DEGRADATION OF II-VI BASED BLUE-GREEN LIGHT EMITTERS

We have carried out the first detailed structural studies of degradation in II-VI blue-green light emitters. Electroluminescence and transmission electron microscopy studies carried out on light emitting diodes fabricated from quantum well laser structures and electroluminescence studies on stripe laser structures show that degradation occurs by the formation and propagation of crystal defects. The studies indicate that room temperature cw lasing in such structures is possibly prevented by the rapid formation of such defects at the high current densities required for lasing.