Efficiency retention at high current injection levels in m-plane InGaN light emitting diodes

We investigated the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) and the relative external quantum efficiency (EQE) of m-plane InGaN light emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on m-plane freestanding GaN emitting at ∼400 nm for current densities up to 2500 A/cm2. IQE values extracted from intensity and temperature dependent photoluminescence measurements were consistently higher, by some 30%, for the m-plane LEDs than for reference c-plane LEDs having the same structure, e.g., 80% versus 60% at an injected steady-state carrier concentration of 1.2×1018 cm−3. With increasing current injection up to 2500 A/cm2, the maximum EQE is nearly retained in m-plane LEDs, whereas c-plane LEDs exhibit approximately 25% droop. The negligible droop in m-plane LEDs is consistent with the reported enhanced hole carrier concentration and light holes in m-plane orientation, thereby enhanced hole transport throughout the active region, and lack of polarization induced field. A high quantum efficiency and in particular its retention at high inj...

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