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Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy is used to study the minority-carrier lifetime in mid-wavelength infrared, n-type, InAs/Ga1−xInxSb type II superlattices (T2SLs) and investigate the recombination mechanisms and trap states that currently limit their performance. Observation of multiple exponential decays in the intensity-dependent TRPL data indicates trap saturation due to the filling then emptying of trap states and different Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) lifetimes for minority and majority carriers, with τmaj (τn0) ≫ τmin (τp0). Simulation of the photoluminescence transient captures the qualitative behavior of the TRPL data as a function of temperature and excess carrier density. A trap state native to Ga1−xInxSb is identified from the low-injection temperature-dependent TRPL data and found to be located below the intrinsic Fermi level of the superlattice, approximately 60 ± 15 meV above the valence-band maximum. Low-temperature TRPL data show a variation of the minority-carrier SRH lifetime, τp0, over a set of InAs/Ga1−xInxSb T2SLs, where τp0 increases as x is varied from 0.04 to 0.065 and the relative layer thickness of Ga1−xInxSb is increased by 31%.

Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) is used to study the minority carrier lifetime in type-II superlattice (T2SL) infrared detector materials to investigate the recombination mechanisms, trap states and transport properties that currently limit their performance. Measurements of carrier lifetime have shown that InAs/Ga1-xInxSb T2SLs are dominated by non-radiative Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) recombination, resulting in short minority carrier lifetimes (10’s of nanoseconds at 77 K). A trap energy of ~60 meV above the valence band is identified in mid-wavelength infrared n-type InAs/Ga1-xInxSb T2SLs, where trap saturation (non-exponential decay) is observed under high injection levels due to a significantly faster hole capture rate than electron capture rate. Lifetime measurements in “Ga-free” InAs/InAs1-xSbx T2SLs exhibit an order-of-magnitude increase in lifetime (100’s of nanoseconds at 77 K) with contributions from both radiative and non-radiative recombination. This improvement is attributed to the reduction of non-radiative recombination centers from the superlattice with the elimination of Ga and suggests that the SRH trap(s) limiting the carrier lifetime of InAs/Ga1-xInxSb T2SLs is native to the Ga1-xInxSb layer. Additionally, radiative recombination is observed in an InAs/GaSb T2SL using a sub-bandgap CW laser to saturate the SRH recombination centers, yielding a radiative lifetime of ~140 ns at 77 K. Since carrier transport is a concern in Ga-free T2SLs, it is investigated by studying samples grown with and without barriers (to contain injected carriers to the absorber region). It is determined that carrier transport is poor in InAs/InAs1-xSbx T2SLs because negligible differences are observed in the carrier lifetime.

Temperature-dependent carrier transport is investigated using ultrafast spectroscopy in a p-GaN/i-InGaN/n-GaN solar cell with heavily-doped layers to compensate for polarization charges at the hetero-interface. We observe a flip in the transport direction at 110 K.

Temperature-dependent minority carrier lifetimes of InAs/InAs1-xSbx type-II superlattices are presented. The longest lifetime at 11 K is 504 ± 40 ns and at 77 K is 412 ± 25 ns. Samples with long periods and small wave function overlaps have both non-radiative and radiative recombination mechanisms apparent, with comparable contributions from both near 77 K, and radiative recombination dominating at low temperatures. Samples with short periods and large wave function overlaps have radiative recombination dominating from 10 K until ~200 K. The improved lifetimes observed will enable long minority carrier lifetime superlattices to be designed for high quantum efficiency, low dark current infrared detectors.

The authors report on an investigation of the dependence of the minority carrier lifetime in midwave infrared InAs/GaSb strained layer superlattices on a number of varied parameters: layer placement of two dopants (either Be or Te), and interface treatment between InAs and GaSb layers. In samples where the dopant and doping location was varied, it was found that the nonintentionally doped control sample exhibited the longest lifetimes (∼49 ns at 77 K under low injection), followed by the Be-doped and the Te-doped samples. Regardless of the type of doping, samples with dopants in only the InAs layer appeared to have longer lifetimes [low injection: 15 ns (Be)

We present a direct optical measurement of minority carrier lifetime as a function of temperature and excitation density in long-wave infrared InAs/GaSb type II superlattices using time-resolved photoluminescence. Results indicate that carrier lifetime is dominated by Shockley–Read–Hall recombination, with a lifetime of 30 ns at 77 K. Below 40 K, we observe a freeze-out of carriers and increased contributions from radiative recombination. High-injection measurements yield a radiative recombination coefficient of 1.8×10−10 cm3/s and an upper limit of the Auger recombination coefficient of 10−28 cm6/s at 60 K. An acceptor level of ∼20 meV above the valence band is also determined.