Abstract
CAREFUL observation of the radiation emitted from point-contact gallium phosphide diodes under conditions of reverse bias has shown that the luminescence is associated with the recombination of carriers in the breakdown region of the current-voltage characteristic. Electroluminescent radiation has been observed in gallium phosphide by several workers1ā5. The electroluminescence appears to be associated with pān junctions formed between the p-type bulk and an n-type skin on the surface of the material and at grain boundaries. From measurements of optical absorption in gallium phosphide, a value for the energy gap at room temperature of 2.19 eV. was deduced. This value is in good agreement with the value of 2.20 eV. for the room temperature band gap measured at Bell Telephone Laboratory6.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wolff, G. A., Hebert, R. A., and Brodev, J. P., Phys. Rev., 100, 1144 (1955).
Loebner, E. E., and Poor, jun., E. W., Phys. Rev. Letters, 3, 23 (1959).
Holf, D. A., Alfray, G. F., and Wiggins, C. S., Nature, 181, 109 (1958).
Mandelkorn, J., Proc. Inst. Rad. Eng., 47, No. 11, 2012 (November 1959).
Mandelkorn, J., āGallium Phosphide High Temperature High Frequency Point-Contact Diodesā, Electronics Components Conference, Washington, D.C., May 10, 1960.
Spitzer, W. G., Gershenzon, M., Frosch, C. J., and Gibbs, D. F., J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 11, 3/4, 339 (1959).
Chynoweth, A. G., and Pearson, G. L., J. App. Phys., 29, 7, 1103 (1958).
Goetzberger, A., and Shockley, W., Bull., Amer. Phys. Soc., Series II, 4, 409 (1959).
Shockley, W., Electrical Engineering Seminar, Ohio State University, March 2, 1960.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GORTON, H., SWARTZ, J. & PEET, C. Radiative Recombination in Gallium Phosphide Point-Contact Diodes. Nature 188, 303ā304 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/188303b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/188303b0
This article is cited by
-
Electroluminescence of Gallium Phosphide Crystals
Nature (1961)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.