Semiconductor light emitting element with a current diffusing layer

Abstract

In the light emitting element comprising an n-type semiconductor substrate, a lower electrode formed on the lower surface of the substrate, and a light emitting part having a pn junction, which is composed of an InGaAlP compound semiconductor material, a p-type current diffusing layer and an upper electrode which are laminated on the upper surface of the substrate in that order from the substrate side, the improvement wherein a carrier concentration of the current diffusing layer is lower on a light emitting part side thereof than that on an upper electrode side thereof, and at least the upper electrode side of the current diffusing layer is composed of GaP. By employing such structure, diffusion of the dopant to a light emitting part can be suppressed even when the carrier concentration of the upper part of the current diffusing layer is set to be higher, thereby affording a lower resistance of the current diffusing layer as a whole. The GaP being a compound semiconductor without Al, the amount of the dopant necessary for affording the superior effects of suppressing the diffusion of the dopant to the light emitting part can be less. Consequently, the luminous efficiency can be improved as compared with conventional ones, and a light emitting element having a long service life and superior reliability can be obtained.