U.S. patent application number 09/122568 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-13 for algainp light emitting devices with thin active layers.
Invention is credited to CHUI, HERMAN C., GARDNER, NATHAN F., HOFLER, GLORIA E., KISH, FRED A., KOCOT, CHRISTOPHER, KRAMES, MICHAEL R., MOLL, NICOLAS J., STOCKMAN, STEPHEN A..
Application Number | 20010020703 09/122568 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22403472 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010020703 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GARDNER, NATHAN F. ; et
al. |
September 13, 2001 |
ALGAINP LIGHT EMITTING DEVICES WITH THIN ACTIVE LAYERS
Abstract
The extraction efficiency of a light emitting device can be
improved by making the absorbing device layers as thin as possible.
The internal quantum efficiency decreases as the device layers
become thinner. An optimal active layer thickness balances both
effects. An AlGaInP LED includes a substrate and device layers
including an AlGaInP lower confining layer of a first conductivity
type, an AlGaInP active region of a second conductivity type, and
an AlGaInP upper confining layer of a second conductivity type. The
absorbance of the active region is at least one fifth of the total
absorbance in the light-emitting device. The device optionally
includes at least one set-back layers of AlGaInP interposing one of
confining layer and active region. The p-type upper confining layer
may be doped with oxygen improve the reliability.
Inventors: |
GARDNER, NATHAN F.; (SAN
JOSE, CA) ; KISH, FRED A.; (SAN JOSE, CA) ;
CHUI, HERMAN C.; (SUNNYVALE, CA) ; STOCKMAN, STEPHEN
A.; (MORGAN HILL, CA) ; KRAMES, MICHAEL R.;
(MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA) ; HOFLER, GLORIA E.;
(SUNNYVALE, CA) ; KOCOT, CHRISTOPHER; (PALO ALTO,
CA) ; MOLL, NICOLAS J.; (LA HONDA, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRIAN D. OGONOWSKY
SKJERVEN MORRILL MACPHERSON LLP
25 METRO DRIVE
SUITE 700
SAN JOES
CA
95110
US
|
Family ID: |
22403472 |
Appl. No.: |
09/122568 |
Filed: |
July 24, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
257/87 ; 257/96;
257/E33.07 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 33/305 20130101;
H01L 33/30 20130101; H01L 33/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
257/87 ;
257/96 |
International
Class: |
H01L 027/15; H01L
031/12; H01L 033/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A light-emitting device comprising: a semiconductor substrate
having a first conductivity type; device layers, formed on the
semiconductor substrate, having a total absorbance, that include, a
lower confining layer, formed on the substrate, of an AlGaInP alloy
of the first conductivity type; an active region of AlGaInP, having
an absorbance less than 0.2, formed on the lower confining layer,
and an upper confining layer, formed on the active region, of an
AlGaInP alloy of a second conductivity type; and wherein the
absorbance of the active region is at least one fifth of the total
absorbance.
2. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a semiconductor window layer, formed on the upper
confining layer, of the second conductivity type; and wherein the
window layer is transparent to the light emitted by the active
layer.
3. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 1, further
comprising: a set-back layer of an alloy of AlGaInP interposing the
active region and one of the lower and upper confining layers; and
wherein the alloy composition of the set-back layer is
(Al.sub.xGA.sub.1-x).sub.yIn.sub.1-y- P, where x>0.55 and
0<y<1.
4. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 3, wherein the
upper confining layer is doped with oxygen and the concentration of
the oxygen is greater than 10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3 and less than
5.times.10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3.
5. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 4, wherein the
set-back layer is positioned between the active region and the
upper confining layer, the set-back layer is doped with oxygen and
has an oxygen concentration greater than 10.sup.15 cm.sup.-3 and
less than 5.times.10.sup.16 cm.sup.-3.
6. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 3, the active
region further comprising: j active layers of an alloy of AlGaInP
that emits light; and j-1 barrier layers that are transparent to
the light emitted by the active layers, each barrier layer
interposing two active layers.
7. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 1, the active
region further comprising j active layers of an alloy of AlGaInP
that emits light; and j-1 barrier layers that are transparent to
the light emitted by the active layers, each barrier layer
interposing two active layers.
8. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the
semiconductor substrate is transparent.
9. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 8, wherein: the
second conductivity type is p-type; and the active region contains
a p-type dopant concentration in excess of 10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3 and
less than 10.sup.19 cm.sup.-3.
10. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 8, further
comprising: a set-back layer of an alloy of AlGaInP interposing the
active region and one of the lower and upper confining layers; and
wherein the alloy composition of the set-back layer is
(Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-x).sub.yIn.sub.1-y- P, where x>0.55 and
0<y<1.
11. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 10, the active
region further comprising: j active layers of an alloy of AlGaInP
that emits light; and j-1 barrier layers that are transparent to
light emitted by the active layers, each barrier layer interposing
two adjacent active layers.
12. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 11, wherein the
active region is operative to emit a wavelength less than 600 nm
and the total thickness of the active layers is between 1000 and
2500 .ANG..
13. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 1 1, wherein the
active region is operative to emit a wavelength between 600 and 620
nm and the total thickness of the active layers is between 500 to
2500 .ANG..
14. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 11, wherein the
active region is operative to emit a wavelength greater than 620 nm
and the total thickness of the active layers is between 200 .ANG.
and 1500 .ANG..
15. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 10, wherein the
upper confining layer is doped with oxygen and the concentration of
the oxygen is greater than 10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3 and less than
5.times. 10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3.
16. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 15, wherein the
set-back layer is positioned between the active region and the
upper confining layer, the set-back layer is doped with oxygen and
the concentration of oxygen exceeds 10.sup.15 cm.sup.-3 and less
than 5.times.10.sup.16 cm.sup.-3.
17. A light-emitting device, as defined in claim 8, the active
region further including j active layers of an alloy of AlGaInP
that emits light; and j-1 barrier layers that are transparent to
the light emitted by the active layers, each barrier layer
interposing two active layers.
18. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 8, wherein the
active region is operative to emit a wavelength less than 600 nm
and the total thickness of the active layers is between 1000 .ANG.
and 2500 .ANG..
19. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 8, wherein the
active region is operative to emit a wavelength between 600 and 620
nm and the total thickness of the active layers is between 500
.ANG. and 2500 .ANG..
20. The light-emitting device, as defined in claim 8, wherein the
active region is operative to emit a wavelength greater than 620 nm
and the total thickness of the active layers is between 200 .ANG.
and 1500 .ANG..
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a semiconductor light
emitting device formed on a substrate using a compound
semiconductor layer of AlGaInP to form an active layer, a p-n
junction to inject carriers into this active layer, and the
thickness of the active layer and other constituent layers are
chosen to optimize the efficiency of light emission.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are widely accepted in many
applications that require low power consumption, small size, and
high reliability. Energy-efficient diodes that emit light in the
yellow-green to red regions of the visible spectrum contain active
layers formed of an AlGaInP alloy. The conventional AlGaInP LED,
shown in FIG. 1, includes a semiconductor substrate, e.g. GaAs, a
lower confining layer, an active layer, an upper confining layer,
all placed in a "double heterostructure" configuration, followed by
an optional window layer. The confining layers are made of a
transparent semiconductor and enhance the "internal quantum
efficiency" of the LED, defined as the fraction of electron-hole
pairs in the active layer that recombine and emit light. The window
layer, also a transparent semiconductor, increases the spread of
electric current across the active layer and enhances the internal
quantum efficiency of the diode.
[0003] The internal quantum efficiency of an AlGaInP LED depends
upon, among other things, the thickness of the active layer and its
alloy composition (which determines the color of the emitted
light), and the alloy composition of the confining layers. FIG. 2a
shows the internal quantum efficiency of an absorbing substrate
AlGaInP LED as the thickness of the active layer is varied. The
efficiency of the LED depends on the degree to which the electrons
or holes (whichever is the minority carrier) recombine radiatively
in the active layer. The alloy compositions and doping
concentrations of the confining layers are chosen to create a
potential energy barrier between the active and confining layers. A
relatively small fraction of the injected minority carriers have
sufficient kinetic energy to overcome the barrier and diffuse out
of the active layer. Thus, if the active layer thickness is less
than the diffusion length of the minority carriers, then the
minority carrier concentration is increased by the presence of the
confining layers (if a constant current is applied to the device).
This results in an increase in internal quantum efficiency, since
the rate at which carriers recombine radiatively increases with the
carrier density. If the active layer thickness is greater than the
diffusion length, then the internal quantum efficiency decreases
because the confining layers do not increase the carrier
density.
[0004] Although the confining layer compositions are selected to
maximize the confinement energy, in the AlGaInP material system,
this energy is not large enough to completely prevent carriers from
"leaking" out of the active layer. In the wide-energy-gap alloys
utilized for the confining layers
((Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-x).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P with x>0.55),
non-radiative recombination occurs at a high rate, so carriers
which leak out of the active layer are essentially lost and the
internal quantum efficiency of the LED suffers. The magnitude of
the leakage current is determined by alloy compositions of the
active layer and adjacent layers and the resultant differences in
their energy gaps. Thus, if a wider-gap active layer is used to
generate 590-nm light, the carrier confinement is poorer than if
the active layer generates 630-nm light, when the LED is otherwise
identical. Those skilled in the art will recognize that LEDs do not
emit light of only one wavelength. The LED wavelength is defined at
the point of maximum photon emission. The rate at which carriers
escape from the active layer is furthermore related to the
concentration of carriers located at the interface between the
active and confining layers. This concentration decreases as the
active layer thickness increases. Taking these two effects together
(leakage and carrier concentration), the active layer thickness for
highest internal quantum efficiency will vary with the color of the
emitted light. This is illustrated by FIG. 2b, which shows, as a
function of active layer thickness, the efficiency of a second
AlGaInP LED that emits at a shorter wavelength. Because the
confinement energy is smaller, an optimal active layer is
thicker.
[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,889, Sugawara, et al. show that if
the active layer of an absorbing substrate AlGaInP LED is thicker
than the diffusion length of the injected minority carriers, then
the double heterostructure does not provide additional confinement
of electrons and holes in the active layer. On the other hand, if
the active layer is too thin (<1500 .ANG., according to the
authors), then the density of carriers within the active layer is
so high that a substantial fraction of them escape into the
confining layers. For a p-type active layer with a net hole
concentration of about 5.times.10.sup.16 cm.sup.-3 and an upper
confining layer composition
(Al.sub.0.7Ga.sub.0.3).sub.0.5In.sub.0.- 5P with a net hole
concentration of about 5.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3, the optimal
active layer thickness is specified to be between 1500 .ANG. and
7500 .ANG.. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,440, Okagawa, et al. demonstrate
that with an (Al.sub.0.7Ga.sub.0.3).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P upper
confining layer with a net hole concentration of about
3.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3, the optimum active layer thickness
ranges between 1.1 .mu.m and 1.3 .mu.m for an absorbing substrate
LED.
[0006] Another way in which the internal quantum efficiency can be
improved, particularly for short-wavelength-emitting LEDs, is with
multi-quantum-well (MQW) structures. In these devices, the light
emission occurs in multiple (usually five or more) thin quantum
well active layers of light-emitting AlGaInP (also known as
"wells") between multiple "barrier" layers of another alloy
composition of AlGaInP that is transparent to visible light. An
active region consists of one or more light-emitting layers. For a
MQW structure, optically transparent higher bandgap barrier layers
separate the active layers. The total active region thickness is
the sum of the thicknesses of all active layers (wells) and
barriers. The total active layer thickness is the sum of the
thicknesses of all the individual light emitting active layers
(wells). For a single light emitting layer device, the active layer
and active region thickness are the same. To form a quantum well
(wherein the carriers exhibit quantum size effects), the thickness
of the wells must be less than 200 .ANG., which is roughly the
length of the wave function of a thermal electron in AlGaInP, in
the effective mass approximation. The exact thickness depends on
the alloy composition of the quantum wells and barriers. If the
carriers which leak out of the thin quantum well can recombine in a
second or third, or fourth, etc. well, the internal quantum
efficiency of the LED is improved. It is for this reason that
quantum-well LEDs typically have several tens of wells in the
active region. Furthermore, the total thickness of the wells is
described as the active layer thickness because light is not
emitted from the barriers. Sugawara, et al. describe in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,410,159 a method for determining the optimum combination of
well thicknesses and number of wells to produce a high efficiency
absorbing substrate LED. Utilizing forty 50 .ANG.-thick wells (for
a total active layer thickness of 2000 .ANG.) with alloy
composition (Al.sub.0.3Ga.sub.0.7).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, the authors
achieved .about.2.7% external quantum efficiency at 20 mA of drive
current, and an emission wavelength of 575 nm. Huang, et al. also
describe the use of MQW active regions in U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,742,
although the authors do not specify the external quantum
efficiencies that they achieved.
