High efficiency improvements in AlGaN-based ultraviolet light-emitting diodes with specially designed AlGaN superlattice hole and electron blocking layers

AlxGa1-xN/Al0.6Ga0.4N graded superlattice hole blocking layers (GSL-HBLs) and AlxGa1-xN/Al0.6Ga0.4N graded superlattice electron blocking layers (GSL-EBLs) are applied to the traditional AlGaN-based ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UVLEDs). This can obtain much higher internal quantum efficiency (IQE) and output power. In order to reveal the underlying physical mechanism of this unique structure, we have studied it numerically by APSYS simulation programs. We find that GSL-EBLs can obviously increase the electron potential height and reduce the hole potential height, produce less electron leakage and more hole injection, leading to higher carrier contration. GSL-HBLs can obviously reduce the hole leakage, reduce the thermal velocity and correspondingly the mean free path of the hot electrons, and increase the electron injection. This enhanced the electron capture efficiency of the multiple quantum wells, which can also help to reduce electron leakage.