Nitride semiconductor light emitting device and manufacturing method of the same

• US 7,928,467 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung LED Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sone, Cheol Soo, Kim, Yu Seung, Kim, Hyun Soo, Kang, Ki Man, Kwak, Joon Seop, Lee, Jin Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Ngan
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, BENJAMIN T
• Application Number:
  US12/216,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 257/99, 257/E33.023, 257/E33.064, 257/13, 257/79, 257/103, 257/98, 257/E33.072, 438/46
• US Class Current: 257/103
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/0095 Post-treatment of devices, e.g. annealing, recrystallisation or short-circuit elimination
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/32 containing nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/40 Materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/42 Transparent materials

Abstract

There is provided a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including: a light emitting structure including n-type and p-type nitride semiconductor layers and an active layer disposed therebetween; n- and p-electrodes electrically connected to the n-type and p-type nitride semiconductor layers, respectively; and an n-type ohmic contact layer disposed between the n-type nitride semiconductor layer and the n-electrode and including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer formed of an In-containing material, and the second layer disposed on the first layer and formed of a transparent conductive oxide. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device including the n-electrode exhibits high light transmittance and superior electrical characteristics. Further, the nitride semiconductor light emitting device can be manufactured by an optimal method to ensure superb optical and electrical characteristics.

Claims

1. A nitride semiconductor light emitting device comprising:

a conductive substrate;

a p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the conductive substrate;

an active layer formed on the p-type nitride semiconductor layer,

an n-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the active layer;

n-electrode electrically connected to the n-type and p-type nitride semiconductor layers; and

an n-type ohmic contact layer disposed between the n-type nitride semiconductor layer and the n-electrode and comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first layer formed of an In-containing material, and the second layer disposed between the first layer and the n-electrode and formed of a transparent conductive oxide,

wherein a surface of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer where the n-type ohmic contact layer is formed is an N-polar surface.

2. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the first layer is formed of an In alloy.

3. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 2, wherein the In alloy comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ti, Al, Cr, Ni, Pd, Pt, Mo, Co and Mg.

4. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting of In, Sn, Al, Zn and Ga.

5. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting of ITO, CIO, AZO, ZnO, NiO and In₂O₃.

6. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a thickness ranging from 10 to 300Å

.

7. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a thickness ranging from 500 to 5000 Å

.

8. A method of manufacturing a nitride light emitting device, the method comprising:

depositing an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer sequentially to form a light emitting structure on a single crystal growth substrate;

forming a conductive substrate on the p-type nitride semiconductor layer;

removing the single crystal growth substrate from the light emitting structure;

forming an n-type ohmic contact layer by forming a first layer made of an In-containing material on the exposed surface of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer and a second layer made of a transparent conductive oxide on the first layer; and

forming an n-electrode on the second layer of the n-type ohmic contact layer;

wherein a surface of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer where the n-type ohmic contact layer is formed is an N-polar surface.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising heat-treating the n-type ohmic contact layer, after the forming an n-type ohmic contact layer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the heat-treating the n-type ohmic contact layer is performed at a temperature of 300 to 500°

C.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first layer is formed by sputtering.