A semiconductor light-emitting diode includes an electrically conductive substrate transmissive to light-emitting wavelengths, and semiconductor layers including a light-emitting layer, on the substrate. A principal-surface electrode is located on the semiconductor layers and a rear-surface electrode having an opening is located on the rear surface of the substrate. The width of the opening is L, the distance between the rear-surface electrode and the light-emitting layer is t, L≦2 t, and the rear-surface electrode covers no more than 40% of the rear surface of the substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor light-emitting diode fabricated on a light transmissive and conductive substrate, such as a GaN substrate, and more specifically to a semiconductor light-emitting diode that can achieve a high light-emitting efficiency by uniformly supplying a current to a light-emitting layer and raising the light extraction efficiency.

2. Background Art

In recent years, the research and development of blue, white or ultraviolet semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs) using a nitride-containing III-V group compound semiconductor, such as AlInGaN, have been carried out, and already in practical use (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-166840). The mainstream of present semiconductor light-emitting diodes is of a type wherein the crystals of a nitride semiconductor are grown on a sapphire substrate because of the low costs thereof.

However, since there is a large lattice mismatch between the sapphire substrate and the crystals of a nitride semiconductor grown on the substrate, when the nitride semiconductor is directly grown on the sapphire substrate, a very large number of threading dislocations having a density of 109to 1010cm−3or higher are present in the light-emitting layer. Since these threading dislocations produce non-light-emitting recombination centers of carriers in the light-emitting layer, the light-emitting efficiency is lowered.

Therefore, a method for reducing threading dislocations by growing a buffer layer at a low temperature on a sapphire substrate has been used. However, even if this method is used, the density of threading dislocations is not so small, and is about 107cm−3. On the other hand, the density of threading dislocations of presently marketed GaN substrate is about 105cm−3, and the further reduction of the density of threading dislocations is expected in the future. Therefore, to improve light-emitting efficiency, the use of GaN substrates is highly effective.

As the methods to mounting a semiconductor light-emitting diode of the type wherein a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode are formed on the principal surface and the rear surface, respectively, the following two methods can be used. One is a method wherein die bonding is performed with the substrate side, i.e., the n-electrode side down and light is extracted from the principal-surface side. On the contrary, the other is a method wherein die bonding is performed with the principal-surface side, i.e., the p-electrode side down and light is extracted from the rear-surface side.

FIG. 6is a sectional view showing a conventional semiconductor light-emitting diode of the type wherein the rear surface of a substrate is die-bonded and light is extracted from the principal surface of the substrate. AsFIG. 6shows, on a substrate1, as semiconductor layers, an n-type AlGaN clad layer2having a thickness of 1.0 μm and an Al composition ratio of 0.07; a light-emitting layer3composed of four InGaN barrier layers (not shown) each having a thickness of 7 nm and an In composition ratio of 0.02 and three InGaN well layers each having a thickness of 5 nm and an In composition ratio of 0.10; a p-type AlGaN clad layer4having a thickness of 100 nm and an Al composition ratio of 0.07; and a p-type GaN contact layer5having a thickness of 20 nm are laminated. On the rear surface of the substrate1, an n-electrode6composed of Ti/Au is formed, and on the GaN contact layer5, p-electrodes7composed of Pd/Au are formed. Openings are provided in the p-electrodes7, and light is extracted mainly from this portion.

Here, if the distances L between the p-electrodes7are excessively longer than the distance t between the p-electrodes7and the light-emitting layer3, the quantity of current supplied to the light-emitting layer3becomes uneven, and the regions where current is not supplied are produced to lower the light-emitting efficiency. In order to prevent this, the distances L between the p-electrodes7are reduced. Thereby, since there is only a high-resistance thin p-type semiconductor layer between the light-emitting layer3and the p-electrodes7, the current spreading in the lateral direction produced when current flows from the p-electrodes7to the light-emitting layer3is minimized.

The distance t between the p-electrodes7and the light-emitting layer3in the conventional semiconductor light-emitting diode is 1 μm or shorter. Consequently, the current spreading in the lateral direction is at largest several micrometers. Therefore, to prevent uneven injection of current the opening width L of the p-electrodes7must be several micrometers or less.

However, when the opening width L of the electrodes7was reduced, asFig.7shows, there was a problem wherein a part of the light generated from the light-emitting layer was reflected or absorbed by the p-electrode7causing the lowering of the light emitting efficiency.

