The electronic band structure of Ga(PAsN) with a few percent of nitrogen is calculated in the whole composition range of Ga(PAs) host using density functional methods including the modified Becke-Johnson functional to correctly reproduce the bandgap and unfolding of the supercell band structure to reveal the character of the bands. Relatively small amounts of nitrogen introduced to Ga(PAs) lead to the formation of an intermediate band below the conduction band, which is consistent with the band anticrossing model, widely used to describe the electronic band structure of dilute nitrides. However, in this study, calculations are performed in the whole Brillouin zone and they reveal the significance of the correct description of the band structure near the edges of the Brillouin zone, especially for the indirect bandgap P-rich host alloy, which may not be properly captured with simpler models. The influence of nitrogen on the band structure is discussed in terms of the application of Ga(PAsN) in optoelectronic devices such as intermediate band solar cells, light emitters, as well as two color emitters. Additionally, the effect of nitrogen incorporation on the carrier localization is studied and discussed. The theoretical results are compared with experimental studies, confirming their reliability.
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7 November 2019
Research Article|
November 04 2019
Electronic band structure of nitrogen diluted Ga(PAsN): Formation of the intermediate band, direct and indirect optical transitions, and localization of states
Special Collection:
Highly Mismatched Semiconductors Alloys: from Atoms to Devices
M. P. Polak
;
M. P. Polak
a)
1
Department of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology
, Wyb. Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
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R. Kudrawiec
;
R. Kudrawiec
1
Department of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology
, Wyb. Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
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O. Rubel
O. Rubel
2
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, McMaster University
, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
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Note: This paper is part of the Special Topic on Highly Mismatched Semiconductors Alloys: from Atoms to Devices.
J. Appl. Phys. 126, 175701 (2019)
Article history
Received:
March 30 2019
Accepted:
October 12 2019
Citation
M. P. Polak, R. Kudrawiec, O. Rubel; Electronic band structure of nitrogen diluted Ga(PAsN): Formation of the intermediate band, direct and indirect optical transitions, and localization of states. J. Appl. Phys. 7 November 2019; 126 (17): 175701. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5097977
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