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Characterization of the Mechanism of Activation for Visible Luminescence in Tb-Doped Crystalline and Amorphous AlN Thin Films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

C. M. Spalding ,
M. L. Caldwell ,
A. L. Martin ,
V. I. Dimitrova ,
M. E. Kordesch ,
H. H. Richardson  and
P. G. Van Patten
C. M. Spalding
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, U.S.A
M. L. Caldwell
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, U.S.A
A. L. Martin
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, U.S.A
V. I. Dimitrova
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, U.S.A
M. E. Kordesch
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, U.S.A
H. H. Richardson
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, U.S.A
P. G. Van Patten
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, U.S.A
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Abstract

High-temperature treatments are necessary for luminescence ‘activation’ of sputterdeposited, RE-doped, III-nitride phosphor materials. We report an investigation of the activation process in crystalline and amorphous Tb-doped AlN films. These films were characterized before and after thermal activation at temperatures up to 1000° C by cathodoluminescence (CL), static and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The results suggest that the absence of luminescence in unactivated and in old activated samples is due to rapid quenching of the RE excited state. Furthermore, the quenching in the activated, aged samples appears to be due to sorption of ambient water vapor. Energy transfer to a harmonic of the O-H vibration is a likely quenching pathway in these samples. Unfortunately, this water-related quenching mechanism is implausible as a candidate in freshly-made, unactivated samples since water is excluded from the growth chamber.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 639: Symposium G – GaN and Related Alloys-2000 , 2000 , G6.22
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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References

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