This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0012301, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a non-polar light emitting diode (LED) and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a non-polar LED having a photonic crystal structure and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Discussion of the Background
GaN-based light emitting diodes (LEDs) are widely used for display elements and backlights. Further, these LEDs have less electric power consumption and a longer lifespan than conventional light bulbs or fluorescent lamps, so that their application areas have been expanded for general illumination while substituting for conventional incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps.
In general, a GaN-based nitride semiconductor is grown on a heterogeneous substrate, such as sapphire or silicon carbide substrate. An LED is fabricated using such nitride semiconductor layers.
Meanwhile, since a nitride semiconductor is generally grown on a c-plane (0001) of a sapphire substrate, the nitride semiconductor has piezoelectric properties. A strong polarization field is generated in an active region having a multiple quantum well structure due to the piezoelectric properties and, therefore, it is difficult to increase the thickness of a well layer. Further, a light emitting recombination rate is decreased and, therefore, improvement in light emitting efficiency is limited.
Recently, studies have been conducted to develop a method of fabricating a non-polar or semi-polar LED by growing a nitride semiconductor on a-plane (1120) or m-plane (1100) so as to prevent the polarization field from being generated. It is expected that the light emitting efficiency of the non-polar LED will be improved by increasing its light emitting recombination rate over that of the polar LED which generates the polarization field. Unlike the polar LED, the non-polar LED has a characteristic of emitting a polarized light, which has been reported in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 46, No. 42, 2007, pp L1010-L1012. Thus, the polarized light can be appropriately used suitable for various application fields.
However, since the light emitting efficiency of the non-polar LED is currently not higher than that of the polar LED, the light emitting efficiency of the non-polar LED should be increased. In order to use the polarized light, the polarization ratio of the light emitted from the LED should also be increased.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a non-polar light emitting diode (LED) having an improved light emitting efficiency and a method of fabricating the same.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a non-polar LED having a new structure and a method of fabricating the same, thereby capable of improving the polarization ratio of the light emitted from the non-polar LED.
Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention discloses a non-polar LED, the non-polar LED including: a support substrate; a lower semiconductor layer disposed on the support substrate; an upper semiconductor layer disposed over the lower semiconductor layer; an active region disposed between the lower and upper semiconductor layers; and a photonic crystal structure embedded in the lower semiconductor layer. The photonic crystal structure may improve the light emitting efficiency by preventing the loss of light in the semiconductor layers, and improve the polarization ratio of the non-polar LED.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention also discloses a method of fabricating a non-polar LED, the method including: forming a first conductive semiconductor layer, a non-polar active region and a second conductive semiconductor layer on a growth substrate; forming a pattern of voids by partially patterning the second conductive semiconductor layer; forming a second conductive contact layer for covering the pattern of the voids; forming an ohmic contact layer on the second conductive contact layer; forming a support substrate on the ohmic contact layer; and removing the growth substrate and exposing the first conductive semiconductor layer. A photonic crystal structure is provided by the pattern of the voids, and thus it is possible to fabricate the non-polar LED having the photonic crystal structure embedded in the lower semiconductor layer between the support substrate and the non-polar active region.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
a,
a,
The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can be directly on or directly connected to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. It will be understood that for the purposes of this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” can be construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XYY, YZ, ZZ).
Referring to
The support substrate 51 is distinguished from a growth substrate for growing compound semiconductor layers, and is a substrate attached to the previously grown compound semiconductor layers. In an exemplary embodiment, the support substrate 51 may be a sapphire substrate. The support substrate 51 may, however, be formed of various insulators or conductors.
The active region 27 may be formed of a III-N-based compound semiconductor, e.g., an (Al, Ga, In)N semiconductor, and the composition of the active region 27 may be controlled depending on the required wavelength of light. The active region 27 may include, for example, an InGaN well layer or an AlGaN well layer, and may have a single or multiple quantum well structure.
The active region 27 is non-polar, and may include a well layer grown on, for example, an m-plane (1100) or a-plane (1120). The active region 27 may be formed by growing epitaxial layers on an m-plane or a-plane GaN substrate, or may be formed by growing epitaxial layers on an m-plane or r-plane sapphire substrate.
