Patent ID: 6265731
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: H01L,H01S

Abstract:
A device, comprising:an active element including an active layer formed from group II-VI elements, an n-doped layer on one side of the active layer and a p-doped layer on the other side of the active layer, the p-doped layer having a composition selected from the group consisting of (1) a ZnSe-based alloy and (ii) a ZnTe-based alloy;means for making electrical contact to the n-doped layer; andmeans for making electrical contact to the p-doped layer, the means including a graded-alloy contact layer in epitaxial contact with the p-doped layer and whose bandgap varies from about that of the p-doped layer adjacent the p-doped layer to about zero at a location remote from the p-doped layer, the graded-alloy contact layer being formed from an alloy selected from the group consisting of (i) a HgZnSSe-based graded-composition alloy having a composition of Hg.sub.1-x Zn.sub.x S.sub.1-y Se.sub.y where the p-doped layer is a ZnSe-based alloy and (ii) a HgZnSeTe-based graded-composition alloy having a composition of Hg.sub.1-x Zn.sub.x Se.sub.1-y Te.sub.y where the p-doped layer is a ZnTe-based alloy, where, in each case, x and y each vary an amount within the range 0 to 1 inclusive between a location adjacent the p-doped layer and a location remote from the p-doped layer.