Improved LED output power and external quantum efficiency using InGaN templates

InGaN templates have recently attracted interest due to their ability to reduce strain in the quantum wells and to induce a red shift in the emission wavelength. For such technology to be competitive, it should outperform the traditional technology for LEDs grown on GaN substrates and offer improved output characteristics. InGaN based LEDs on In y Ga 1−y N templates with varying In-content of 8% ≤ y ≤ 12% are studied for the same emission wavelength. The electroluminescence, optical output power, and external quantum efficiency of the LEDs are investigated as a function of the In-content in the templates. LEDs on InGaN templates with In-content of 8–10% show better performance than LEDs grown on GaN. This enhancement is attributed to improved radiative recombination as a result of the reduced strain in the quantum wells. However, templates with In-content of ∼10.5% and ∼11% show inferior performance to the LEDs on GaN because the deterioration from the increased defects from the template is stronger than the improvement in the radiative recombination. It can be concluded that the InGaN templates with 8–10% offer a technology for LEDs that is outperforming the traditional GaN technology.