Optimizing the internal quantum efficiency of GaInNSQW structures for green light emitters

GaxIn1-xN/GaN single quantum well (QW) structures emitting in the range of 450 nm to 620 nm have been grown by MOVPE. Temperature and excitation power dependent photoluminescence (PL) was used to determine the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) for these structures. For the blue emitting QWs high IQE values on the order of 60% were achieved. Due to a reduced growth temperature, reduced growth rate and increased V/III ratio we obtained QWs with good morphology and high In content above 25%. Thinner QWs with high In content showed a clear improvement of IQE compared to QW-structures with larger thickness but smaller In-content emitting at the same wavelength. Between lambda(peak) = 460 nm and 530 nm we observed a slight reduction in IQE with values of 58% at 490 nm and 40% at 525 nm. But towards lambda(peak) = 620 nm IQE decreased due to the electric field induced separation of the electron and hole wavefunction down to 1%. (c) 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.