structures reveal correlation between their crystal quality and optical properties. It can be suggested that there is an optimal growth temperature range for each In composition with high crystal perfection and best physical response.
ContributorsKarow, Matthias (Author) / Honsberg, C. (Christiana B.) (Thesis advisor) / Faleev, Nikolai N (Committee member) / Ning, Cun-Zheng (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2014
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Description
InAsBi is a narrow direct gap III-V semiconductor that has recently attracted considerable attention because its bandgap is tunable over a wide range of mid- and long-wave infrared wavelengths for optoelectronic applications. Furthermore, InAsBi can be integrated with other III-V materials and is potentially an alternative to commercial II-VI

InAsBi is a narrow direct gap III-V semiconductor that has recently attracted considerable attention because its bandgap is tunable over a wide range of mid- and long-wave infrared wavelengths for optoelectronic applications. Furthermore, InAsBi can be integrated with other III-V materials and is potentially an alternative to commercial II-VI photodetector materials such as HgCdTe.

Several 1 μm thick, nearly lattice-matched InAsBi layers grown on GaSb are examined using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. Random Rutherford backscattering measurements indicate that the average Bi mole fraction ranges from 0.0503 to 0.0645 for the sample set, and ion channeling measurements indicate that the Bi atoms are substitutional. The X-ray diffraction measurements show a diffraction sideband near the main (004) diffraction peak, indicating that the Bi mole fraction is not laterally uniform in the layer. The average out of plane tetragonal distortion is determined by modeling the main and sideband diffraction peaks, from which the average unstrained lattice constant of each sample is determined. By comparing the Bi mole fraction measured by random Rutherford backscattering with the InAsBi lattice constant for the sample set, the lattice constant of zinc blende InBi is determined to be 6.6107 Å.

Several InAsBi quantum wells tensilely strained to the GaSb lattice constant with dilute quantities of Bi are characterized using photoluminescence spectroscopy. Investigation of the integrated intensity as a function of carrier excitation density spanning 5×1025 to 5×1026 cm-3 s-1 indicates radiative dominated recombination and high quantum efficiency over the 12 to 250 K temperature range. The bandgap of InAsBi is ascertained from the photoluminescence spectra and parameterized as a function of temperature using the Einstein single oscillator model. The dilute Bi mole fraction of the InAsBi quantum wells is determined by comparing the measured bandgap energy to that predicted by the valence band anticrossing model. The Bi mole fraction determined by photoluminescence agrees reasonably well with that estimated using secondary ion mass spectrometry.
ContributorsShalindar Christraj, Arvind Joshua Jaydev (Author) / Johnson, Shane R (Thesis advisor) / Alford, Terry L. (Committee member) / Goryll, Michael (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016