[0007] Internal quantum efficiency is one factor determining the
"external quantum efficiency" of a LED, defined as the ratio of the
number of photons exiting the LED to the number of electrons which
enter it through the contacts. Another factor is the "extraction
efficiency", defined as the fraction of photons generated in the
active layer that escape from the semiconductor surfaces of the LED
and enter the surrounding material. The optional window layer
enhances extraction efficiency by allowing more light to exit the
semiconductor material. The extraction efficiency of an LED can be
much improved by either growing or mechanically bonding the lower
confining layer upon a transparent substrate (TS) rather than an
absorbing one. The extraction efficiency of TS AlGaInP LEDs can be
approximately twice as high as that of AS AlGaInP LEDs, improving
the external quantum efficiency of the LED by approximately a
factor of two.
[0008] The extraction efficiency of a transparent substrate LED
(TS-LED) is reduced by the presence of any layers in the LED that
have an energy gap equal to or smaller than that of the
light-emitting layers. This is because some of the light that is
emitted by the active layer passes through the absorbing layers
before it exits the LED. Typical, but not all, absorbing layers are
formed of alloys of (Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-x).sub.0.- 5In.sub.0.5P where
x<0.55, or of Al.sub.yGa.sub.1-y As and related alloys. These
layers may be located between the active layer and the window
layer, and between the lower confining layer and the substrate.
These absorbing layers are included because they reduce the number
of dislocations or other defects in the active layer or are used to
simplify the LED manufacturing process. Another effect is to reduce
band offsets at heterointerfaces, which lower the voltage that must
be applied to the contacts in order to force a particular current
through the diode. Because the absorbing layers tend to absorb
shorter-wavelength light more effectively than longer-wavelength
light, LEDs that emit at 590 nm suffer a greater performance
penalty due to the presence of these layers than LEDs that emit at
640 nm.
[0009] Absorption in the active region also reduces the extraction
efficiency. FIG. 3 is a diagram of light passing through a
transparent substrate AlGaInP LED. The arrow represents the light
emitted by the active layer when an electric current is injected at
the p-n junction via the contacts of the LED. This ray of light is
emitted towards the bottom of the device, reflects off of the back
contact, and passes again through the substrate, lower confining
layer, and active layer. The active layer reabsorbs part of this
ray of light as it passes through, as indicated by the thinning of
the line representing the ray of light. The absorption coefficient
of the active layer is typically not as large as that of the narrow
gap layers in the LED. However, because light rays may reflect off
the internal surfaces of the LED several times (and pass through
the active layer several times) before escaping, a substantial
fraction of the emitted light may be absorbed in the active layer.
In contrast, light emitted by the active layer of an absorbing
substrate LED only passes through the active layer once, because
light that reflects off of an internal surface will generally be
completely absorbed by the substrate. Therefore, absorption in the
active layer has little effect on the external quantum efficiency
of an AS LED.
[0010] When light is absorbed by the active layer (either a single
layer or a plurality of layers arranged in a multiple-well
configuration), electron and hole pairs are formed that may
recombine radiatively or non-radiatively. In AlGaInP active layers,
only a fraction of the absorbed photons is re-emitted. This
fraction is equivalent to the internal quantum efficiency of the
active layer, and is determined by the alloy composition of the
active layer (i.e. the emission wavelength of the LED) and the
predilection of electron-hole pairs to recombine non-radiatively
through crystalline defects or impurities. Typically, for a 590 nm
LED, only 5-50% of the absorbed photons will be re-emitted by the
active layer. Thus, 95-50% of the light that is originally emitted
by and subsequently absorbed by the active layer is lost
irretrievably, resulting in a decrease in extraction efficiency and
the external quantum efficiency of the device.
[0011] In the prior art, techniques for improving the efficiency of
AlGaInP LEDs have focussed on determining the active layer
thickness which results in greatest internal quantum efficiency and
on increasing the extraction efficiency of the LED by removing the
absorbing substrate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The extraction efficiency of a TS-LED can be further
improved by making all absorbing layers, including the active
layer, as thin as possible. However, in AlGaInP LEDs, ultra-thin
active layers result in a decrease in the internal quantum
efficiency of the LED. An optimal active layer thickness will
balance the effects of increasing extraction efficiency and
decreasing internal quantum efficiency. Consequently, the TS-LED
has neither optimal extraction efficiency nor optimal internal
quantum efficiency when its external quantum efficiency is
maximized.
[0013] The present invention is an LED that includes an AlGaInP
active region that has active layer thickness which provides
superior external quantum efficiency in a transparent substrate LED
while accounting for compromises between .eta..sub.internal
(internal quantum efficiency) and .eta..sub.extraction (extraction
efficiency). Because .eta..sub.internal is a function of many
properties, particularly the composition of the active region and
the confining layers, the optimum thickness is specific to a
particular AlGaInP LED design. The thickness and number of layers
in the active region are specified to provide superior external
quantum efficiency. Furthermore, the external quantum efficiency of
the LED does not change substantially with prolonged operation.
Specific ranges for the thickness of the active layer, the
thickness of confining layers, and other conditions of the
constituting elements can increase the external quantum efficiency
and manufacturability.