To solve this problem, asFIG. 8shows, there is a method to reduce the reflection and absorption of light by using a light transmissive electrode8as the p-electrode. However, even in this case, the light is reflected and absorbed, and when the light emitting wavelength of a semiconductor light-emitting diode is short, a serious problem arises. Also when the electrode is thin, since the resistance of the electrode elevates, the quantity of current lowers to the location far from the wire for current supply, and the uniform current supply is difficult.

Furthermore, asFIG. 9shows, there is a method to extract light from the rear surface by forming an n-electrode6on the portion from which a part of the semiconductor layer has been etched of f and mounting with the principal surface side facing down. However, since the n-electrode6becomes apart from the p-electrode7, it is difficult to uniformly supplying the current. In addition, since a part of the light-emitting layer3is etched off, the area of the light emitting region is reduced. Furthermore, since the distance between the n-electrode6and the p-electrode7is shortened, there is a problem wherein it is difficult to die-bond with both electrodes insulated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the problems as described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor light-emitting diode that can achieve a high light emitting efficiency by uniformly supplying a current to a light emitting layer and by raising the efficiency of light extracting.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor light-emitting diode according to the present invention includes a conductive substrate light transmissive to light-emitting wavelengths, a semiconductor layer including a light-emitting layer, formed on the substrate; a principal-surface electrode formed on the semiconductor layer; and a rear-surface electrode having an opening, formed on the rear surface of the substrate; wherein when the width of the opening is L, and the distance between the rear-surface electrode and the light-emitting layer is t, L≦2 t; and the percentage of the area of the rear-surface electrode to the area of the rear surface of the substrate is 40% or less.

According to the present invention, a high light emitting efficiency can be achieved by uniformly supplying a current to a light emitting layer and by raising the efficiency of light extracting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a sectional view showing a semiconductor light-emitting diode according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A GaN substrate1is a conductive substrate light transmissive to light-emitting wavelengths, and the thickness thereof is made to be 99 μm by polishing. On the GaN substrate1, as semiconductor layers, an n-type AlGaN clad layer2having a thickness of 1.0 μm and an Al composition ratio of 0.07; a light-emitting layer3composed of four InGaN barrier layers each having a thickness of 7 nm and an In composition ratio of 0.02 not shown and three InGaN well layers each having a thickness of 5 nm and an In composition ratio of 0.10; a p-type AlGaN clad layer4having a thickness of 100 nm and an Al composition ratio of 0.07; and a p-type GaN contact layer Shaving a thickness of 20 nm are laminated.

A p-electrode7(principal-surface electrode) composed of Pd/Au is formed on the substantially entire surface of the GaN contact layer5, and an n-electrode6(rear-surface electrode) composed of Ti/Au is formed on the rear surface of the substrate1. The semiconductor light-emitting diode is mounted with the p side thereof facing down. The n-electrode6is provided with openings, and light is extracted mainly from these portions.

FIG. 2is a diagram of a semiconductor light-emitting diode according to a first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the rear surface side of the substrate. The size of the element is 400 pin×400 μm. The n-electrode6is comb shaped, the width of the n-electrode6is 20 μm, and the width of each opening is 100 μm.

An electrode pad10for bonding wires is formed, and an SiO2insulating film9is formed between the electrode pad10and the GaN substrate1. The size of the electrode pad10is 50 μm×50 μm, and the size of the SiO2insulating film9is 60 μm×60 μm.

Next, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting diode according to embodiments of the present invention will be described. First, on a GaN substrate1whose surface has been cleaned by thermal cleaning or the like, an n-type AlGaN clad layer2doped with Si, which is an n-type dopant, is grown with a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method. Next, a light emitting layer3composed of an Si-doped InGaN well layer, a p-type AlGaN clad layer4doped with Mg, which is a p-type dopant, and a p-type GaN contact layer5are sequentially laminated. Here, the growing temperatures of these layers are, for example, 1000° C. for the n-type AlGaN clad layer2, 740° C. for the n-type InGaN light emitting layer3, and 1000° C. for the p-type GaN clad layer5.

After the above-described crystal growth has been completed, a resist is applied onto the entire surface of the wafer, and a resist pattern of a predetermined shape corresponding to the shape of the p-electrode7is formed by lithography. Next, a Pt film and an Au film are sequentially formed on the resist pattern by vacuum vapor deposition, and the resist and the electrode film on the resist are removed by a lift-off method to form a p-electrode7of a desired shape.

Next, the SiO2insulating film9underneath the electrode pad10is formed by vacuum vapor deposition, and a resist pattern of a predetermined shape corresponding to the shape of the n-electrode6is formed by lithography. Next, Ti film and an Au film are sequentially formed on the entire surface of the resist pattern by vacuum vapor deposition, and the resist and the electrode film on the resist are removed by a lift-off method to form an n-electrode6of a desired shape.

