Title: High temperature operation In(Ga)As quantum dot infrared photodetector focal plane arrays passivated with 6.5 nm-thick Al₂O₃ layer

Authors: Shiang-Feng Tang; Wen-Jen Lin; Tzu-Chiang Chen; Shih-Yen Lin

Addresses: Materials and Electro-Optics Division, Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Lung-Tan, Taoyuan, Taiwan ' Materials and Electro-Optics Division, Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Lung-Tan, Taoyuan, Taiwan ' Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, National Defense University, Daxi, Taoyuan, Taiwan ' Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract: Quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) have been shown to be a key technology in broad infrared wavelength (3-12 µm) detection due to their potential for normal incidence operation, low dark current density and higher temperature operation. In our research, we have been investigating infrared detectors based on intersubband transitions in a novel InAs/In_0.15Ga_0.85As quantum dots-in-well (DWELL) and normal GaAs-capped InAs quantum dot heterostructures. The study is to demonstrate a dual-band infrared image based on two stacked InGaAs and GaAs-capped InAs QDIP structure, with the use of nano-scale Al₂O₃ surface passivated layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD) system deposited to decrease the device shot noise and boost the operation temperature of the thermal imaging FPA to 180 K. It is worth to mention the specific detectivities (D*) of test device passivated with Al₂O₃ measured under 80 K and Vb= −3.3 V for mid-wavelength detection is as high as 2.1 × 10¹¹ cmHz^1/2/W. By a two-step selective backside etching process, the uncorrected non-uniformity of NEDT is lowered to 6.7%. It reveals the high uniformity of infrared image taken from QWIP FPA with this proposed process is comparable to the conventional one with the mixture of wet- and dry-etching ICP-RIE.

Keywords: QDIPs; quantum dot infrared photodetectors; FPAs; focal plane arrays; ALD; atomic layer deposition; MBE; molecular beam epitaxy; XTEM; cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy; PVD; photo-enhanced vapour deposition; nanoelectronics; nanotechnology; infrared wavelength detection; InGaAs; indium gallium arsenide; infrared images; quantum dots.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2014.059835

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2014 Vol.11 No.1/2/3/4, pp.345 - 358

Published online: 15 Nov 2014 *

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