Meanwhile, the lower semiconductor layer is positioned between the active region 27 and the support substrate 51, and may be composed of a plurality of layers. In this embodiment, the lower semiconductor layer may be a p-type semiconductor layer doped with Mg, and may include an electron blocking layer 29, a p-type optical layer 31 and a p-type contact layer 35. Here, the electron blocking layer 29 may be an AlGaN layer, and the p-type optical layer 31 may be an AlGaN layer or GaN layer. The p-type contact layer 35 may be an AlInGaN layer or GaN layer. The p-type contact layer 35 may be formed to have a thickness of about 200 nm or less. In this embodiment, the lower semiconductor layer may further include other functional layers (not shown).
Meanwhile, the photonic crystal structure includes a pattern of voids 33v arranged along a surface of the support substrate 51. The refractive index of the photonic crystal structure is changed in a regular manner by the voids 33v. Hereinafter, the pattern of the voids 33v will be described as a photonic crystal structure 33v.
The photonic crystal structure 33v is embedded in the lower semiconductor layer. That is, the photonic crystal structure 33v is positioned within the lower semiconductor layer. As shown in this figure, the photonic crystal structure 33v may be formed in the p-type AlGaN layer 31, and may be covered with the p-type contact layer 35. Thus, the photonic crystal structure 33v may be disposed near an interface between the p-type contact layer 35 and the p-type optical layer 31. The photonic crystal structure 33v reflects the light which is generated in the active region 27 and then travels toward the support substrate 51, and radiates the light which is guided within the semiconductor layers toward the upper semiconductor layer 25.
As shown in
Meanwhile, the direction of the stripe-shaped voids may be determined depending on the growth surface of the semiconductor layer. For example, if the active region includes an m-plane well layer, the voids 33v are arranged parallel to an a-direction. If the active region includes an a-plane well layer, the voids 33v are arranged parallel to a c-direction. Here, the a-direction and c-direction represent directions normal to the a-plane and c-plane, respectively.
The voids are arranged along the growth surface of the semiconductor layer, as described above, so that it is possible to improve the polarization ratio of the polarized light superiorly radiated along the growth surface. That is, the non-polar LED grown on the m-plane emits polarized light in which an electric field component (E//a) parallel to the a-direction is stronger than an electric field component (E//c) parallel to the c-direction. Thus, the stripe-shaped voids are aligned parallel to the a-direction, so that it is possible to improve the polarization ratio of the non-polar LED by restricting the electric field component (E//c) parallel to the c-direction and reinforcing the electric field component (E//a) parallel to the a-direction. In addition, the non-polar LED grown on the a-plane emits a polarized light in which an electric field component (E//c) parallel to the c-direction is stronger than an electric field component
(E//m) parallel to the m-direction. Thus, the stripe-shaped voids are aligned parallel to the c-direction, so that it is possible to improve the polarization ratio of the non-polar LED by restricting the electric field component (E//m) parallel to the m-direction and reinforcing the electric field component (E//c) parallel to the c-direction.
Meanwhile, the upper semiconductor layer 25 is positioned on the active region 27. The upper semiconductor layer 25 includes an n-type contact layer 25, and may further include other functional layers (not shown). The n-type contact layer 25 may be, for example, an n-type GaN layer or n-type AlGaN layer doped with Si. The entire thickness of the upper semiconductor layer 25 may be approximately 2 to 4 μm.
A surface R of the upper semiconductor layer 25 may be roughened. A pattern of recesses 55a may also be formed on the surface of the upper semiconductor layer 25, and the roughened surface R may be formed inside and outside the recesses 55a. The upper electrode 57 may be positioned on the upper semiconductor layer 25.
Meanwhile, the ohmic contact layer 37 forms an ohmic contact with the p-type contact layer 35. The ohmic contact layer 37 may include, for example, Ni. The ohmic contact layer 37 may also include a reflection layer, e.g., an Al layer or an Ag layer. Further, the protection layer 39 may cover the ohmic contact layer 37 so as to protect the ohmic contact layer 37. The protection layer 39 may be formed, for example, of a metal layer such as Ni. Meanwhile, the support substrate 51 may be bonded to a side of the lower semiconductor layer, e.g., the protection layer 39 through the bonding metal 53 which may be made of, e.g., AuSn.
According to this exemplary embodiment, the photonic crystal structure 33v is embedded within the lower semiconductor layer, so that it is possible to prevent the loss of light generated by traveling toward the support substrate 51, thereby improving the light emitting efficiency of the LED. Further, the stripe-shaped voids 33v are aligned corresponding to the growth direction of the non-polar semiconductor layer, thereby improving the polarization ratio of the non-polar LED.
