Numerical simulation and experimental investigation of GaN-based flip-chip LEDs and top-emitting LEDs

We demonstrate a GaN-based flip-chip LED (FC-LED) with a highly reflective indium-tin oxide (ITO)/distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) ohmic contact. A transparent ITO current spreading layer combined with Ta₂O₅/SiO₂ double DBR stacks is used as a reflective p-type ohmic contact in the FC-LED. We develop a strip-shaped SiO₂ current blocking layer, which is well aligned with a p-electrode, to prevent the current from crowding around the p-electrode. Our combined numerical simulation and experimental results revealed that the FC-LED with ITO/DBR has advantages of better current spreading and superior heat dissipation performance compared to top-emitting LEDs (TE-LEDs). As a result, the light output power (LOP) of the FC-LED with ITO/DBR was 7.6% higher than that of the TE-LED at 150 mA, and the light output saturation current was shifted from 130.9  A/cm² for the TE-LED to 273.8  A/cm² for the FC-LED with ITO/DBR. Owing to the high reflectance of the ITO/DBR ohmic contact, the LOP of the FC-LED with ITO/DBR was 13.0% higher than that of a conventional FC-LED with Ni/Ag at 150 mA. However, because of the better heat dissipation of the Ni/Ag ohmic contact, the conventional FC-LED with Ni/Ag exhibited higher light output saturation current compared to the FC-LED with ITO/DBR.