Optoelectronic Semiconductor Device and Method for Producing an Optoelectronic Semiconductor Device

Abstract

An optoelectronic semiconductor device and a method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor device are disclosed. In an embodiment an optoelectronic semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a first region of a first conductivity type, an active region configured to generate electromagnetic radiation and a second region of a second conductivity type in a stacking direction, an electrical contact metallization arranged on a side of the second region facing away from the active region and being opaque to the electromagnetic radiation, a radiation coupling-out region surrounding the electrical contact metallization at an edge side and an absorber layer structure arranged between the electrical contact metallization and the second region.

Claims

1. An optoelectronic semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor body comprising a first region of a first conductivity type, an active region configured to generate electromagnetic radiation and a second region of a second conductivity type in a stacking direction; an electrical contact metallization arranged on a side of the second region facing away from the active region and being opaque to the electromagnetic radiation; a radiation coupling-out region surrounding the electrical contact metallization at an edge side; and an absorber layer structure arranged between the electrical contact metallization and the second region.

2. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein at least one layer of the absorber layer structure comprising gold.

3. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein the layer comprising gold has a thickness of at most 500 nm.

4. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein at least one layer of the absorber layer structure comprises palladium and/or nickel.

5. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 4, wherein the layer comprising palladium and/or nickel has a thickness ranging from 0.5 nm to 100 nm.

6. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor body is based on a nitride compound semiconductor material.

7. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer arranged between the absorber layer structure and the electrical contact metallization.

8. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact metallization occupies an area portion of at least 20% of an area of the semiconductor body.

9. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein a distance of the absorber layer structure to a side surface of the semiconductor body lies within a range of 0.1 m to 15 m.

10. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor body comprises a trench formed in the second region, and wherein the trench at least partially surrounds the radiation coupling-out region.

11. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the trench penetrates at least half of the semiconductor body in the stacking direction.

12. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the trench completely penetrates the semiconductor body in the stacking direction.

13. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the trench is at least partially filled with a light-absorbing material.

14. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the trench comprises a plurality of sections.

15. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein a length of the trench comprises at least 10% of a circumference of the radiation coupling-out region.

16. The optoelectronic semiconductor device according to claim 10, wherein the trench has side flanks including a flank angle of less than 70 with a major extension plane of the semiconductor body.

17. A method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor device, the method comprising: providing a semiconductor body having a first region of a first conductivity type, an active region designed to emit electromagnetic radiation and a second region of a second conductivity type in a stacking direction, wherein an absorber layer structure is arranged on a side of the second region facing away from the active region; applying a first mask layer having at least one recess to a side of the absorber layer structure facing away from the semiconductor body; etching with at least one etching process thereby removing a material of the absorber layer structure and a material of the semiconductor body and forming at least one recess in the semiconductor body within the recess in the first mask layer; removing the first mask layer; and applying an electrical contact metallization to the side of the absorber layer structure facing away from the semiconductor body.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising, after removing the first mask layer, applying a second mask layer to the side of the absorber layer structure facing away from the semiconductor body, wherein a recess in the second mask layer at least partially overlaps with the absorber layer structure, and wherein the recess in the second mask layer is filled with an electrical contact metallization material.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising forming a trench in the second region of the semiconductor body, wherein the trench at least partially surrounds a radiation coupling-out region.

20. An optoelectronic semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor body comprising a first region of a first conductivity type, an active region designed to generate electromagnetic radiation and a second region of a second conductivity type in a stacking direction; an electrical contact metallization arranged on a side of the second region facing away from the active region and being opaque to the electromagnetic radiation; a radiation coupling-out region surrounding the electrical contact metallization at an edge side; and an absorber layer structure arranged between the electrical contact metallization and the second region, wherein the semiconductor body comprises a trench in the second region, and wherein the trench at least partially surrounds the radiation coupling-out region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Further advantages and advantageous designs and further embodiments of the optoelectronic semiconductor device result from the following exemplary embodiments in connection with the figures.

