Hsin-Hung Yao’s research while affiliated with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and other places

AlGaN-based deep UV (DUV) LEDs generally employ a p-type electron blocking layer (EBL) to suppress electron overflow. However, Al-rich III-nitride EBL can result in challenging p-doping and large valence band barrier for hole injection as well as epitaxial complexity. As a result, wall plug efficiency (WPE) can be compromised. Our systematic studies of band diagram and carrier concentration reveal that carrier concentrations in the quantum well (QW) and electron overflow can be significantly impacted because of the slope variation of the QB conduction and valence bands, which in turn influence radiative recombination and optical output power. Remarkably, grading the Al composition from 0.60 to 0.70 for the 12-nm-thick AlGaN QB of the DUV LED without the EBL can lead to 13.5% higher output power and similar level of overflown electron concentration $(\rm \sim 1\times 10^{15} /cm^3)$ as opposed to the conventional DUV LED with the p-type EBL. This paradigm is significant for the pursuit of higher WPE or shorter emission wavelength for DUV LEDs and lasers, as it provides a new direction for addressing electron overflow and hole injection issues.

Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3) has a huge potential on the power device for its high breakdown filed and good transport properties. beta-Ga2O3 as the thermodynamics stable phase, has been demonstrated to form high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) through delta-doping in the barrier due to its none-polar property. Following the development in III-V HEMT which turns from delta-doping-induced to polarization-induced 2DEG, an alternative method based on III-N materials/beta-Ga2O3 heterostructure is proposed that utilizing the polarization difference on the interface. Further requirements of electric field and conduction band difference show that only nitrogen (N)-polar AlN on beta-Ga2O3 can form the channel and hold large 2DEG concentration on the interface. Compared with conventional metal-polar AlN/GaN HEMT, the proposed N-polar AlN/beta-Ga2O3 HEMT show a much larger 2DEG concentration, the spontaneous-polarization-dominated electric field, better DC output performance, as well as higher breakdown voltage. This study provides a new research approach that shifting from delta-doping-induced to polarization-induced on beta-Ga2O3-based HEMT, which can also be a guideline for community excavating the application potential of Ga2O3.