[0014] The LED includes device layers formed on a substrate of a
first conductivity type. The device layers have a total absorbance.
These layers include a lower confining layer of an AlGaInP alloy of
the first conductivity type, an active region of AlGaInP of a
second conductivity type, and an upper confining layer of an
AlGaInP alloy of the second conductivity type. The absorbance of
the active region is at least one fifth of the total absorbance and
the absorbance of the active region is less than 0.2. To improve
reliability and manufacturability, the LED may optionally include
one or two set-back layers of AlGaInP, the set-back layer
interposing one of confining layer and active region. The set-back
layers provide a region wherein dopant atoms may migrate during
high temperature processing, while maintaining the p-n junction in
the same location in the finished LED. Furthermore, the set-back
layers can reduce the sensitivity of the internal quantum
efficiency to changes in the temperature of the LED. The p-type
upper confining layer may be doped with oxygen to improve the
reliability of the LED.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art transparent substrate
light-emitting device.
[0016] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the internal quantum efficiency
of two AS-LEDs.
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates light passing through the device shown in
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows the dependence of quantum efficiency on the
active layer thickness for a TS LED.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows the absorption coefficient of an alloy of
AlGaInP as a function of photon energy.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows the percentage of light transmitted through
several different TS LED wafers.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows the relative external quantum efficiency of a
590 nm TS-LED with different thickness active layers.
[0022] FIG. 8 shows the relative external quantum efficiency of a
630 nm TS-LED with different thickness active layers.
[0023] FIGS. 9A and 9B show a schematic diagram of an LED with a
thin active layer and confining layers of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P and
an LED with set-back layers.
[0024] FIG. 10 shows the external quantum efficiency LEDs that have
thin active layers emitting 590 nm light, set-back layers, and
varying p-type doping levels in the active layer.
[0025] FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of a particular
embodiment of the multiple well active region device
[0026] FIG. 12 show the external quantum efficiency of three LEDs
as a function of current: A, curve a corresponds to a prior art
LED; curve b corresponds to an LED having a 2000 .ANG. thick active
layer; and curve c corresponds to an LED having multiple well
active layers consisting of four 500 .ANG. light emitting
layers.
[0027] FIG. 13 shows the degradation in external quantum efficiency
of three different 590 nm LEDs after prolonged operation.
[0028] FIG. 14 shows the degradation in external quantum efficiency
of LEDs comprising thin active layers and set-back layers after
prolonged operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] FIG. 4 shows the dependence of internal quantum efficiency,
extraction efficiency, and external quantum efficiency on the
thickness of the active layer for an AlGaInP transparent substrate
light emitting diode (TS-LED). The external quantum efficiency is
the product of the internal quantum efficiency and the extraction
efficiency:
.eta..sub.external=.eta..sub.internal.times..eta..sub.extraction
[0030] For one range of active layer thicknesses shown in FIG. 4,
the external quantum efficiency is limited by the internal quantum
efficiency, and in another range of thicker active layers, the
external quantum efficiency is limited by the extraction
efficiency. A TS-LED with optimal external quantum efficiency has
an active layer thickness that is chosen to balance the influence
of internal quantum efficiency and extraction efficiency, as shown
by Point A. In contrast, an AS-LED with optimal external quantum
efficiency also has optimal internal quantum efficiency and the
active layer thickness is chosen to maximize this efficiency, shown
by Point B. Because the internal quantum efficiency of the LED
depends on many layer specific properties, e.g. the composition and
doping of the device layers, the active layer thickness for maximum
external quantum efficiency will vary. Some of the specific
dependencies will be described in detail below.
[0031] The extraction efficiency depends on active layer thickness
only if the absorption in this region is a significant fraction of
the total absorption in the LED. In one extreme, the active layer
is the only absorbing layer in the LED, e.g. a
transparent-substrate LED, and varying its thickness has a large
effect on extraction efficiency. In the other extreme, e.g. an
absorbing-substrate LED with a thin (<2000 .ANG.) active layer,
the active layer contributes little to the total absorption in the
device and reducing its thickness does not significantly improve
the extraction efficiency.
[0032] The degree to which a particular layer absorbs light can be
quantified by defining, with the following expression, an
absorbance for the layer:
absorbance=1-exp[-.alpha.(.lambda..sub.peak).multidot.L], Eq.
(1)
[0033] where .alpha. is the absorption coefficient of the layer at
the peak wavelength of the LED's emission spectrum, and L is the
thickness of the same layer. When defining absorbance, light is
assumed to pass through the layer at normal incidence. Light which
passes through the layer at an oblique angle will travel through an
apparent layer thickness that is larger than L, so Eq. 1 represents
the minimum absorbance that the active layer will have. It would be
obvious to one skilled in the art that if a semiconductor layer
that partially covers the layer below it, then the absorbance
should be calculated with respect to the ratio of the area of the
semiconductor layer to the area of the LED.
[0034] According to Equation 1, a layer having a high absorption
coefficient or large thickness will absorb more light than a layer
having a low absorption coefficient or that is thin. FIG. 5
illustrates the absorption coefficient, expressed in cm.sup.-1, as
a function of photon energy for direct-gap, light-emitting AlGaInP.
The energy is expressed as the difference between the energy of the
incident photon and the energy of the photons that the AlGaInP
layer emits. There are typically several absorbing layers in an
LED, and the total absorbance in the device layer (all of the layer
in the LED excluding the substrate) is determined by the following
sum: 1 total absorbance = 1 - exp [ - i i ( peak ) L i ] ,
Eq.(2)
[0035] where there are i semiconductor layers in the device which
absorb the light emitted by the active layer, including the active
layer itself (or active layers, if there is more than one) and
excluding the substrate (again assuming normal incidence of light
on the layers). To maximize the benefit of reducing the active
layer thickness, the preferred relative absorption of the active
layers and "parasitic" absorbing layers can be expressed
mathematically by comparing the absorbance in the active region to
the total absorbance of the device layers. The absorbance of the
active region is determined by the following sum: 2 active region
absorbance = 1 - exp [ - j AL j ( peak ) L AL j ] , Eq.(3)
[0036] where the subscript AL refers to the j light-emitting active
layers in the LED's active region. The "active layer thickness" is
the summation of the thicknesses of the j light-emitting active
layers. For an optimal device, the active region absorbance is
related to the total absorbance by: 3 ( active region absorbance )
1 5 ( total absorbance ) Eq.(4)
[0037] Equation 4 requires that the absorbance of the active region
is at least one fifth of the total absorbance in the semiconductor
device layers.
