• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.216-222
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• 2006

In this paper, we investigated the effect of hydrogen-plasma (H-plasma) treatment on the electrical and optical properties of a quantum dot infrared photodetector (QDIP) with a 5-stacked InAs dots in an InGaAs/GaAs well structure and $Al_{0.3}Ga_{0.7}As/GaAs$ SL (superlattice) current blocking layer. It has been observed that H-plasma treatment didn't affect the band structure of QDIP. It has been also observed that the H-plasma treatment on the QDIP not only enhance the electrical property of QDIP by curing the defect channels in $Al_{0.3}Ga_{0.7}As/GaAs$ SL but also introduce defects in QDIP structure. The H-plasma treatment for 10 min with 20 W of RF power provided the lowest dark current, which made it possible to measure the photo-current (PC) of QDIP whose PC was not detectable without the H-plasma treatment due to the high dark current.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2022

We describe the importance of zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP) concentration in the enhancement of electrical properties in a lead sulfide quantum dot (PbS QD)-based shortwave infrared (SWIR) photodetector. ZnO NPs were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The concentration of the ZnO NPs was controlled as 20, 30 and 40 mg/mL in this study. Note that the ZnO NPs layer is commonly used as an electron transport layer in PbS QDs SWIR photodetectors. The photo-to-dark ratio, which is an important parameter of a photodetector, was intensively examined to evaluate the electrical performance. The 20 mg/mL condition of ZnO NPs exhibited the highest photo-to-dark ratio value of 5 at -1 V, compared with 1.8 and 0.4 for 30 mg/mL and 40 mg/mL, respectively. This resulted because the electron mobility decreased when the concentration of ZnO NPs was higher than the optimized value. Based on our results, the concentration of ZnO NPs was observed to play an important role in the electrical performance of the PbS QDs SWIR photodetector.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 2006

We have investigated the characteristics of hydrogen (H) plasma treated quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs). The structure used in this study consists of 3 stacked, self assembled $In_{0.5}Ga_{0.5}As/GaAs$ QD layer separated by GaAs barrier layers that were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Optical characteristics of QDIPs, such as photoluminescence (PL) spectra and photocurrent spectra, have been studied and compared with each other for the as grown and H plasma treated QDIPs. H plasma treatment, resulted in the splitting of PL peak, which can be attributed to the redistribution of the size of QDs. The activation energies estimated from the temperature dependence of integrated PL intensity for as grown and H plasma treated QDIPs are found to be in good agreement with those determined from corresponding peaks of photocurrent spectra. It is also noted that photocurrent is detected up to 130 K for the H plasma treated QDIP, suggesting the future possibility for the development of infrared photodetectors with high temperature operation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.234-234
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• 2010

The PR transitions in asymmetric dot-in-double-quantum-well (DdWELL) photodetector is identified by bias-dependent spectral behaviors. Discrete n-i-n infrared photodetectors were fabricated on a 30-period asymmetric InAs-QD/[InGaAs/GaAs]/AlGaAs DdWELL wafer that was prepared by MBE technique. A 2.0-monolayer (ML) InAs QD ensemble was embedded in upper combined well of InGaAs/GaAs and each stack is separated by a 50-nm AlGaAs barrier. Each pixel has circular aperture of 300 um in diameter, and the mesa cell ($410{\times}410\;{\mu}m^2$) was defined by shallow etching. PR measurements were performed in the spectral range of $3{\sim}13\;{\mu}m$ (~ 100-400 meV) by using a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and a low-noise preamplifier. The asymmetric photodetector exhibits unique transition behaviors that near-/far-infrared (NIR/FIR) photoresponse (PR) bands are blue/red shifted by the electric field, contrasted to mid-infrared (MIR) with no dependence. In addition, the MIR-FIR dual-band spectra change into single-band feature by the polarity. A four-level energy band model is proposed for the transition scheme, and the field dependence of FIR bands numerically calculated by a simplified DdWELL structure is in good agreement with that of the PR spectra. The wavelength shift by the field strength and the spectral change by the polarity are discussed on the basis of four-level transition.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.07c
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• pp.2312-2314
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• 2005

For the upcoming nano-bio technology(NBT), we suggested InAs self-assembled quantum dot enhanced resonant-cavity avalanche type photodetector to detect near infrared(NIR) wavelength. To confirm the feasibility of RC-APD structure, we have simulated using conventional simulator.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.129-129
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• 2010

