Ultra-Low Dark Current AlGaN-Based Solar-Blind Metal–Semiconductor–Metal Photodetectors for High-Temperature Applications

Solar-blind metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors (PDs) with Ni/Au semi-transparent interdigitated contact electrodes are fabricated on Al0.4Ga0.6N epi-layer grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition on sapphire substrate. The PD exhibits ultra-low dark current in fA range at room temperature (RT) under 20-V bias and a corresponding breakdown voltage higher than 300 V. The PD also shows a maximum RT quantum efficiency of 64% at ~ 275 nm under 10-V bias with a solar-blind/ultraviolet (UV) rejection ratio up to four orders of magnitude. Even at a high temperature of 150°C, the dark current of the PD is still in fA range with a reasonable rejection ratio of more than 8000, suggesting its potential applications for high-temperature deep-UV detection. The ultra-low dark current achieved is believed to be related to the high-temperature AlN buffer layer used in the epi-structure as well as the coplanar configuration of the MSM PD itself.