Electrical Leakage Levels Estimated from Luminescence and Photovoltaic Properties under Photoexcitation for GaN-based Light-emitting Diodes

The electrical leakage levels of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) containing leakage paths are estimated using photoluminescence (PL) and photovoltaic properties under photoexcitation conditions. The PL intensity and open-circuit voltage (VOC) decrease because of carrier leakages depending on photoexcitation conditions when compared with reference values for typical LED chips without leakage paths. Changes of photovoltage-photocurrent characteristics and PL intensity due to carrier leakage are employed to assess the leakage current levels of LEDs with leakage paths. The current corresponding to the reduced VOC of an LED with leakage from the photovoltaic curve of a reference LED without leakage is matched with the leakage current calculated using the PL intensity reduction ratio and short-circuit current of the LED with leakage. The current needed to increase the voltage for an LED with a leakage under photoexcitation from VOC of the LED up to VOC of a reference LED without a leakage is identical to the additional current needed for optical turn-on of the LED with a leakage. The leakage current level estimated using the PL and photovoltaic properties under photoexcitation is consistent with the leakage level measured from the voltage-current characteristic obtained under current injection conditions.