F. Mehnke¹, C. Kuhn¹, J. Stellmach¹, T. Kolbe², N. Lobo-Ploch², J. Rass², M.-A. Rothe¹, C. Reich¹, N. Ledentsov, Jr.¹, M. Pristovsek¹, T. Wernicke¹, and M. Kneissl^1,2

Published in:

J. Appl. Phys., vol. 117, no. 195704 (2015).

Abstract:

The effects of the heterostructure design on the injection efficiency and external quantum efficiency of ultraviolet (UV)-B light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been investigated. It was found that the functionality of the Al_xGa_1-xN:Mg electron blocking layer is strongly influenced by its aluminum mole fraction x and its magnesium doping profile. By comparing LED electroluminescence, quantum well photoluminescence, and simulations of LED heterostructure, we were able to differentiate the contributions of injection efficiency and internal quantum efficiency to the external quantum efficiency of UV LEDs. For the optimized heterostructure using an Al_0.7Ga_0.3N:Mg electron blocking layer with a Mg to group III ratio of 4% in the gas phase the electron leakage currents are suppressed without blocking the injection of holes into the multiple quantum well active region. Flip chip mounted LED chips have been processed achieving a maximum output power of 3.5 mW at 290mA and a peak external quantum efficiency of 0.54% at 30 mA.

Key Topics:

Aluminium; Light emitting diodes; Doping; Multiple quantum wells; Emission spectra.

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