Patent ID: 9099371
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A photo-detector comprising: an absorber layer having predetermined majority and minority carrier types with corresponding energy bands; a barrier comprising a semiconductor with a barrier energy gap and corresponding conduction and valence bands, a first side of said barrier adjacent a first side of said absorber layer; metal contact regions disposed above the barrier, the metal contact regions delineating pixels where image data may be read out from the photo-detector; and a passivation layer disposed between the metal contact regions and above the barrier, the passivation layer configured to prevent oxidation of the barrier by preventing the barrier from being exposed to air and to prevent crosstalk between adjacent pixels; wherein the barrier is configured so as to allow minority carrier current flow while blocking majority carrier current flow between the absorber layer and the metal contact regions; and wherein thickness and composition of the passivation layer being such that the minority carriers passing through the barrier tunnel through the passivation layer to reach the metal contact regions and the photo-detector does not include a doped semiconductor contact layer.