[0038] The thicknesses of the parasitic absorbing layers in an LED
are typically on the order of 100 -1000 .ANG. as described by
Itaya, et al. in "Current-voltage characteristics of p-p isotype
InGaAlP/GaAs heterojunction with a large valence-band
discontinuity," Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 32, pp.
1919-1922, 1993. The thickness is constrained on the lower end
because of the necessity to grow a layer thick enough to be
reproducible in high-volume manufacturing by OMVPE (metal-organic
chemical vapor deposition) or MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) and have
the desired effect, and is constrained on the upper end by a need
to minimize parasitic losses, particularly if the layer is located
between the active region and the window layer of the LED. If the
parasitic layers are formed of In.sub.0.5Ga.sub.0.5P, which has the
worst-case absorption coefficient for an
(Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-x).sub.0.5In.s- ub.0.5P alloy, the thicknesses
above correspond to a range of absorbances of 0.04 to 0.34 (for an
emission wavelength of 555 nm, which is the shortest emission
wavelength from direct-gap AlGaInP). Equation 4 requires that the
minimum active region absorbance be in the range of 0.01 to
0.085.
[0039] When Eq. 4 is satisfied, changing the thickness of the
active layer will have a meaningful effect on the extraction
efficiency of the LED. If, for example, the absorbance of the
active layer in the LED is slightly less than one-fifth of the
total absorbance, then reducing the active layer thickness by a
factor of 2 decreases the total absorbance of the device by
.about.10%. The extraction efficiency will increase by a smaller
amount, because of reflective losses inside the device. However,
this magnitude of an improvement in device performance can not be
repeatably distinguished from noise in the experimental
measurements of external quantum efficiency. Hence, the active
layer absorbance should have a larger impact on external quantum
efficiency, and Eq. 4 satisfies this requirement.
[0040] The maximum active region absorbance of an optimal LED
depends upon the internal quantum efficiency of the active region.
For a 590-nm-emitting LED, the internal quantum efficiency may be
as low as 5%. If the absorbance of the active region is 0.45
(corresponding to an active layer thickness of 7500 .ANG., which is
commonly utilized in the prior art), then after each pass of a ray
of light through the active layer the ray of light is 0.57.times.
of its original intensity. An optimal active region will result in
the single-pass intensity of a ray of light being minimally
affected, defined to be at least 0.8.times. of its original
intensity. This condition for single-pass intensity is satisfied
by, and results in improved external quantum efficiency of, all of
the transparent-substrate AlGaInP LEDs studied. For an AlGaInP LED
with an internal quantum efficiency of 5%, this corresponds to an
active layer thickness of 3800 .ANG. and an absorbance of 0.26.
Some AlGaInP LEDs, particularly those that emit in the green, have
internal quantum efficiencies which are lower than 5%. In order to
accommodate an active layer with an internal quantum efficiency
that is<<5% (nearly zero), an upper limit for the active
region absorbance can be established at 0.2, corresponding to an
active layer thickness of 2800 .ANG.. For an LED with higher
internal quantum efficiency, the active region absorbance may be
greater than 0.2 while maintaining the 0.8.times. single-pass
transmittance. However, a thinner active layer will have superior
extraction efficiency and is preferred. Thus, in order to optimize
extraction efficiency, there is no lower limit on the absorbance of
the active region, except for the requirement of Eq. 4.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows the percentage transmission of light through
several TS AlGaInP LED wafers, each with a different thickness of
active layer. This figure shows the effect of active layer
thickness on the ability of light to pass through the active layer
with minimal absorption. The absorption due to additional layers
that are present in these LEDs is also shown. In one embodiment of
a 590 nm-emitting AlGaInP TS LED, the absorbance of the active
layer is 0.15, and the absorbance of the parasitic layers is 0.15.
This LED has an external quantum efficiency that is 28% greater
than that of an LED of the prior art which has an active layer
absorbance of 0.45 and is otherwise identical.
[0042] Another parameter that determines the optimal active layer
thickness is the alloy composition of the active layer (which
determines the color of light that the LED emits). FIG. 7 shows,
for an LED comprising a transparent substrate, a lower confining
layer of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on the substrate, and active
layer of (Al.sub.0.3Ga.sub.0.7).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P (emitting at 590
nm) of varying thickness formed on the lower confining layer, an
upper confining layer of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on the active
layer, and a window layer, the relative external quantum efficiency
as the active layer thickness varies. The external quantum
efficiency increases as the active layer thickness is increased
from 100 .ANG. to 2000 .ANG.. The efficiency decreases as the
active layer thickness is increased to 7500 .ANG.. The decrease in
external efficiency from 2000 .ANG. to 7500 .ANG. is a result of
the lower extraction efficiency and lower carrier densities in the
thicker active layers, which reduces the radiative recombination
rate. As the active layer thickness is decreased below 1000 .ANG.,
the leakage rate of the minority carriers out of the active layer
becomes high, so the device efficiency decreases over this range.
Because the properties of the constituent layers in the LED cannot
be controlled perfectly, the optimum thickness of the active layer
will vary over the range of 1000-2500 .ANG., corresponding to an
absorbance of 0.08-0.18. LEDs that emit at less than 600 nm also
demonstrate improved performance over this range of active layer
absorbances.
