Gallium-nitride based light-emitting diode epitaxial structure

Abstract

An epitaxial structure for the GaN-based LED is provided. The GaN-based LED uses a substrate usually made of sapphire or silicon-carbide (SiC). On top of the substrate, the GaN-based LED contains an n-type contact layer made of an n-type GaN-based material. On top of the n-type contact layer, the GaN-based LED further contains a lower barrier layer covering part of the surface of the n-type contact layer. A negative electrode is also on top of and has an ohmic contact with the n-type contact layer in an area not covered by the lower barrier layer. On top of the lower barrier layer, the GaN-based LED then further contains an active layer made of aluminum-gallium-indium-nitride, an upper barrier layer, a p-type contact layer made of a magnesium (Mg)-doped GaN material, and a positive electrode having an ohmic contact with the p-type contact layer, sequentially stacked in this order from bottom to top. Within this structure, each of the barrier layers further contains, from bottom to top, a first AlGaInN layer, a SiN layer, and a second AlGaInN layer.