InGaN based micro light emitting diodes featuring a buried GaN tunnel junction

GaN tunnel junctions (TJs) are grown by ammonia molecular beam epitaxy. High doping levels are achieved with a net acceptor concentration close to ∼10²⁰cm⁻³, thanks to the low growth temperature. This allows for the realization of p-n junctions with ultrathin depletion width enabling efficient interband tunneling. n-p-n structures featuring such a TJ exhibit low leakage current densities, e.g., <5 × 10⁻⁵ A cm⁻² at reverse bias of 10 V. Under forward bias, the voltage is 3.3 V and 4.8 V for current densities of 20 A cm⁻² and 2000 A cm⁻², respectively. The specific series resistance of the whole device is 3.7 × 10⁻⁴ Ω cm². Then micro-light emitting diodes (μ-LEDs) featuring buried TJs are fabricated. Excellent current confinement is demonstrated together with homogeneous electrical injection, as seen on electroluminescence mapping. Finally, the I-V characteristics of μ-LEDs with various diameters point out the role of the access resistance at the current aperture edge