Pinning of energy transitions of defects, complexes, and surface states in AlGaN alloys

Abstract

In this work, we determine the dependence of the defect transition energies, electronic bands, and surface charge neutrality levels in AlGaN. With Vacuum level as reference, we show that energy transitions of localized defects and the surface Fermi level are independent of the alloy composition as electronic bands diverge with the increase in the bandgap as a function of alloy composition. The invariance of localized states on the alloy composition creates a convenient internal reference energy with respect to which other energy states may be measured. We demonstrate a higher generality to the universality rule with the independence of deep transition states of otherwise shallow donor type defects [(+1/+3) transition for VN] and defect complexes (CN+SiIII) in addition to the earlier predicted independent nature of mid-gap states when they are either the antibonding state between cationic impurities and host anion or acceptors at anion sites.