Organic-on-Inorganic Heterostructure Diodes for Microwave Applications

Organic-on-inorganic heterostructure diodes based on crystalline thin films of the organic materials PTCDA (3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride) and CuPc (copper phtalocyanine) deposited on n-type InP, are investigated with regard to their microwave applications. Among conventional methods, a characterization technique operating directly in the microwave regime was developed, which enables the prediction of the complete equivalent circuit in the whole operation voltage range. The optimization of the device structure for reduced forward voltages and high cutoff frequencies up to 11.2 GHz is discussed, and the detector and mixer performance of the devices is investigated. Finally, a single balanced mixer based on microstrip technology with improved frequency conversion at low power levels is presented.