Design and fabrication of GaSb/InGaAsSb/AlGaSb mid-infrared photodetectors

The paper reports on the design and fabrication of LPE-grown GaSb/n-InxGa₁-xAsySb₁-y/p-AlxGa₁-xAsySb₁-y heterojuction photodetectors operating in the 2-2.4 mm wavelength region. Experiments on LPE growth of high-x-content quaternaries as well as optimisation of device processing has been carried out. LPE growth at T » 530°C enabled obtaining lattice matched heterostructures with 19% indium in the active layer In₀.₁₉Ga₀.₈₁As₀.₁₆Sb₀.₈₄/Al₀.₂₄Ga₀.₇₆As₀.₀₄Sb₀.₉₆ and photodetectors with lc = 2.25 um. By increasing the temperature of epitaxial growth to 590°C In₀.₂₃Ga₀.₇₇As₀.₁₈Sb₀.₈₂/Al₀.₃₀Ga₀.₇₀As₀.₀₃Sb₀.₉₇ heterostructures (with 23% indium content) suitable for photodetectors with lc = 2.35 um have been obtained. Mesa-type photodiodes were fabricated by RIE in CCl₄/H₂ plasma and passivated electrochemically in (NH₄)₂S. These devices are characterised by differential resistance area product up to 400 Wcm² and the detectivity in the range the range 3´1010-2´1011 cmHz¹/²/W, in dependence on the photodiode active area and cut-off wavelength.