Resonant Zener tunnelling via zero-dimensional states in a narrow gap diode

Di Poala, D. M.; Kesaria, M.; Makarovsky, Oleg; Velichko, A.; Eaves, Laurence; Mori, N.; Krier, A.; Patan�, Amalia

Abstract

Interband tunnelling of carriers through a forbidden energy gap, known as Zener tunnelling, is a phenomenon of fundamental and technological interest. Its experimental observation in the Esaki p-n semiconductor diode has led to the first demonstration and exploitation of quantum tunnelling in a condensed matter system. Here we demonstrate a new type of Zener tunnelling that involves the resonant transmission of electrons through zero-dimensional (0D) states. In our devices, a narrow quantum well of the mid-infrared (MIR) alloy In(AsN) is placed in the intrinsic (i) layer of a p-i-n diode. The incorporation of nitrogen in the quantum well creates 0D states that are localized on nanometer lengthscales. These levels provide intermediate states that act as “stepping stones” for electrons tunnelling across the diode and give rise to a negative differential resistance (NDR) that is weakly dependent on temperature. These electron transport properties have potential for the development of nanometre-scale non-linear components for electronics and MIR photonics.

Citation

Di Poala, D. M., Kesaria, M., Makarovsky, O., Velichko, A., Eaves, L., Mori, N., Krier, A., & Patanè, A. (in press). Resonant Zener tunnelling via zero-dimensional states in a narrow gap diode. Scientific Reports, 6, Article e32039. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32039

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 26, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 18, 2016
• Deposit Date: Sep 1, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 1, 2016
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Electronic ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Article Number: e32039
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32039
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/805152
• Publisher URL: http://www.nature.com/articles/srep32039
• Contract Date: Sep 1, 2016