[0043] In comparison, FIG. 8 shows, for an LED comprising a
transparent substrate, a lower confining layer of
Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on the substrate, and active layer of
(Al.sub.0.1Ga.sub.0.9).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P (emitting at 630 nm) of
varying thickness formed on the lower confining layer, an upper
confining layer of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on the active
layer, and a window layer, the relative external quantum efficiency
as the active layer thickness varies. The external quantum
efficiency decreases as the active layer thickness is increased
from 100 .ANG. to 7500 .ANG.. The maximum external quantum
efficiency is achieved for active layer thicknesses less than 500
.ANG. (corresponding to an absorbance of 0.04). According to the
effects described above, the internal quantum efficiency will
decrease as the active layer thickness is reduced beyond some point
below 100 .ANG.. Because the energy gap of the active layer in the
red LED is smaller than that in the amber LED and the alloy
compositions of the confining layers are the same for both LEDs,
the carrier confinement in the red LED is superior. Consequently,
in the red device, the effects of carrier leakage from the active
layer are significant only with much thinner active layers and the
optimal active layer is much thinner. LEDs that emit greater than
620 nm demonstrate improved performance over the range of active
layer thicknesses of 200 .ANG. to 1500 .ANG.. Similarly, data exist
which demonstrate that LEDs which emit in the wavelength range of
600-620 nm have optimal external quantum efficiencies when the
active layer thickness lies in the range of 500-2500 .ANG..
[0044] One problem with thinner active layers is that the internal
quantum efficiency becomes more sensitive to variations in the
doping levels in the confining layers, which reduces the
manufacturing yield and hence increases the cost of the LEDs. In
one embodiment of an AlGaInP LED, the upper confining layer is
doped, during growth, with a p-type dopant, e.g. Zn or Mg. As the
wafer undergoes subsequent high-temperature processing steps, the
p-type dopant diffuses out of the upper confining layer. The
internal quantum efficiency is greatest when the p-n junction is
located precisely at the interface between the active layer and the
n-type lower confining layer, because the hetero-junction increases
the number of electrons which the p-n junction will inject into the
p-type active layer. The redistribution of dopants during growth
and subsequent processing may cause the p-n junction to not be
optimally located.
[0045] When the active layer is thin and the adjacent confining
layers are doped, it is more likely that the p-n junction will be
misplaced because of small variations in the initial dopant
concentrations in the confining layers. For example, a 7.times.
change in the external quantum efficiency of LEDs with 1000 .ANG.
thick active layers has been observed, in response to a 20% change
in the concentration of dopant atoms in the upper confining layer.
This sensitivity is reduced by the use of set-back layers. These
are unintentionally doped layers interposing the active and
confining layers, into which dopant atoms from the confining layers
diffuse during growth or processing. The thickness of these layers
is chosen to cause the p-n junction to be located, for the case of
a device with only an upper set-back layer, at the
lower-confining-layer/active-la- yer heterointerface at the end of
the entire device fabrication process. For the case of a device
with a lower set-back layer, the optimal position of the p-n
junction is between the lower-set-back-layer/active-l- ayer
heterointerface and the lower confining layer/lower set-back layer
heterointerface. The diffusion coefficients of the dopant through
the different layers in the device, as well as the temperature and
duration of the processing steps, will determine the necessary
thicknesses of the set-back layers. Furthermore, the set-back
layers may be formed of a plurality of layers of different
semiconductor alloys or compounds that are transparent to the light
emitted by the active layer. The set-back layers may also comprise
layers wherein the composition of the alloy varies spatially, e.g.
linearly graded or parabolically graded.
[0046] FIG. 9a shows a schematic of an LED 10A having a thin active
layer 12 and confining layers 14A, 14B of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P. In
this device, if there is too much p-type dopant in the upper
confining layer 14B, it may diffuse into the n-type lower confining
layer, causing the p-n junction to be misplaced. FIG. 9b shows an
LED 10B that has a thin active layer 12, an AlGaInP upper set-back
layer 16, and Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P confining layers 14A, 14B. The
upper set-back layer 16 has not been doped. During growth of the
window layer 18, the p-type dopant diffuses through the upper
confining layer 14B, the upper set-back layer 16, and the active
layer 12. The thickness of the upper set-back layer 16 or an
optional lower set-back layers is chosen to maximize the likelihood
that the p-n junction will be properly located after all
high-temperature processing steps are completed. Although these
figures do not explicitly show a lower-set-back-layer, one can be
employed to accommodate a memory effect or diffusion of the n-type
dopants.
[0047] In one embodiment, the high-temperature processing steps
which the LED is subjected to cause the p-type dopant to diff-use
between 5000 .ANG. and 10,000 .ANG. from the p-type upper confining
layer. Consequently, a thin active layer LED would optimally have a
total thickness of active layer and upper set-back layer of between
5000 .ANG. and 10,000 .ANG., preferably 7500 .ANG.. 590 nm-emitting
LEDs with 2000 .ANG. thick active layers and 5500 .ANG. thick upper
set-back layers have been found to provide superior performance.
For a 630 nm LED, the optimal device might have a 500 .ANG. thick
active layer with a 7000 .ANG. thick upper set-back layer. The
external quantum efficiency of these devices has not been observed
to vary more than 5%, in response to a 20% change in the doping
level of the upper confining layer. This illustrates the
effectiveness of the set-back layers at improving the yield of the
manufacturing process.
[0048] When a set-back layer is used in the LED, the composition of
this layer, because it adjoins the active region, will have an
effect on the internal quantum efficiency. The external quantum
efficiency of a preferred LED comprising a transparent substrate, a
lower confining layer of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on the
substrate, a 2000 .ANG. thick active layer of
(Al.sub.0.3Ga.sub.0.7).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on the lower
confining layer, a 5500 .ANG. thick upper set-back layer of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on the active
layer, an upper confining layer of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on
the upper set-back layer, and a window layer has an external
quantum efficiency of 18.4% at 5 mA. An inferior LED comprises an
upper set-back layer formed of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P and is
otherwise identical. The external quantum efficiency of this LED is
16.7% at 5 mA, which is 10% lower than that of the preferred LED.
Additionally, measurements have been made on LEDs wherein the upper
set-back layer is formed of (Al.sub.0.8Ga.sub.0.2).sub.-
0.5In.sub.0.5P and (Al.sub.0.5Ga.sub.0.5).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P. In
none of these cases was the external quantum efficiency of the LED
greater than that of the LED with an upper set-back layer formed of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P. Consequently, a
preferred LED has an upper set-back layer formed of this particular
composition of AlGaInP. The composition of the set-back layer
improves the internal quantum efficiency of the device because it
reduces the amount of leakage current out of the active layer. This
reduction in leakage current is caused in part by the lower rate of
non-radiative recombination in the set-back layer.
