Analysis of interface recombination and self-absorption effect on the performance of QWIP-HBT-LED integrated device

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of interface recombination and self-absorption within the light emitting diode (LED) active region on the efficiency of QWIP-HBT-LED integrated device is considered. This device is composed of a quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP), a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) and an LED. The evaluation is based on solving the continuity equation describing the carrier diffusion within the LED active region. Analytical expression describing the effect of self-absorption and surface recombination on the LED quantum efficiency is derived. In addition, the active region width and all interested device parameters are involved. It is observed that the quantum conversion efficiency of the device under consideration is degraded by the self-absorption and interface recombination within the recombined region of the LED. Also, the quantum conversion efficiency of the device is increased with the increase of the LED active region as long as the recombination velocity is above a specified value, while it is decreased with the increase of the LED active region as long as the recombination velocity is below this specified value. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.