Aluminium Gallium Arsenide Semiconductors

Aluminium Gallium Arsenide Semiconductors

Written by AZoM

Mar 30 2013

Topics Covered
Description
Applications
Chemical Properties
Thermal, Mechanical and Optical Properties
Safety Information

Description
Aluminium gallium arsenide AlxGa1-xAs) is a semiconductor material having almost
the same lattice constant as gallium arsenide but a bigger bandgap. The x in the
formula is a number between 0 and 1 indicating an alloy between gallium arsenide and
aluminium arsenide.
The bangap is in the range 1.42 eV (GaAs) to 2.16 eV (AlAs). The bandgap is direct
when x < 0.4.

Applications
The applications of aluminium gallium arsenide are:
It is used as a barrier material in GaAs-based heterostructure devices.
The electrons are confined to a gallium arsenide region by the AlGaAs layer. An
example of this kind of device is a quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP).
It also finds application in 1064 nm (Infra-red) laser diodes.

Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of aluminium gallium arsenide are:
Chemical Properties
Chemical Formula
Group
Band Gap
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AlGaAs
III-V
1.42 2.16 eV
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Aluminium Gallium Arsenide Semiconductors

Band Gap Type

Direct when x<0.4

Crystal Structure

Zinc Blende

Symmetry Group

TD2-F43m

Lattice Constant

5.6533+0.0078x

h2>Electrical Properties
The electrical properties of aluminium gallium arsenide are:
Electrical Properties
x=0.1 2.1105 cm-3
x=0.3 2.1103 cm-3

Intrinsic Carrier Concentration

x=0.5 2.5102 cm-3

x=0.8 4.3101 cm-3
02 V-1 s

Electron Mobility

0.452

-1

V-1 s-1

370-970x+740x2 cm2 V-1 s-1

Hole Mobility

02/s

Electron Diffusion Coefficient

0.452/s
9.2-24x+18.5x2 cm2/s

Hole Diffusion Coefficient

x=02/s

Electrical Resistivity

0.452/s

Thermal, Mechanical and Optical Properties

The thermal, mechanical and optical properties of aluminum gallium arsenide are:
Mechanical Properties
Melting Point

1414 C

Density

2.329 g cm-3

Young's Modulus

130-188 GPa

Shear Modulus

51-80 GPa
(7.55+0.26x)1011 dyn cm-2

Bulk Modulus

0.33+0.12x J g-1C-3

Specific Heat (@ 298 K)

Thermal Properties

0.55-2.12x+2.48x2 W cm-1 C-1

Thermal Conductivity

0.31-1.23x+1.462 cm2s-1

Thermal Diffusivity

2.6x10-6 C-1

Thermal Expansion Coefficient

Optical Properties
Infrared Refractive Index (@ 300 K)
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n=3.3-0.53x+0.09x2
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Aluminium Gallium Arsenide Semiconductors

Safety Information
The toxicology of aluminium gallium arsenide has not been investigated completely.
The dust may irritate the eyes, skin and lungs.

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