적외선 검출소자(Infrared Photodetector)는 근적외선에서 원적외선 영역에 이르는 광범위한 파장 범위의 적외선을 이용하는 기기로서 대상물이 방사하는 적외선 영역의 에너지를 흡수하여 이를 영상화할 수 있는 장비이다. 적외선 관련 기술은 2차 세계대전 기간에 태동하였으며, 현재에는 원거리 감지기술 등과 접목되면서 그 활용 분야가 다양해지고 있다. 특히 능동형 정밀 타격무기를 비롯한 감시 정찰 장비 및 지능형 전투 장비 시스템 등에 대한 요구를 바탕으로 보다 정밀하고 신속한 표적 감지 및 정보처리 기술에 관한 연구가 선진국을 통해서 활발히 진행되고 있다. 기존의 Bolometer 형식의 열 감지 소자는 반응 속도가 느리고 측정 감도가 낮은 단점이 있으며, MCT(HgCdTe)를 이용한 적외선 검출기의 경우 높은 기계적 결함과 77K 저온에서 동작해야하기 때문에 발생하는 추가 비용 등이 문제점으로 지적되고 있다[1]. 이에 반해 화합물 반도체 자기조립 양자점(self-assembled quantum dot)을 이용한 적외선 수광소자는 양자점이 가지는 불연속적인 내부 에너지 준위로 인하여, 높은 내부 양자 효율과 온도 안정성을 기대할 수 있으며, 고성능, 고속처리, 저소비전력 및 저소음의 실현이 가능하다. 본 연구에서는 적층 InAs/InGaAs dot-in-a-well 구조를 유기금속화학기상증착법을 이용하여 성장하고 이를 소자에 응용하였다. 균일한 적층 양자점의 성장을 위해서 원자현미경(atomic force microscopy)을 이용하여, 각 층의 양자점의 크기와 밀도를 관찰하였고, photoluminescence (PL)를 이용하여 발광특성을 연구하였다. 각 층간의 GaAs space layer의 두께와 온도 조절 과정을 조절함으로써 균일한 적층 양자점 구조를 얻을 수 있었다. 이를 이용하여 양자점의 전도대 내부의 에너지 준위간 천이(intersubband transition)를 이용하는 n-type GaAs/intrinsic InAs 양자점/n-type GaAs 구조의 양자점 적외선수광소자 구조를 성장하였다. 이 과정에서 상부 n-type GaAs의 성장 온도가 600도 이상이 되는 경우 발광효율이 급격히 감소하고, 암전류가 크게 증가하는 것을 관찰하였다. 이는 InAs 양자점과 주변 GaAs 간의 열에 의한 상호 확산에 의하여 양자점의 전자 구속 효과를 저해하는 것으로 설명된다.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.209-215
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• 2006

We investigated the optical property and the electronic subband structure of InAs quantum dots in an InAsGa/GaAs well structure utilizing photoluminescence (PL), PL excitation (PLE) and near infrared transmission spectroscopy. From transmission and PLE spectra, we found three bound states in the InAs quantum dot and two bound states in InGaAs/GaAs quantum well, and correlated to the results of intersubband transitions observed in photocurrent spectrum.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.542-546
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• 2019

We investigate the characteristics of self-assembled quantum dot infrared photodetectors(QDIPs) based on doping level. Two kinds of QDIP samples are prepared using molecular beam epitaxy : $n^+-i(QD)-n^+$ QDIP with undoped quantum dot(QD) active region and $n^+-n^-(QD)-n^+$ QDIP containing Si direct doped QDs. InAs QDIPs were grown on semi-insulating GaAs (100) wafers by molecular-beam epitaxy. Both top and bottom contact GaAs layer are Si doped at $2{\times}10^{18}/cm^3$. The QD layers are grown by two-monolayer of InAs deposition and capped by InGaAs layer. For the $n^+-n^-(QD)-n^+$ structure, Si dopant is directly doped in InAs QD at $2{\times}10^{17}/cm^3$. Undoped and doped QDIPs show a photoresponse peak at about $8.3{\mu}m$, ranging from $6{\sim}10{\mu}m$ at 10 K. The intensity of the doped QDIP photoresponse is higher than that of the undoped QDIP on same temperature. Undoped QDIP yields a photoresponse of up to 50 K, whereas doped QDIP has a response of up to 30 K only. This result suggests that the doping level of QDs should be appropriately determined by compromising between photoresponsivity and operating temperature.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.334-334
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• 2013

