Decoupled modulation of the degree of optical polarization and emission wavelength in far-UVC-LEDs: A staggered quantum wells strategy

C C. Z. Ji (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) J J. Lang (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) F F. J. Xu (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) J J. M. Wang (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) H H. Yang E E. F. Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) L L. S. Zhang (Beijing SinoGaN Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd. 2 , Beijing 101399,) Z Z. Y. Zhang F F. Y. Tan (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) J J. C. Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) H H. S. Qi (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) W W. Y. Li X X. Yan M M. Yang (Jiangsu Nata Opto-electronic Material Co., Ltd. 3 , Suzhou 215128,) X X. N. Kang (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) X X. L. Yang (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) N N. Tang (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) X X. Q. Wang (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,) B B. Shen (State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,)

Abstract

The inherently poor light extraction efficiency severely limits the application of AlGaN-based far-ultraviolet-C (far-UVC) light emitting diodes (LEDs) (<240 nm). This originates from the ultra-high Al composition of quantum wells required for short-wavelength emission, which induces a transverse magnetic dominant optical polarization and inevitably causes serious total internal reflection. To reconcile the degree of optical polarization (DOP) and emission wavelength, a function divisional strategy utilizing staggered Al composition quantum wells is proposed in this architecture, where the low-Al and high-Al layers separately govern the DOP and wavelength through the modulation of valence and conduction band, respectively. Consequently, the DOP of quantum wells is reversed from −40% to ∼16% at an emission wavelength of 236 nm, enabling transverse electric-dominant vertical emission. Thanks to it, the far-UVC-LEDs exhibit a light output power of 3.13 mW at 400 mA and a peak wall plug efficiency of 0.13% at 100 mA, showing enhancements severally of 12.2% and 34.7% over the conventional structures. This strategy is highly compatible with commercial metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, offering a robust pathway for high-performance far-UVC-LEDs.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 129, Issue 3
Published July 20, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (19)

C

C. Z. Ji

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

J

J. Lang

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

F

F. J. Xu

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

J

J. M. Wang

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

H

H. Yang

E

E. F. Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

L

L. S. Zhang

Beijing SinoGaN Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd. 2 , Beijing 101399,

Z

Z. Y. Zhang

F

F. Y. Tan

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

J

J. C. Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

H

H. S. Qi

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

W

W. Y. Li

X

X. Yan

M

M. Yang

Jiangsu Nata Opto-electronic Material Co., Ltd. 3 , Suzhou 215128,

X

X. N. Kang

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

X

X. L. Yang

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

N

N. Tang

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

X

X. Q. Wang

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,

B

B. Shen

State Key Laboratory of Artificial Microstructure and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University 1 , Beijing 100871,