[0041] Showing:

[0042] FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-section of an optoelectronic semiconductor device according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0043] FIG. 1B is a section of a schematic cross-section of an optoelectronic semiconductor device according to the first exemplary embodiment;

[0044] FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-section through an optoelectronic semiconductor device according to a second exemplary embodiment;

[0045] FIG. 2B is a section of a schematic cross-section of an optoelectronic semiconductor device according to the second exemplary embodiment;

[0046] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of an optoelectronic semiconductor device according to the first exemplary embodiment;

[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of an optoelectronic semiconductor device according to the second exemplary embodiment;

[0048] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an optoelectronic semiconductor device according to a third exemplary embodiment; and

[0049] FIGS. 6A to 6F are schematic cross-sections through an optoelectronic semiconductor device according to the first exemplary embodiment in various stages of its production.

[0050] Same, similar or seemingly similar elements are provided in the figures with the same reference signs. The figures and the proportions of the elements depicted in the figures are not to be regarded as true to scale. Rather, individual elements may be exaggeratedly large for better representability and/or better comprehensibility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0051] FIG. 1A shows a schematic cross-section of an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 described herein, according to the first exemplary embodiment. The represented optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 comprises a semiconductor body 10 having a first region 101 of a first conductivity type, a second region 102 of a second conductivity type, and an active region 103 designed for generating electromagnetic radiation.

[0052] The regions of the semiconductor body 10 are especially epitaxially grown on a growth substrate 2. Furthermore, the semiconductor body 10 can also be detached from a growth substrate after epitaxial growth and applied to a carrier. Passivation 90 and contact metallization 20 are applied to the semiconductor body 10. Passivation 90, for example, is formed from silicon oxide or silicon oxynitride. Contact metallization 20 is used for electrical contacting of the second region 102 and is opaque to the electromagnetic radiation generated in the active region 103.

[0053] An absorber layer structure 30 is arranged between the contact metallization 20 and the side of the second region 102 facing away from the active region 103. The absorber layer structure 30 comprises several layers of different materials and, in particular, has a high optical absorption coefficient for the electromagnetic radiation generated in the active region 103. A radiation coupling-out region 10A, which is provided for coupling-out at least part of the electromagnetic radiation generated in the active region 103, is arranged on the edge side along the contact metallization 20. The larger the overlap of the absorber layer structure 30 with the radiation coupling-out region 10A, the smaller the coupling-out efficiency of the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1.

[0054] Laterally spaced apart from the contact metallization 20, an electrical connection layer 21 is arranged, which is provided for electrical contacting of the first region 101. The lateral expansion of the semiconductor body 10 is limited by a side surface of the semiconductor body 10B. The region of the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 surrounded by a dotted line is shown in FIG. 1B in an enlarged image.

[0055] FIG. 1B shows a section of a schematic cross-section of an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 described herein, according to the first exemplary embodiment. The section shown herein corresponds to the region of the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 outlined by a dotted line in FIG. 1A. Herein illustrated is a detailed view of the absorber layer structure 30 comprising a layer formed with gold 301 and a layer formed with palladium or nickel 302. The layer formed with gold 301 shows in particular a high absorption coefficient for electromagnetic radiation in a green and a blue spectral range. The layer formed with palladium or nickel 302 is reflective and partially transparent to the electromagnetic radiation generated in the active region 103. The thickness of the layer formed with palladium or nickel 302 thus determines the absorptive effect of the layer formed with gold 301 above it. A thicker layer formed with palladium or nickel 302 reduces the absorptive effect of the layer formed with gold 301, whereas a thinner layer formed with palladium or nickel 302 increases the absorptive effect of the layer formed with gold 301.

[0056] An adhesive layer 40 is applied to the absorber layer structure 30, which is formed, for example, from titanium. The adhesive layer 40 improves the mechanical adhesion of the contact metallization 20 on the absorber layer structure 30. For shielding against external environmental influences, a passivation layer 90 made of silicon oxide is arranged above the absorber layer structure 30 and the material of the second region 102.

[0057] FIG. 2A shows a schematic cross-section of an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 described herein, according to the second exemplary embodiment, which largely corresponds to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2A shows a trench 50, introduced in the semiconductor body 10, and a recess 51. The recess 51 serves to structure the semiconductor body 10 and delimits the semiconductor body 10 in its main plane of extension by the side surfaces of the semiconductor body 10B. The trench 50 serves to interrupt the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 and thus to reduce a waveguide effect occurring in the semiconductor body 10. This effectively reduces or even eliminates the coupling-out of electromagnetic radiation at the side surfaces of the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1.

