GaN-based schottky barrier photodetectors with a 12-Pair Mg _xN_y-GaN buffer layer

GaN-based ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors (PDs) separately prepared with a conventional single low-temperature (LT) GaN buffer layer and a 12-pair Mg _xN_y-GaN buffer layer were both fabricated. It was found that we could reduce threading dislocation (TD) density and thus improve crystal quality of the GaN-based UV PDs by using the 12-pair Mg_xN _y-GaN buffer layer. With a - 2-V applied bias, it was found that the reverse leakage currents measured from PDs with a single LT GaN buffer layer and that with a 12-pair Mg_xN_y-GaN buffer layer were 4.57 x 10_-6 and 1.44 x 10_-12 A, respectively. It was also found that we could use the 12-pair Mg_xN_y-GaN buffer layer to suppress photoconductive gain, enhance UV-to-visible rejection ratio, reduce noise level, and enhance the detectivity.