Patent ID: 7286573

Claim:
A method for converting a Type II quantum well (QW) structure including III–V semiconductor material to a Type I QW structure, the method comprising: providing first and third spaced apart layers of respective first and third III–V semiconductor donor materials, having selected first layer and third layer widths, respectively, each in a width range of about 1–30 nm; providing a second layer of a second III–V semiconductor material, contiguous to and lying between the first layer and the third layer, having a selected second layer width in a width range of about 1–30 nm and having a selected negative potential relative to potentials of the first layer and the third layer; doping a first layer first component, having a width that is less than the first layer width and is in a width range of about 1–20 nm, with a first layer doping level in a doping range of about (1–100)×10 11 cm −2 , and providing a first layer second component that is substantially undoped and lies between and is contiguous to the first layer first component and to the second layer; and doping a third layer first component, having a width that is less than the third layer width and is in a width range of about 1–20 nm, with a third layer doping level in a doping range of about (1–100)×10 11 cm −2 , and providing a third layer second component that is substantially undoped and lies between and is contiguous to the third layer first component and to the second layer, wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) the first layer is primarily Al x Ga 1−x Sb, with 0<x<1; (ii) the second layer is primarily InAs y Sb 1−y , with 0.7<y<1; (iii)) the third layer is primarily Al z Ga 1−z Sb, with 0<z <1; (iy) the first layer first component width and the third layer first component width are unequal; (v) the first layer second component width and the third layer second component width are unequal; and (vi) the first layer and third layer semiconductor materials are substantially different; where the first layer first component and third layer first component doping levels and the first layer and third layer widths are chosen so that at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) a change in electrical potential across an interface between the first and second layers is equal to a first selected potential value and (2) a change in electrical potential across an interface between the second and third layers is equal to a second selected potential value.