AlGaInN-based light emitting diodes with a transparent p-contact based on thin ITO films

A method for obtaining transparent conductive ITO (indium-tin oxide) films aimed for use in light emitting diodes of the blue spectral range is developed. The peak external quantum efficiency of light-emitting diodes with a p-contact based on the obtained films reaches 25%, while for similar light-emitting diodes with a standard semitransparent metal contact, it is <10%. An observed increase in the direct voltage drop from 3.15 to 3.37 V does not significantly affect the possibility of applying these films in light-emitting diodes since the optical power of light-emitting diodes with a transparent p-contact based on ITO films exceeds that of chips with metal semitransparent p-contacts with a working current of 20 mA by a factor of almost 2.5. Light-emitting diodes with p-contacts based on ITO films successfully withstand a pumping current that exceeds their calculated working current by a factor of 5 without the appearance of any signs of degradation.