Over 50% carrier injection efficiency in AlGaN-based UV-B laser diodes enabled by combining Al-content-drop design and low-temperature epitaxy

T Takumu Saito (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) R Rintaro Miyake (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) S Shundai Maruyama (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) Y Yusuke Sasaki (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) S Shogo Karino (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) R Ryota Watanabe Y Yuma Miyamoto (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) T Tomoya Tanikawa (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) R Rintaro Kobayashi (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) S Sho Iwayama (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) H Hideto Miyake K Koichi Naniwae (Ushio, Inc 3 ., Gotenba 412-0038,) S Satoshi Kamiyama (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) T Tetsuya Takeuchi (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,) M Motoaki Iwaya (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,)

Abstract

We demonstrate a significant improvement in carrier injection efficiency (ηi) in AlGaN-based UV-B laser diodes (LDs) through a combined approach of the Al-content-drop design and low-temperature epitaxy, both introduced to preserve the electron-blocking barrier and suppress Al–Ga interdiffusion at heterointerfaces. Four devices fabricated with different quantum well AlN molar fractions (0.23–0.35) showed lasing at 297–319 nm with ηi ranging from 42% to 52%, representing a more than threefold improvement over previously reported polarization-doped UV LDs. A peak optical power of 570 mW and a wall-plug efficiency of 2.9% were achieved under pulsed operation (50 ns, 0.01% duty). These results experimentally verify that maintaining a large conduction-band offset and abrupt interfaces, rather than wavelength-dependent factors, overwhelmingly governs ηi improvement in polarization-doped UV-B LDs. Our findings establish a practical design and growth guideline for highly efficient current-injection UV-B LDs.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 22
Published December 01, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

T

Takumu Saito

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

R

Rintaro Miyake

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

S

Shundai Maruyama

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

Y

Yusuke Sasaki

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

S

Shogo Karino

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

R

Ryota Watanabe

Y

Yuma Miyamoto

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

T

Tomoya Tanikawa

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

R

Rintaro Kobayashi

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

S

Sho Iwayama

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

H

Hideto Miyake

K

Koichi Naniwae

Ushio, Inc 3 ., Gotenba 412-0038,

S

Satoshi Kamiyama

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

T

Tetsuya Takeuchi

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,

M

Motoaki Iwaya

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Meijo University 1 , Nagoya 468-8502,