We report high performance uncooled midwavelength infrared photodiodes based on interface-engineered InAs∕GaSb superlattice. Two distinct superlattices were designed with a cutoff wavelength around 5μm for room temperature and 77 K. The device quantum efficiency reached more than 25% with responsivity around 1A∕W. Detectivity was measured around 109cmHz1∕2∕W at room temperature and 1.5×1013cmHz1∕2∕W at 77 K under zero bias. The devices were without antireflective coating. The device quantum efficiency stays at nearly the same level within this temperature range. Additionally, Wannier–Stark oscillations in the Zener tunneling current were observed up to room temperature.

We report the most recent result in the area of type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice photodiodes that have a cutoff wavelength around 7 μm at 77 K. Superlattice with a period of 40 Å lattice matched to GaSb was realized using GaxIn1−x type interface engineering technique. Compared with significantly longer period superlattices, we have reduced the dark current density under reverse bias dramatically. For a 3 μm thick structure, using sulfide-based passivation, the dark current density reached 2.6×10−5A∕cm2 at −3 V reverse bias at 77 K. At this temperature the photodiodes have R0A of 9300Ωcm2 and a thermally limited zero bias detectivity of 1×1012cmHz1∕2∕W. The 90%–10% cutoff energy width was only 16.5 meV. The devices did not show significant dark current change at 77 K after three months storage in the atmosphere.