Observation of bandgap narrowing in <i>p</i> -type doped GeSn alloys

C Caile Wang (State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,) Y Yue Li J Junyu Chang (State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,) Z Zhengjie Wu (State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,) Z Ziyu Liu (Department of Physics) R Ruoyun Ji (State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,) D Dong Han (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory) C Chao Zhao (Shanghai Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology, 1500 Zhang-Heng Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China) H Hui Cong (State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,) C Chi Xu (Department of Dental Implant Center, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, No. 9 Fanjiacun Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 100070, China) C Chunlai Xue (State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,)

Abstract

A series of p-type doped GeSn samples has been epitaxially grown by the ultra-high vacuum chemical vapor deposition method, and direct bandgap narrowing (BGN) is observed through photoluminescence and infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements, demonstrating a positive correspondence with increasing carrier concentration. The experimental results could be fitted by a square-root correlation of ΔE0 (meV) = −13.69 N/1018 cm−3. The theoretical expression for the BGN of p-type Ge and GeSn has been revisited with updated carrier effective masses, and satisfactory agreement with the experimental data has been achieved. The results show that BGN in p-GeSn is more pronounced as compared to those in n-type counterparts, suggesting that special attention should be paid in future scientific research and device designing processes that involve such materials.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 128, Issue 23
Published June 08, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

C

Caile Wang

State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,

Y

Yue Li

J

Junyu Chang

State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,

Z

Zhengjie Wu

State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,

Z

Ziyu Liu

Department of Physics

R

Ruoyun Ji

State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,

D

Dong Han

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory

C

Chao Zhao

Shanghai Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology, 1500 Zhang-Heng Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China

H

Hui Cong

State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,

C

Chi Xu

Department of Dental Implant Center, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, No. 9 Fanjiacun Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 100070, China

C

Chunlai Xue

State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences 1 , Beijing 100083,