Extended wavelength dilute-bismide infrared nBn photodetectors on InSb

R R. C. White M M. K. Bergthold (Microelectronics Research Center and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78758,) F F. A. Estévez H (Microelectronics Research Center and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78758,) A A. F. Ricks (Microelectronics Research Center and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78758,) D D. Wasserman S S. R. Bank

Abstract

Bismuth incorporation into InSb has the potential to fill a significant technological gap for narrow bandgap III-V alloys that can be grown directly on commercially available substrates with tunable long-wave infrared bandgap energies for sensing applications. Here, we demonstrate the first InSbBi photodetector with a unipolar barrier grown directly on InSb substrates. With only 1% bismuth incorporation, the InSbBi photodetector demonstrated a significant extension in cutoff wavelength of >1 μm beyond that of a nominally identical InSb detector at 79 K. A peak external quantum efficiency of 6% was measured for the InSbBi detector. Pathways to high-performance InSb-based dilute-bismide detectors are presented via (1) quaternary dilute-bismide absorbers and barriers with minimal strain and optimized band alignments or (2) enhanced absorption in detectors with ultra-thin absorbers via refractive index engineering. The work presented highlights the potential of InSbBi nBn detectors as an alternative emerging candidate for long-wave infrared photodetection.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 128, Issue 7
Published February 16, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (6)

R

R. C. White

M

M. K. Bergthold

Microelectronics Research Center and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78758,

F

F. A. Estévez H

Microelectronics Research Center and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78758,

A

A. F. Ricks

Microelectronics Research Center and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78758,

D

D. Wasserman

S

S. R. Bank