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Volume 43, Issue 11, Nov 2022
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Organic photodetectors with non-fullerene acceptors
Songxue Bai, Lixiu Zhang, Qianqian Lin, Liming Ding
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 110201  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/110201

Improving reverse intersystem crossing of MR-TADF emitters for OLEDs
Xufeng Luo, Lixiu Zhang, Youxuan Zheng, Liming Ding
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 110202  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/110202

REVIEWS
Plasma atomic layer etching of GaN/AlGaN materials and application: An overview
Lulu Guan, Xingyu Li, Dongchen Che, Kaidong Xu, Shiwei Zhuang
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 113101  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/113101

With the development of the third generation of semiconductor devices, it is essential to achieve precise etching of gallium nitride (GaN) materials that is close to the atomic level. Compared with the traditional wet etching and continuous plasma etching, plasma atomic layer etching (ALE) of GaN has the advantages of self-limiting etching, high selectivity to other materials, and smooth etched surface. In this paper the basic properties and applications of GaN are presented. It also presents the various etching methods of GaN. GaN plasma ALE systems are reviewed, and their similarities and differences are compared. In addition, the industrial application of GaN plasma ALE is outlined.

With the development of the third generation of semiconductor devices, it is essential to achieve precise etching of gallium nitride (GaN) materials that is close to the atomic level. Compared with the traditional wet etching and continuous plasma etching, plasma atomic layer etching (ALE) of GaN has the advantages of self-limiting etching, high selectivity to other materials, and smooth etched surface. In this paper the basic properties and applications of GaN are presented. It also presents the various etching methods of GaN. GaN plasma ALE systems are reviewed, and their similarities and differences are compared. In addition, the industrial application of GaN plasma ALE is outlined.
ARTICLES
Four-channel CWDM transmitter chip based on thin-film lithium niobate platform
Kaixuan Chen, Gengxin Chen, Ziliang Ruan, Xuancong Fan, Junwei Zhang, Ranfeng Gan, Jie Liu, Daoxin Dai, Changjian Guo, Liu Liu
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 112301  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/112301

Multi-lane integrated transmitter chips are key components in future compact optical modules to realize high-speed optical interconnects. Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonics have emerged as a promising platform for achieving high-performance chip-scale optical systems. Combining a coarse wavelength-division multiplexing (CWDM) devices using fabrication-tolerant angled multimode interferometer structure and high-performance electro-optical modulators, we demonstrate monolithic on-chip four-channel CWDM transmitter on the TFLN platform for the first time. The four-channel CWDM transmitter enables high-speed transmissions of 100 Gb/s data rate per wavelength channel (i.e., an aggregated date rate of 400 Gb/s).

Multi-lane integrated transmitter chips are key components in future compact optical modules to realize high-speed optical interconnects. Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonics have emerged as a promising platform for achieving high-performance chip-scale optical systems. Combining a coarse wavelength-division multiplexing (CWDM) devices using fabrication-tolerant angled multimode interferometer structure and high-performance electro-optical modulators, we demonstrate monolithic on-chip four-channel CWDM transmitter on the TFLN platform for the first time. The four-channel CWDM transmitter enables high-speed transmissions of 100 Gb/s data rate per wavelength channel (i.e., an aggregated date rate of 400 Gb/s).
(Ba1−xNax)F(Zn1−xMnx)Sb: A novel fluoride-antimonide magnetic semiconductor with decoupled charge and spin doping
Xueqin Zhao, Jinou Dong, Licheng Fu, Yilun Gu, Rufei Zhang, Qiaolin Yang, Lingfeng Xie, Yinsong Tang, Fanlong Ning
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 112501  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/112501

We report the successful synthesis and characterization of a novel 1111-type magnetic semiconductor (Ba1−xNax)F(Zn1−xMnx)Sb (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.175) with tetragonal ZrSiCuAs-type structure, which is isostructural to the layered iron-based superconductor La(O,F)FeAs. Na substitutions for Ba and Mn substitutions for Zn introduce carriers and local magnetic moments, respectively. Ferromagnetic interaction is formed when Na and Mn are codoped, demonstrating that local magnetic moments are mediated by carriers. Iso-thermal magnetization shows that the coercive field is as large as ~ 12 000 Oe, which is also reflected in the large split between the temperature-dependent magnetization in zero-field-cooling and field-cooling condition. AC susceptibility under zero field demonstrates that samples evolve into spin-glass state below spin freezing temperature Tf. The measurements of temperature-dependent resistivity indicate that (Ba1−xNax)F(Zn1−xMnx)Sb exhibits semiconducting behaviour.