[0049] Another factor that affects the leakage current is the
relative doping level of the active region and the upper set-back
layer. The leakage current will be lower if the upper set-back
layer is doped more heavily. In an LED with an upper set-back layer
formed of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, the doping level in the upper
set-back layer is lower than in an upper set-back layer formed of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).- sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P. This is caused by
diffusion and accumulation of the p-type dopant, during
high-temperature processing steps, from the set-back layer into the
active layer. The energy gap of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P is less than that of
Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, resulting in a higher doping level in the
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P set-back. Therefore, an
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P is preferable to an
Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P set-back.
[0050] The superior carrier confinement of an LED with an upper
set-back layer formed of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P also improves the
ability of the LED to maintain its internal quantum efficiency when
its temperature is changed. In typical AlGaInP LEDs that emit 590
nm, the internal quantum efficiency decreases approximately 1-2%
per degree Celsius increase in the temperature of the LED. The rate
at which the efficiency decreases depends on the active layer alloy
composition, and the rate decreases for longer-wavelength LEDs. The
internal quantum efficiency of an AlGaInP LED comprising an upper
set-back layer formed of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P does not decrease as
rapidly with increasing temperature, compared to an LED with
set-backs formed of an alloy with a higher-Al mole fraction. An LED
formed on a transparent substrate, with a lower confining layer
formed of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, a 2000 .ANG. thick active layer
formed of (Al.sub.0.3Ga.sub.0.7).sub.0.5I- n.sub.0.5P on the lower
confining layer, and an upper set-back layer formed of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P on the active layer,
exhibited a decrease in internal quantum efficiency of
-1.3%/.degree. C., while an identical LED, except that the upper
set-back layer was formed of
(Al.sub.0.8Ga.sub.0.2).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, exhibited a decrease of
-1.4%/.degree. C.
[0051] In U.S. Patent No. 5,732,098, Nisitani, et al. describe an
AlGaInP LED with (Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-x).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P layers
interposing the active layer and Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P confining
layers wherein the energy-gap of the interposing layers is less
than that of the confining layers or the aluminum mole fraction of
the interposing layer is less. However, for the purpose of
improving electron confinement in the active layer or other
performance characteristics of the device, the composition of
AlGaInP in the set-back layers may be chosen to be
non-latticed-matched to the confining or active layers, and may
have a wider energy gap than the confining layers or may have a
higher Al mole fraction than the upper confining layer. A
transparent substrate AlGaInP LED with a lower confining layer of
Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, a 2000 .ANG. thick active layer of
(Al.sub.0.3Ga.sub.0.7).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P formed on the lower
confining layer, a 500 .ANG. thick first set-back layer of
Al.sub.0.615In.sub.0.385P formed on the active layer, a 5000 .ANG.
second set-back layer formed of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P on the first set-back
layer, and an upper confining layer formed of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P
on the second set-back layer, has an external quantum efficiency
that is 10% greater than that of an LED wherein the first set-back
layer is not present, the second set-back layer has a thickness of
5500 .ANG., and is otherwise identical. The first set-back layer
formed of Al.sub.0.615In.sub.0.385P causes the internal quantum
efficiency to be higher because it has a wider band-gap than the
upper confining layer and the second set-back layer, resulting in a
smaller leakage current out of the active layer.
[0052] Another parameter that affects the internal quantum
efficiency of the active layer is its doping level. The radiative
recombination rate is proportional to the product of the electron
and hole densities. The confining layers increase the efficiency of
the LED by increasing the electron and hole densities in the active
layer. The densities are also increased by incorporating more
dopant atoms in the active layer. FIG. 10 shows the external
quantum efficiency of 590 nm LEDs that have 2000 .ANG.-thick active
layers and (Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P upper
set-back layers, as the p-type doping level in the active layer is
varied. This figure shows that the external quantum efficiency is
improved when the doping level exceeds 10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3, and
tends to increase as doping level increases. Above a certain
concentration (approximately 10.sup.19 cm.sup.-3, depending on the
dopant atom), the large a concentration of dopant atoms causes the
formation of dislocations or other defects that reduce the internal
quantum efficiency of the LED. Therefore, a preferred LED has an
active layer that is doped with a greater concentration than
10.sup.17 cm.sup.3 and less than 10.sup.19 cm.sup.3.
[0053] Internal quantum efficiency, particularly for
short-wavelength LEDs, can be improved by replacing the active
layer with multiple-quantum-well active regions, formed by using
multiple (>5) thin layers of AlGaInP between multiple layers of
a transparent AlGaInP alloy. To form a quantum well, the thickness
of the AlGaInP active layer must be less than the wavelength of the
electron wave function in AlGaInP (approximately 200 .ANG.).
Because it is difficult to maintain a uniform composition and
thickness for multiple quantum well active layers in a high-volume
manufacturing environment, the use of thicker wells is preferred.
Thicker wells do not exhibit quantum confinement effects such as
reduced emission wavelength. The use of multiple thicker wells
increases the internal quantum efficiency of the active region,
compared to a single active layer of greater thickness, because the
carrier density in the wells is greater, resulting in a higher
radiative recombination rate. At the same time, the absorbance of
the active region (as calculated by Eq. 3) must satisfy the
requirement of being less than 0.2.
[0054] FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of a multi-well
active region in an LED. The figure shows an LED that has an active
region, an upper set-back layer that is formed of
(Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-x).sub.0.5In.sub- .0.5P, and confining layers
that are formed of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P. The barrier layers that
are located between the active layers in the active region are
formed of (Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-x).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, where
x=0.55-1.0. The barrier layers may be formed of any semiconductor
material that is transparent to the light emitted by the active
layers, such as lattice matched or lattice mismatched AlGaInP or
AlGaAs. The compositions and thicknesses of the layers (wells and
barriers) are chosen to maximize the external quantum efficiency
for the LED, and the optimal values are expected to be different
for different alloy compositions of the wells (and hence emission
wavelength). FIG. 12 shows the external quantum efficiency of three
different LEDs as a function of current (L-I curves). Curve a is
the L-I curve for a 590 nm LED with an active layer that is 7500
.ANG. thick and confining layers formed of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P.
