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Title: Reduction of V-pit density and depth in InGaN semibulk templates and improved LED performance with insertion of high temperature semibulk layers
Abstract Highly relaxed InGaN templates with an effective In-content of ∼10% that exhibit reduced V-pit density and an improved surface roughness are reported using the semibulk (SB) growth approach. This was achieved by the insertion of five period high temperature SB (HTSB) InGaN SB regions. This report demonstrates that better quality InGaN templates can be achieved by the insertion of HTSB within the templates, rather than by ending the templates with a superlattice structure or by refilling the pits with GaN interlayers. Three SB samples were grown with and without the HTSB layers. Using secondary-ion mass spectrometry, photoluminescence, and x-ray diffraction, the effective In-content of the templates was determined to be 9.6%, 5.8%, and 8.7%. Using atomic force microscopy, the surface roughness was found to improve from 4.4 to 1.7 nm by using the two HTSB regions, and the average V-pit density and depth improved from 7.6 × 10 −7 to 4.5 × 10 −7 cm −2 and 8.2 to 2.8 nm, respectively. Also, the maximum V-pit depth was reduced from about 30.5 nm to about 9.6 nm in the sample with the HTSB regions. Two LEDs were studied, one with both HTSB regions, and one with only the topmost HTSB. The optical power density of the LED with both HTSB regions was 1.4 times higher at the peak injection current, displayed a ∼1.3 times higher external quantum efficiency peak, and a delay of the EQE droop onset. These results show that higher In-content SB templates can be improved with the implementation of a modified growth approach.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1665211 1833323
NSF-PAR ID:
10331058
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Semiconductor Science and Technology
Volume:
37
Issue:
7
ISSN:
0268-1242
Page Range / eLocation ID:
075003
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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Spreadsheet: annual precip_drainage Description: Precipitation measured from nearby Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Weather station, over 2009-2016 study period. Data shown in Figure 1; original data source for precipitation (https://lter.kbs.msu.edu/datatables/7). Drainage estimated from SALUS crop model. Note that drainage is percolation out of the root zone (0-125 cm). Annual precipitation and drainage values shown here are calculated for growing and non-growing crop periods. Variate    Description year    year of the observation crop    “corn” “switchgrass” “miscanthus” “nativegrass” “restored prairie” “poplar” precip_G    precipitation during growing period (milliMeter) precip_NG    precipitation during non-growing period (milliMeter) drainage_G    drainage during growing period (milliMeter) drainage_NG    drainage during non-growing period (milliMeter)      2. Spreadsheet: biomass_corn, perennial grasses Description: Maximum aboveground biomass measurements from corn, switchgrass, miscanthus, native grass and restored prairie plots in Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) Biomass Cropping System Experiment (BCSE) during 2009-2015. Data shown in Figure 2.   Variate    Description year    year of the observation date    day of the observation (mm/dd/yyyy) crop    “corn” “switchgrass” “miscanthus” “nativegrass” “restored prairie” “poplar” replicate    each crop has four replicated plots, R1, R2, R3 and R4 station    stations (S1, S2 and S3) of samplings within the plot. For more details, refer to link (https://data.sustainability.glbrc.org/protocols/156) species    plant species that are rooted within the quadrat during the time of maximum biomass harvest. See protocol for more information, refer to link (http://lter.kbs.msu.edu/datatables/36) For maize biomass, grain and whole biomass reported in the paper (weed biomass or surface litter are excluded). Surface litter biomass not included in any crops; weed biomass not included in switchgrass and miscanthus, but included in grass mixture and prairie. fraction    Fraction of biomass biomass_plot    biomass per plot on dry-weight basis (Grams_Per_SquareMeter) biomass_ha    biomass (megaGrams_Per_Hectare) by multiplying column biomass per plot with 0.01 3. Spreadsheet: biomass_poplar Description: Maximum aboveground biomass measurements from poplar plots in Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) Biomass Cropping System Experiment (BCSE) during 2009-2015. Data shown in Figure 2. Note that poplar biomass was estimated from crop growth curves until the poplar was harvested in the winter of 2013-14. 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Variate    Description crop    “corn” “switchgrass” “miscanthus” “nativegrass” “restored prairie” “poplar” no3 leached    annual leaching rates of nitrate (kiloGrams_N_Per_Hectare) don leached    annual leaching rates of don (kiloGrams_N_Per_Hectare) N unleached    N unleached (kiloGrams_N_Per_Hectare) in other sources are not studied % of N applied N lost to leaching    % of N applied N lost to leaching 6. Spreadsheet: annual DOC leachin_vol-wtd conc Description: Annual leaching rate (kiloGrams_Per_Hectare) and volume-weighted mean N concentrations (milliGrams_Per_Liter) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the leachate samples collected from corn, switchgrass, miscanthus, native grass, restored prairie and poplar plots in Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) Biomass Cropping System Experiment (BCSE) during 2009-2016. Data for DOC leached and volume-wtd mean DOC concentration shown in Figure 5a and Figure 5b, respectively. 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