We report the successful synthesis and characterization of a novel 1111-type magnetic semiconductor (Ba1−xNax)F(Zn1−xMnx)Sb (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.175) with tetragonal ZrSiCuAs-type structure, which is isostructural to the layered iron-based superconductor La(O,F)FeAs. Na substitutions for Ba and Mn substitutions for Zn introduce carriers and local magnetic moments, respectively. Ferromagnetic interaction is formed when Na and Mn are codoped, demonstrating that local magnetic moments are mediated by carriers. Iso-thermal magnetization shows that the coercive field is as large as ~ 12 000 Oe, which is also reflected in the large split between the temperature-dependent magnetization in zero-field-cooling and field-cooling condition. AC susceptibility under zero field demonstrates that samples evolve into spin-glass state below spin freezing temperature Tf. The measurements of temperature-dependent resistivity indicate that (Ba1−xNax)F(Zn1−xMnx)Sb exhibits semiconducting behaviour.
High-power microwaves response characteristics of silicon and GaAs solar cells
Xiangrui Meng, Changchun Chai, Fuxing Li, Yi Sun, Yintang Yang
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 112701  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/112701

The high-power microwave (HPM) effect heats solar cells, which is an important component of a satellite. This creates a serious reliability problem and affects the normal operation of a satellite. In this paper, the different HPM response characteristics of two kinds of solar cells are comparatively researched by simulation. The results show that there are similarities and differences in hot spot distribution and damage mechanisms between both kinds of solar cell, which are related to the amplitude of HPM. In addition, the duty cycle of repetition frequency contributes more to the temperature accumulation of the solar cells than the carrier frequency. These results will help future research of damage assessment technology, reliability enhancement and the selection of materials for solar cells.

The high-power microwave (HPM) effect heats solar cells, which is an important component of a satellite. This creates a serious reliability problem and affects the normal operation of a satellite. In this paper, the different HPM response characteristics of two kinds of solar cells are comparatively researched by simulation. The results show that there are similarities and differences in hot spot distribution and damage mechanisms between both kinds of solar cell, which are related to the amplitude of HPM. In addition, the duty cycle of repetition frequency contributes more to the temperature accumulation of the solar cells than the carrier frequency. These results will help future research of damage assessment technology, reliability enhancement and the selection of materials for solar cells.
Clarifying the atomic origin of electron killers in β-Ga2O3 from the first-principles study of electron capture rates
Zhaojun Suo, Linwang Wang, Shushen Li, Junwei Luo
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 112801  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/112801

The emerging wide bandgap semiconductor $ \beta $-Ga2O3 has attracted great interest due to its promising applications for high-power electronic devices and solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors. Deep-level defects in $ \beta $-Ga2O3 have been intensively studied towards improving device performance. Deep-level signatures E1, E2, and E3 with energy positions of 0.55–0.63, 0.74–0.81, and 1.01–1.10 eV below the conduction band minimum have frequently been observed and extensively investigated, but their atomic origins are still under debate. In this work, we attempt to clarify these deep-level signatures from the comparison of theoretically predicted electron capture cross-sections of suggested candidates, Ti and Fe substituting Ga on a tetrahedral site (TiGaI and FeGaI) and an octahedral site (TiGaII and FeGaII), to experimentally measured results. The first-principles approach predicted electron capture cross-sections of TiGaI and TiGaII defects are 8.56 × 10–14 and 2.97 × 10–13 cm2, in good agreement with the experimental values of E1 and E3 centers, respectively. We, therefore, confirmed that E1 and E3 centers are indeed associated with TiGaI and TiGaII defects, respectively. Whereas the predicted electron capture cross-sections of FeGa defect are two orders of magnitude larger than the experimental value of the E2, indicating E2 may have other origins like CGa and Gai, rather than common believed FeGa.