Next, the p-electrode7and the n-electrode6are subjected to an alloying treatment for the ohmic contact. Then, chips are produced from the GaN substrate1by cleavage or dicing. Thereby, the semiconductor light-emitting diode according to embodiments of the present invention is manufactured.

FIG. 3is a graph showing the relationship between the distance in the lateral direction from the electrode end of an n-electrode6and the current density of the current supplied to the light emitting layer3from the n-electrode6. When this relationship and the fact that current is also supplied from the adjacent n-electrode6are considered, it is known that if the width L of an opening of the n-electrode6is about 2 t, a current is uniformly supplied to the light emitting layer3. Specifically, asFIG. 3shows, if the distance from the n-electrode6is 2 t or less, the current density does not become zero. Therefore, if the distance L between adjoining n-electrodes6is2t or less, current is supplied from each of two n-electrodes6separated by the distance L, and consequently, current can be supplied to the light-emitting layer3uniformly to some extent. Therefore, if the width L of an opening of the n-electrode6is L≦2 t, the current can be uniformly supplied to the light emitting layer3. However, L≦1.5 t is preferable, and L≦1.0 t is more preferable because the current density becomes substantially uniform.

Although the smaller the width L of the opening of the electrode6, the lower the efficiency of light extraction, if the area of the n-electrode6is reduced by reducing the width thereof, the efficiency of light extraction can be raised. Then, if the proportion of the area of the n-electrode6is not more than 40% the area of the rear surface of the substrate1, the efficiency of light extraction can be sufficiently raised. However, the area of the n-electrode6is preferably not more than 25%, more preferably not more than 15% the area of the rear surface of the substrate1.

In addition, since light extraction is difficult from the portion of the electrode pad10, by forming an SiO2insulating film9underneath the electrode pad10, the external quantum efficiency can further be improved. In this case, if the proportion of the area of then-electrode6formed on the region other than on the SiO2insulating film9to the area of the back face of the substrate1excluding the region wherein the SiO2insulating film9is formed is not more than 40%, the efficiency of light extraction can be sufficiently raised. However, the area of the n-electrode6is preferably not more than 25%, more preferably not more than 15% the area of the rear surface of the substrate1.

In the first embodiment, since the distance t between the n-electrode6and the light emitting layer3is about 100 μm, L=10 t. The proportion of the area of the n-electrode6to the area of the rear surface of the substrate1is about 22%. As a result, the light emitting wavelength at 20 mA is 408 mm, and the external quantum efficiency is 35%, which means that a very high light emitting efficiency can be obtained.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 4is a diagram of a semiconductor light-emitting diode according to the second embodiment of the present invention when viewing from the back face. The size of the element is 400 μm×400 μm. The n-electrode6is comb-shaped, the width of the n-electrode6is 15 μm, and the width L of an opening is 150 μm. The size of the electrode pad10is 50 μm×50 μm, and the size of the SiO2insulating film9is 60 μm×60 μm. Since the laminate structure of the element is the same as in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, L=1.5 t, and the proportion of the area of the n-electrode6to the area of the rear surf ace of the substrate1is about 13%. As a result, the light emitting wavelength at 20 mA is 408 mm, and the external quantum efficiency is 38%, which means that a very high light emitting efficiency can be obtained.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 5is a diagram of a semiconductor light-emitting diode according to the third embodiment of the present invention when viewing from the back face. The size of the element is 400 μm×400 μm. The n-electrode6is net-shaped, the width of the n-electrode6is 20 μm, and the width L of an opening is 100 μm. The size of the electrode pad10is 50 μm×50 μm, and the size of the SiO2insulating film9is 60 μm×60 μm. Since the laminate structure of the element is the same as in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

In the third embodiment, L=1.0 t, and the proportion of the area of the n-electrode6to the area of the rear surface of the substrate1is about 34%. As a result, the light emitting wavelength at 20 mA is 408 mm, and the external quantum efficiency is 31%, which means that a very high light emitting efficiency can be obtained.

In the above-described first to third embodiments, the cases wherein the n-electrodes6were a comb shaped or a net shaped were described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but it is needless to say that the same effect can be achieved if the relationship between the width I of the opening and the distance t, and the proportion of the area of the n-electrode to the area of the rear surface of the substrate1satisfies the above-described conditions, even if the n-electrodes6has other shapes.

The entire disclosure of a Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-196260, filed on Jul. 18, 2006 and No. 2007-158344, filed on Jun. 15, 2007 including specification, claims, drawings and summary, on which the Convention priority of the present application is based, are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.