[0058] FIG. 2B shows a section of a schematic cross-section of an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 described herein, according to the second exemplary embodiment. The section corresponds to the region of the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 marked in FIG. 2A with a dotted line. FIG. 2B shows the structure of the trench 50 in detail. The sides of the trench 50 are coated with a light-absorbing material 60. The light-absorbing material 60 reduces or prevents back reflection of incident electromagnetic radiation into the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1. The light-absorbing material 60 is, for example, a metal or polymer filled with light absorbing particles. The trench 50 completely penetrates the semiconductor body 10 in one direction along the stacking direction. The side flanks of the trench 50 enclose a flank angle with the main extension plane of the semiconductor body 10, which is in particular less than 70. The trench 50 is arranged along the edge of the semiconductor body 10, whereby the trench 50 can also be divided into several sections.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 described herein, according to the first exemplary embodiment. Shown are the electrical contacts arranged laterally side by side in the form of the contact metallization 20 and the electrical connection layer 21. An absorber layer structure 30 is located on the edge surrounding the electrical contact metallization 20. The lateral projection of the absorber layer structure 30 beyond the contact metallization 20 influences the coupling-out efficiency of the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1. A larger projection of the absorber layer structure 30 reduces the coupling-out and thus the brightness of the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a schematic top view of an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 described here according to the second exemplary embodiment. Around the radiation coupling-out region 10A a trench 50 is formed, which is completely closed. The trench 50 thus essentially completely prevents the lateral coupling-out of electromagnetic radiation from the optoelectronic semiconductor device 1. A completely closed trench 50 is particularly effective as ESD protection. ESD protection protects the regions 101, 102 and 103 of the semiconductor body 10 against electrostatic discharges and the resulting excess voltages.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a schematic top view of an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 described herein, according to the third exemplary embodiment, which in essential elements corresponds to the first or second exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, the trench 50 is divided into several sections. The total length of the trench 50, which consists of the length of the individual parts of the trench 50, is in a given ratio to the circumference of the radiation coupling-out region 10A.

[0062] FIGS. 6A to 6F show schematic cross-sections through an optoelectronic semiconductor device described herein, according to the first exemplary embodiment in various stages of its production. FIG. 6A shows an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 having a semiconductor body 10 comprising a first region 101, an active region 103 and a second region 102. The semiconductor body is epitaxially grown on a growth substrate 2. An absorber layer structure 30 is arranged on the side of the second region 102 facing away from the active region 103.

[0063] FIG. 6B shows the application of a first mask layer 70 to the side of the absorber layer structure 30 facing away from the semiconductor body 10, wherein the first mask layer 70 comprises a plurality of recesses 70A.

[0064] FIG. 6C shows an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 in a further step of a method for its production. By means of a first etching process, the material of the absorber layer structure 30 is removed in the region of the plurality of recesses 70A, thus producing an undercut of the first mask layer 70. The first etching process is particularly a wet chemical etching process. The undercutting of the first mask layer 70 in the region of the absorber layer structure 30 leads to a defined retraction of the absorber layer structure 30 under the first mask layer 70.

[0065] FIG. 6D shows a further step of a method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1. A plurality of recesses 51 is made in the semiconductor body 10 in the region of the plurality of recesses 70A. The recesses 51 are produced by means of a second etching process. The second etching process is in particular a dry chemical etching process, such as a plasma etching process. The recesses 51 create a mesa structure in the semiconductor body which is delimited by side surfaces 10B. By using the first mask layer 70 for both the first etching process and the second etching process, a self-aligned alignment of the absorber layer structure 30 to the position of the recesses 51 and the side surfaces of the semiconductor body 10B is achieved.

[0066] FIG. 6E shows an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 in which the first mask layer 70 is completely removed and a second mask layer 80 is deposited on the side of the absorber layer structure 30 facing away from the semiconductor body 10. The second mask layer 80 comprises a recess 80A that completely overlaps with the absorber layer structure 30 in the direction of the main extension plane of the semiconductor body 10.

[0067] FIG. 6F shows an optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 in which the recess in the second mask layer 80A is filled with the electrical contact metallization 20. The optoelectronic semiconductor device 1 can thus be produced advantageously with only two different mask layers.

[0068] The invention is not limited by the description of the exemplary embodiments. Rather, the invention includes any new feature and any combination of features, which in particular includes any combination of features in the patent claims, even if that feature or combination itself is not explicitly mentioned in the patent claims or exemplary embodiments.