AlGaN-based MQWs grown on a thick relaxed AlGaN buffer on AlN templates emitting at 285 nm

International audienceWe report on the growth of Al 0.57 Ga 0.43 N/Al 0.38 Ga 0.63 N MQWs grown on a relaxed Al 0.58 Ga 0.42 N buffer on AlN template by Metal Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy. The MQW structure is designed so that the strain in the quantum wells induced by their lattice mismatch with barriers is sufficient to enhance TE polarized emission (E-field ⊥ c). A 630-nm thick relaxed Al 0.58 Ga 0.42 N buffer grown on AlN template serves as a pseudo-substrate to release the strain in the barriers and to avoid related defects or composition fluctuation in the active region. Thin (< 2 nm) quantum wells allow preservation of the overlapping of electron and hole wavefunctions considering the strong quantum-confined Stark effect in AlGaN-based MQW structures. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis is used to optimize the growth conditions and to determine the composition of wells and barriers. Optical characterizations of the grown structure reveal a well-defined band-edge emission peak at 285 nm. Based on macro-transmission measurements and simulations, the absorption coefficient of the wells is estimated to be 3 × 10 5 cm −1 (E-field ⊥ c), attesting that the oscillator strength is preserved for these AlGaN MQWs with high Al content, which is promising for efficient surface-emitting devices in the deep ultra-violet (DUV) region