Meanwhile, in this exemplary embodiment, if the support substrate 51 is a conductive substrate, the support substrate 51 may be used as a lower electrode, or a lower electrode may be formed under the support substrate 51. On the other hand, if the support substrate 51 is an insulative substrate, a lower electrode is formed above the support substrate 51 so as to be electrically connected to the ohmic contact layer 37.
a to 2g are sectional views illustrating a method of fabricating an LED according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to
The growth substrate 21 is not particularly limited as long as GaN-based non-polar semiconductor layers can be grown on the growth substrate 21. The growth substrate may be substrate made of, for example, sapphire, SiC, spinel, Si, GaN, GaO, ZnO or the like. Particularly, an m-plane sapphire substrate or m-plane GaN substrate may be used to grow an m-plane GaN-based non-polar semiconductor layer, and an r-plane sapphire substrate or a-plane GaN substrate may be used to grow an a-plane GaN-based non-polar semiconductor layer.
The composition of the active region may be controlled depending on the required wavelength of light. For example, the active region may include an InGaN well layer so as to emit blue light, or may include an AlGaN well layer so as to emit deep ultraviolet (DUV) light. The first conductive semiconductor layer 25 may include an n-type contact layer 25, and the electron blocking layer 29 may be formed of an AlGaN layer. The p-type optical layer 31 may be formed of a GaN layer or AlGaN layer doped with Mg. The non-polar epitaxial layers may be formed using a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technique.
A buffer layer 23 may be formed before the first conductive semiconductor layer 25 is formed on the growth substrate 21. The buffer layer 23 may be formed of, for example, GaN or AN. Further, other functional layers, e.g., an n-type clad layer and the like, may be added as required.
Referring to
The voids 33v are formed to constitute a photonic crystal structure. Further, in order to improve the polarization ratio of the non-polar LED, the voids 33v may have a strip shape as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The ohmic contact layer 37 may be formed of a metallic material or transparent conductive layer which comes in ohmic contact with the p-type contact layer 35, and the ohmic contact layer 37 may include Ni. The ohmic contact layer 37 may include a reflection layer such as Al or Ag. The protection layer 39 is formed to protect the ohmic contact layer 37 from the bonding metal, and the protection layer 39 may be formed of, for example, Ni. The bonding metal 53 is used to bond the substrate 51 to the protection layer 39, and the bonding metal 53 may be formed of AuSn.
Referring to
The growth substrate 21 may be removed using a laser lift-off (LLO) or may be removed by an etching or polishing technique. After the growth substrate 21 is removed, the buffer layer 23 is also removed so that a surface of the n-type contact layer 25 is exposed.
Referring to
Subsequently, the surface R of the n-type contact layer 25 having the recesses 55a formed therein may be roughened. The roughened surface R may be formed using a photolithography process or using a wet or dry etching technique using, e.g., metallic nano-particles. Meanwhile, an upper electrode 57 is formed on the n-type contact layer 25, thereby completing an LED as shown in
a to 3d are sectional views illustrating a method of fabricating an LED according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, another method of forming voids 33v is disclosed.
Referring to
Referring to
The voids 33v are formed corresponding to the metal pattern 61. Thus, the metal pattern 61 is formed as a pattern having the shape of stripe-shaped long rods, thereby forming the stripe-shaped voids as shown in
The p-type layer 35a is grown on the p-type clad layer 31 having the metal pattern 61 exposed therefrom so as to cover the side surface of the metal pattern 61. The p-type layer 35a may also cover a portion of the top surface of the metal pattern 61.
Referring to
Referring to
Subsequently, processes as described with reference to
According to this exemplary embodiment, since the metal pattern 61 is used to form the voids 33v, the pattern of the voids 33v can be precisely formed, and wet etching is not required to etch the semiconductor layer.
As described above, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a photonic crystal structure embedded in a lower semiconductor substrate between a support substrate and an active region is formed, so that it is possible to prevent light from being lost in the lower semiconductor layer, thereby improving light emitting efficiency of the non-polar LED. Further, the photonic crystal structure is formed using stripe-shaped voids, thereby improving the polarization ratio of the non-polar LED.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2011-0012301 | Feb 2011 | KR | national |