The emerging wide bandgap semiconductor $ \beta $-Ga2O3 has attracted great interest due to its promising applications for high-power electronic devices and solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors. Deep-level defects in $ \beta $-Ga2O3 have been intensively studied towards improving device performance. Deep-level signatures E1, E2, and E3 with energy positions of 0.55–0.63, 0.74–0.81, and 1.01–1.10 eV below the conduction band minimum have frequently been observed and extensively investigated, but their atomic origins are still under debate. In this work, we attempt to clarify these deep-level signatures from the comparison of theoretically predicted electron capture cross-sections of suggested candidates, Ti and Fe substituting Ga on a tetrahedral site (TiGaI and FeGaI) and an octahedral site (TiGaII and FeGaII), to experimentally measured results. The first-principles approach predicted electron capture cross-sections of TiGaI and TiGaII defects are 8.56 × 10–14 and 2.97 × 10–13 cm2, in good agreement with the experimental values of E1 and E3 centers, respectively. We, therefore, confirmed that E1 and E3 centers are indeed associated with TiGaI and TiGaII defects, respectively. Whereas the predicted electron capture cross-sections of FeGa defect are two orders of magnitude larger than the experimental value of the E2, indicating E2 may have other origins like CGa and Gai, rather than common believed FeGa.
Bulk GaN-based SAW resonators with high quality factors for wireless temperature sensor
Hongrui Lv, Xianglong Shi, Yujie Ai, Zhe Liu, Defeng Lin, Lifang Jia, Zhe Cheng, Jie Yang, Yun Zhang
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 114101  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/114101

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator with outstanding quality factors of 4829/6775 at the resonant/anti-resonant frequencies has been demonstrated on C-doped semi-insulating bulk GaN. The impact of device parameters including aspect ratio of length to width of resonators, number of interdigital transducers, and acoustic propagation direction on resonator performance have been studied. For the first time, we demonstrate wireless temperature sensing from 21.6 to 120 °C with a stable temperature coefficient of frequency of –24.3 ppm/°C on bulk GaN-based SAW resonators.

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator with outstanding quality factors of 4829/6775 at the resonant/anti-resonant frequencies has been demonstrated on C-doped semi-insulating bulk GaN. The impact of device parameters including aspect ratio of length to width of resonators, number of interdigital transducers, and acoustic propagation direction on resonator performance have been studied. For the first time, we demonstrate wireless temperature sensing from 21.6 to 120 °C with a stable temperature coefficient of frequency of –24.3 ppm/°C on bulk GaN-based SAW resonators.
Hybrid C8-BTBT/InGaAs nanowire heterojunction for artificial photosynaptic transistors
Yiling Nie, Pengshan Xie, Xu Chen, Chenxing Jin, Wanrong Liu, Xiaofang Shi, Yunchao Xu, Yongyi Peng, Johnny C. Ho, Jia Sun, Junliang Yang
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 112201  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/112201

The emergence of light-tunable synaptic transistors provides opportunities to break through the von Neumann bottleneck and enable neuromorphic computing. Herein, a multifunctional synaptic transistor is constructed by using 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) and indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) nanowires (NWs) hybrid heterojunction thin film as the active layer. Under illumination, the Type-I C8-BTBT/InGaAs NWs heterojunction would make the dissociated photogenerated excitons more difficult to recombine. The persistent photoconductivity caused by charge trapping can then be used to mimic photosynaptic behaviors, including excitatory postsynaptic current, long/short-term memory and Pavlovian learning. Furthermore, a high classification accuracy of 89.72% can be achieved through the single-layer-perceptron hardware-based neural network built from C8-BTBT/InGaAs NWs synaptic transistors. Thus, this work could provide new insights into the fabrication of high-performance optoelectronic synaptic devices.

The emergence of light-tunable synaptic transistors provides opportunities to break through the von Neumann bottleneck and enable neuromorphic computing. Herein, a multifunctional synaptic transistor is constructed by using 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) and indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) nanowires (NWs) hybrid heterojunction thin film as the active layer. Under illumination, the Type-I C8-BTBT/InGaAs NWs heterojunction would make the dissociated photogenerated excitons more difficult to recombine. The persistent photoconductivity caused by charge trapping can then be used to mimic photosynaptic behaviors, including excitatory postsynaptic current, long/short-term memory and Pavlovian learning. Furthermore, a high classification accuracy of 89.72% can be achieved through the single-layer-perceptron hardware-based neural network built from C8-BTBT/InGaAs NWs synaptic transistors. Thus, this work could provide new insights into the fabrication of high-performance optoelectronic synaptic devices.
Ag-catalyzed GaSb nanowires for flexible near-infrared photodetectors
Zixu Sa, Fengjing Liu, Dong Liu, Mingxu Wang, Jie Zhang, Yanxue Yin, Zhiyong Pang, Xinming Zhuang, Peng Wang, Zaixing Yang
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 112302  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/112302

