GaN-Based Schottky Barrier Photodetectors With a 12-Pair Mg$_{\rm x}$ N$_{\rm y}$ –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
_x
N
_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
_x
N
_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
_x
N
_y
-GaN buffer layer were 4.57 times 10
^-6
and 1.44 times 10
^-12
A, respectively. It was also found that we could use the 12-pair Mg
_x
N
_y
-GaN buffer layer to suppress photoconductive gain, enhance UV-to-visible rejection ratio, reduce noise level, and enhance the detectivity.