In the past decade, the infrared detectors based on intersubband transition in quantum dots (QDs) have attracted much attention due to lower dark currents and increased lifetimes, which are in turn due a three-dimensional confinement and a reduction of scattering, respectively. In parallel, focal plane array development for infrared imaging has proceeded from the first to third generations (linear arrays, 2D arrays for staring systems, and large format with enhanced capabilities, respectively). For a step further towards the next generation of FPAs, it is envisioned that a two-dimensional metal hole array (2D-MHA) structures will improve the FPA structure by enhancing the coupling to photodetectors via local field engineering, and will enable wavelength filtering. In regard to the improved performance at certain wavelengths, it is worth pointing out the structural difference between previous 2D-MHA integrated front-illuminated single pixel devices and back-illuminated devices. Apart from the pixel linear dimension, it is a distinct difference that there is a metal cladding (composed of a number of metals for ohmic contact and the read-out integrated circuit hybridization) in the FPA between the heavily doped gallium arsenide used as the contact layer and the ROIC; on the contrary, the front-illuminated single pixel device consists of two heavily doped contact layers separated by the QD-absorber on a semi-infinite GaAs substrate. This paper is focused on analyzing the impact of a two dimensional metal hole array structure integrated to the back-illuminated quantum dots-in-a-well (DWELL) infrared photodetectors. The metal hole array consisting of subwavelength-circular holes penetrating gold layer (2DAu-CHA) provides the enhanced responsivity of DWELL infrared photodetector at certain wavelengths. The performance of 2D-Au-CHA is investigated by calculating the absorption of active layer in the DWELL structure using a finite integration technique. Simulation results show the enhanced electric fields (thereby increasing the absorption in the active layer) resulting from a surface plasmon, a guided mode, and Fabry-Perot resonances. Simulation method accomplished in this paper provides a generalized approach to optimize the design of any type of couplers integrated to infrared photodetectors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.298-298
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• 2014

Quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) based on Stranski-Krastanov (SK) quantum dots (QDs) have been widely explored for improved device performance using various designs of heterostructures. However, one of the biggest limitations of this approach is the "pancake" shape of the dot, with a base of 20-30 nm and a height of 4-6 nm. This limits the 3D confinement in the quantum dot and reduces the ratio of normal incidence absorption to the off-axis absorption. One of the alternative growth modes to the formation of SK QDs is a sub-monolayer (SML) deposition technique, which can achieve a much higher density, smaller size, better uniformity, and has no wetting layer as compared to the SK growth mode. Due to the advantages of SML-QDs, the SML-QDIP design has attractive features such as increased normal incidence absorption, strong in-plane quantum confinement, and narrow spectral wavelength detection as compared with SK-DWELL. In this study, we report on the improved device performance of InAs/InGaAs SML-QDIP with different composition of $Al_xGa1-_xAs$ barrier. Two SML-QDIPs (x=0.07 for sample A and x=0.20 for sample B) are grown with the 4 stacks 0.3 ML InAs. It is investigated that sample A with a confinement-enhanced (CE) $Al_{0.22}Ga_{0.78}As$ barrier had a single peak at $7.8{\mu}m$ at 77 K. However, sample B with an $Al_{0.20}Ga_{0.80}As$ barrier had three peaks at (${\sim}3.5{\mu}m$, ${\sim}5{\mu}m$, ${\sim}7{\mu}m$) due to various quantum confined transitions. The measured peak responsivities (see Fig) are ~0.45 A/W (sample A, at $7.8{\mu}m$, $V_b=-0.4V$ bias) and ~1.3 A/W (sample B, at $7{\mu}m$, $V_b=-1.5V$ bias). At 77 K, sample A and B had a detectivity of $1.2{\times}10^{11}cm.Hz^{1/2}/W$ ($V_b=-0.4V$ bias) and $5.4{\times}10^{11}cm.Hz^{1/2}/W$ ($V_b=-1.5V$ bias), respectively. It is obvious that the higher $D^*$ of sample B (than sample A) is mainly due to the low dark current and high responsivity.