Curve b is the L-I curve for another 590 nm LED with an active
layer that is 2000 .ANG. thick and an 5500 .ANG.-thick upper
set-back layer formed of
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5- P, and confining layers
formed of Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P. Curve c is the L-I curve for a 590
nm LED with an active region that contains four 500 .ANG.-thick
active layers, and interposing each active layer there is a 500
.ANG.barrier layer of (Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P.
The LED also contains a 4000 .ANG.-thick
(Al.sub.0.65Ca.sub.0.35).sub.0.5- In.sub.0.5P upper set-back layer,
and Al.sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P confining layers. When the LEDs are
driven at 20 mA, the device corresponding to curve a has an
external quantum efficiency of 4.5%, the device corresponding to
curve b has an external quantum efficiency of 5.8%, and the device
corresponding to curve c has an external quantum efficiency of
7.8%. The "wells" in the MW active layer are not thin enough to
result in quantum-confinement effects (such as enlarged effective
energy gap), so the emission wavelength of all three LEDs is
similar. The same trend is observed for external quantum efficiency
with active layer thickness for the different wavelengths,
discussed previously and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Since a MQW
structure contains several light emitting layers, the active layer
thickness is the sum of the thicknesses of all light emitting
layers in the multiple well case. The thicknesses of the optically
transparent barriers are not included in this total.
[0055] The internal quantum efficiency is improved partly due to
the enhanced incorporation of the p-type dopant atoms in the wells.
This increases the hole concentration in the wells and thus
increases the radiative recombination rate, which in turn increases
the internal quantum efficiency. A 3.times. increase in dopant
concentration in the wells has been observed by secondary ion mass
spectrometry of the device corresponding to curve c. When the LED
undergoes high-temperature processing steps the dopant atoms
diffuse out of the barriers and into the wells. The dopant atoms
collect in the wells because they are more soluble in the
narrow-gap AlGaInP alloy that form the wells than in the wider-gap
AlGaInP alloy that forms the barriers. Another reason for the
improved internal quantum efficiency is that majority charge
carriers (electrons or holes) will tend to diffuse out of the
wider-energy-gap barrier layers and into the narrower-gap wells.
This further increase the radiative recombination rate.
[0056] The ability of an LED to maintain external quantum
efficiency during operation is an important performance parameter.
The composition of the upper set-back layer affects the reliability
of the LED. FIG. 13 shows the degradation in external quantum
efficiency during operation for 590 nm-emitting LEDs with 2000
.ANG. thick active layers and 5500 .ANG. thick upper set-back
layers formed of various compositions of
(Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-x).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P. This figure shows that
when the upper set-back layer is formed of lower-Al-content
AlGaInP, the external quantum efficiency degrades less with time.
The reliability of the LED with the
(Al.sub.0.5Ga.sub.0.5).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P upper set-back layer is
superior to that of the (Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P
upper set-back layer, but because of the aforementioned advantage
in external quantum efficiency when the upper set-back layer is
formed of (Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P, this
composition is preferred. In other words, after prolonged
operation, the remnant external quantum efficiency of an LED with
an (Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).su- b.0.5In.sub.0.5P set-back layer is
greater than that of an LED with an
(Al.sub.0.5Ga.sub.0.5).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P set-back layer.
[0057] Another technique for improving the reliability of AlGaInP
LEDs is the use of oxygen doping in layers adjacent to the active
region, as described by Stockman, et al. in UK Patent Application
2,301,934A. Stockman et al. teaches that oxygen or other impurities
improve the reliability of LEDs by inhibiting the formation or
propagation of defects that reduce the lifetime of electrons and
holes. The layers adjacent the active layer should be doped with
oxygen because the leakage current is highest in these layers, and
the formation of defects in these layers increases the leakage
current. Layers located distal of the active layer have smaller
leakage currents, therefore oxygen doping in these layers was not
anticipated to improve the reliability of the LED.
[0058] FIG. 14 shows the degradation in external quantum efficiency
after prolonged operation for 590 nm LEDs that have 2000 .ANG.
thick active layers and 5500 .ANG. thick
(Al.sub.0.65Ga.sub.0.35).sub.0.5In.sub.0.5P upper set-back layers.
Curve a illustrates a device that does not contain any oxygen
dopant. Curve b illustrates a device that contains oxygen only in
the upper confining layer. Curve c illustrates a device that
contains oxygen both in the upper confining layer and the
interposing upper set-back layer. After prolonged operation, the
remnant external quantum efficiency of the LED is highest when
oxygen is present in the distal upper confining layer, whether or
not the proximal upper set-back layer is doped with oxygen. It is
apparent to those skilled in the art that if a set-back layer is
formed of a plurality of layers of different semiconductor
materials, then any of these layers distal of the active layer may
be doped with oxygen and the reliability of the LED will be
improved.
[0059] When comparing the external quantum efficiency of these
devices, it was found that the efficiency (before stress) is
highest when no oxygen is used and lowest when oxygen is present
both in the upper confining layer and in the upper set-back layer.
Furthermore, upon measuring the effect of different levels of
oxygen doping in the upper confining layer, it was found that when
the oxygen concentration (as measured by secondary-ion mass
spectrometry) was less than 1.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3, the
reliability of the LED was poor. When the oxygen concentration
exceeded 5.times.10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3, the internal quantum
efficiency of the LED was poor. Therefore, the preferred range of
oxygen dopant concentrations in the upper confining layer is
1.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3 to 5.times.10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3.
[0060] Those skilled in the art will recognize that these
principles and teachings may be extended to a number of LED device
structures, including an absorbing substrate LED with a mirror
layer interposing the active region and the substrate, as well as
LEDs fabricated in other material systems (such as AlGaAs or
InGaN).
* * * * *