High-quality narrow bandgap semiconductors nanowires (NWs) challenge the flexible near-infrared (NIR) photodetectors in next-generation imaging, data communication, environmental monitoring, and bioimaging applications. In this work, complementary metal oxide semiconductor-compatible metal of Ag is deposited on glass as the growth catalyst for the surfactant-assisted chemical vapor deposition of GaSb NWs. The uniform morphology, balance stoichiometry, high-quality crystallinity, and phase purity of as-prepared NWs are checked by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The electrical properties of as-prepared NWs are studied by constructing back-gated field-effect-transistors, displaying a high Ion/Ioff ratio of 104 and high peak hole mobility of 400 cm2/(V·s). Benefiting from the excellent electrical and mechanical flexibility properties, the as-fabricated NW flexible NIR photodetector exhibits high sensitivity and excellent photoresponse, with responsivity as high as 618 A/W and detectivity as high as 6.7 × 1010 Jones. Furthermore, there is no obvious decline in NIR photodetection behavior, even after parallel and perpendicular folding with 1200 cycles.

High-quality narrow bandgap semiconductors nanowires (NWs) challenge the flexible near-infrared (NIR) photodetectors in next-generation imaging, data communication, environmental monitoring, and bioimaging applications. In this work, complementary metal oxide semiconductor-compatible metal of Ag is deposited on glass as the growth catalyst for the surfactant-assisted chemical vapor deposition of GaSb NWs. The uniform morphology, balance stoichiometry, high-quality crystallinity, and phase purity of as-prepared NWs are checked by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The electrical properties of as-prepared NWs are studied by constructing back-gated field-effect-transistors, displaying a high Ion/Ioff ratio of 104 and high peak hole mobility of 400 cm2/(V·s). Benefiting from the excellent electrical and mechanical flexibility properties, the as-fabricated NW flexible NIR photodetector exhibits high sensitivity and excellent photoresponse, with responsivity as high as 618 A/W and detectivity as high as 6.7 × 1010 Jones. Furthermore, there is no obvious decline in NIR photodetection behavior, even after parallel and perpendicular folding with 1200 cycles.
Colossal negative magnetoresistance from hopping in insulating ferromagnetic semiconductors
Xinyu Liu, Logan Riney, Josue Guerra, William Powers, Jiashu Wang, Jacek K. Furdyna, Badih A. Assaf
J. Semicond.  2022, 43(11): 112502  doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/43/11/112502

Ferromagnetic semiconductor Ga1–xMnxAs1–yPy thin films go through a metal–insulator transition at low temperature where electrical conduction becomes driven by hopping of charge carriers. In this regime, we report a colossal negative magnetoresistance (CNMR) coexisting with a saturated magnetic moment, unlike in the traditional magnetic semiconductor Ga1–xMnxAs. By analyzing the temperature dependence of the resistivity at fixed magnetic field, we demonstrate that the CNMR can be consistently described by the field dependence of the localization length, which relates to a field dependent mobility edge. This dependence is likely due to the random environment of Mn atoms in Ga1–xMnxAs1–yPy which causes a random spatial distribution of the mobility that is suppressed by an increasing magnetic field.

Ferromagnetic semiconductor Ga1–xMnxAs1–yPy thin films go through a metal–insulator transition at low temperature where electrical conduction becomes driven by hopping of charge carriers. In this regime, we report a colossal negative magnetoresistance (CNMR) coexisting with a saturated magnetic moment, unlike in the traditional magnetic semiconductor Ga1–xMnxAs. By analyzing the temperature dependence of the resistivity at fixed magnetic field, we demonstrate that the CNMR can be consistently described by the field dependence of the localization length, which relates to a field dependent mobility edge. This dependence is likely due to the random environment of Mn atoms in Ga1–xMnxAs1–yPy which causes a random spatial distribution of the mobility that is suppressed by an increasing magnetic field.