Dark current mechanisms in ultra-thin mid-wave infrared detectors
Mid-wave infrared photodetectors with ultra-thin (t<250nm) absorbers are characterized electrically and optically for a range of absorber doping concentrations. Negative differential resistance is observed in unintentionally doped absorber samples and is attributed to depletion of the ultra-thin absorber. A significant reduction in room temperature dark current of about 30% is observed in devices with compensation-doped absorbers when compared to those with unintentionally doped absorbers. A qualitative model of voltage-, temperature-, and doping-dependent dark current is developed and used to explain the diffusion-limited dark current of depleted-absorber detectors at high operating temperatures. The results presented offer insight into the electrical and optical behavior of ultra-thin mid-wave infrared detectors and potential approaches for further reduction in dark current.
Authors
- Wesley Thomas Coon
- Samuel D. Hawkins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4705-1628)
- Morgan Bergthold (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7122-041X)
- N. C. Mansfield (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6806-7418)
- Viktor A. Podolskiy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9907-758X)
- Daniel Wasserman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3234-0803)
- Aaron J. Muhowski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5659-6136)
- Yadviga Tischenko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8955-6437)
- Félix A. Estévez H.
- S. Purkait
Institutions
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (US)
- Sandia National Laboratories (US)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Applied Physics
- Published
- 2025-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0297236
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Semiconductor Detectors and Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.73
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies
- Office of Science
- Sandia National Laboratories