The optical properties of blue InGaN-based light-emitting diodes aged at high current levels have
been studied by electroluminescence and cathodoluminescence. The onset of a broad optical band
peaked at about 3.1 eV in devices aged without a heat sink ~junction temperature higher than
300 °C! has been correlated to an electrothermal threshold effect. The band is attributed to the
dissociation of Mg–H complexes inside the p-type layers and to the consequent formation of
Mg-related metastable complexes acting as acceptors. Subsequent electron-beam irradiation
determines the almost complete quenching of the band
This work presents the results of an extensive DC current aging and failure analysis carried out on blue InGaN/GaN LEDs which identify failure mechanisms related to package degradation, changes in effective doping profile, and generation of deep levels. DLTS and photocurrent spectra indicate the creation of extended defects in devices aged at very high current density
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.