M. Perotin et al., IMPROVEMENT OF DARK CURRENT OF GA(AL)SB MESA DIODES USING (NH4)(2)S TREATMENT, Materials science & engineering. B, Solid-state materials for advanced technology, 28(1-3), 1994, pp. 374-378
The effects of chemical sulphuration on GaSb mesa photodiodes performa
nance were investigated by electrical characterization. (NH4)(2)S trea
tment was found to be very effective in reducing the reverse dark curr
ents by one module value, leading them down to 1 = 0.2 mu A (V = 1 V)
for a Phi = 60 mu m diameter diode. The capacitance variation versus f
requency, investigated from 10 kHz to 10 MHz, becomes flat over the wh
ole range of frequency, attesting of a volume conduction mechanism. Th
ese performances exhibited a remarkable stability during 1 year, witho
ut encapsulation. The X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the Sb 3d level
shows that after (NH4)(2)S treatment the surface is free of native Sb
oxides, Sb-S bonds being created by the adsorption of sulphur atoms on
the surface. These surface modifications are responsible for the obse
rved improvement in characteristics and their stability.