Solar- and Visible-Blind AlGaN Photodetectors

Wide bandgap semiconductors such as gallium nitride (GaN) exhibit persistent photoconductivity properties. The incorporation of this asset into the fabrication of a unique biointerface is presented. Templates with lithographically defined regions with controlled roughness are generated during the semiconductor growth process. Template surface functional groups are varied using a benchtop surface functionalization procedure. The conductivity of the template is altered by exposure to UV light and the behavior of PC12 cells is mapped under different substrate conductivity. The pattern size and roughness are combined with surface chemistry to change the adhesion of PC12 cells when the GaN is made more conductive after UV light exposure. Furthermore, during neurite outgrowth, surface chemistry and initial conductivity difference are used to facilitate the extension to smoother areas on the GaN surface. These results can be utilized for unique bioelectronics interfaces to probe and control cellular behavior.

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Persistent Photoconductivity, Nanoscale Topography, and Chemical Functionalization Can Collectively Influence the Behavior of PC12 Cells on Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Surfaces

Snyder

Kirste

Collazo

et al. 2017

Small

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Power-dependent physical properties of $$\mathbf{GaN}$$ thin films deposited on sapphire substrates by RF magnetron sputtering

Mantarcı

Kundakçı

2019

Bull Mater Sci

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Gallium nitride (GaN) thin films were grown on the Al 2 O 3 (0001) substrate using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering under various RF powers. Many experimental techniques were used for investigating the effects of RF power on the GaN thin film growth and its physical properties. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the GaN thin film had a polycrystalline structure with planes of (101) and (202). The structural parameters of the thin film changed with RF powers. It was also found that the optical band gap energy of GaN thin films varied with changing RF power. From the atomic force microscopy images, almost homogeneous, nanostructured and a low-rough surface of the GaN thin film can be observed. From scanning electron microscopy analysis, dislocations and agglomerations were observed in some regions of the surface of the GaN thin film. E 2 (high) optical phonon mode of GaN was observed, proving the hexagonal structure of the thin film. The residual stress in the GaN thin films was calculated from Raman measurements. Furthermore, an agreement between the experimental measurements was also examined. The morphological, structural and optical properties of the GaN thin film could be improved with altering RF power. These films could be used in devices such as light emitting diodes, solar cells and diode applications.

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The road ahead for ultrawide bandgap solar-blind UV photodetectors

Kalra

Muazzam

Muralidharan

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Physics

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This Perspective seeks to understand and assess why ultrawide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductor-based deep-UV photodetectors have not yet found any noticeable presence in real-world applications despite riding on more than two decades of extensive materials and devices’ research. Keeping the discussion confined to photodetectors based on epitaxial AlGaN and Ga2O3, a broad assessment of the device performance in terms of its various parameters is done vis-à-vis the dependence on the material quality. We introduce a new comprehensive figure of merit (CFOM) to benchmark photodetectors by accounting for their three most critical performance parameters, i.e., gain, noise, and bandwidth. We infer from CFOM that purely from the point of view of device performance, AlGaN detectors do not have any serious shortcoming that is holding them back from entering the market. We try to identify the gaps that exist in the research landscape of AlGaN and Ga2O3 solar-blind photodetectors and also argue that merely improving the material/structural quality and device performance would not help in making this technology transition from the academic realm. Instead of providing a review, this Perspective asks the hard question on whether UWBG solar-blind detectors will ever find real-world applications in a noticeable way and whether these devices will be ever used in space-borne platforms for deep-space imaging, for instance.

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Solar- and Visible-Blind AlGaN Photodetectors

Cited by 4 publications

References 126 publications

Persistent Photoconductivity, Nanoscale Topography, and Chemical Functionalization Can Collectively Influence the Behavior of PC12 Cells on Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Surfaces

Persistent Photoconductivity, Nanoscale Topography, and Chemical Functionalization Can Collectively Influence the Behavior of PC12 Cells on Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Surfaces

Power-dependent physical properties of $$\mathbf{GaN}$$ thin films deposited on sapphire substrates by RF magnetron sputtering

The road ahead for ultrawide bandgap solar-blind UV photodetectors

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