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Research Report HLP 2023
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Research Profile
Our research topics represent an exciting range of fundamental and applied challenges in semiconductor physics, from deep questions in light-matter interaction to photonic devices and integrated circuits using novel electronic materials. The main streams of our research are sketched below. Please also consult our scientific reports and journal publications for more details!
You want to become part of our team? Check out our openings for PhD and post-docs positions or inquire about bachelor and master thesis topics!
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Transparent Electronics
Using wide gap electronic materials we can create transparent electronic circuits
for the use in smart windows or for invisible devices. Our UV-harvesting transparent solar cells
are an invisible source of electrical power. We investigate n-type amorphous semiconductors
such as zinc-tin-oxide or zinc-oxynitrides for enhancement of the electron mobility. Also various
p-type materials (hole conductors) are fabricated, among them ZnCo2O4, NiO and CuI.
The amorphous layers are used also for flexible electronic circuits. From these materials we fabricate
Schottky and pn-diodes with record high rectifications and the related transistors, MESFETs and JFETs, respectively.
Key publications
C. Yang, D. Souchay, M. Kneiß, M. Bogner, H. M. Wei, M. Lorenz, O. Oeckler, G. Benstetter, Y.Q. Fu, M. Grundmann
Transparent Flexible Thermoelectric Material Based on Non-toxic Earth-Abundant p-Type Copper Iodide Thin Film
Nature Commun. 8, 16076 (2017) | doi
C. Yang, M. Kneiß, M. Lorenz, M. Grundmann
Room-temperature Synthesized Copper Iodide Thin Film as Degenerate p-Type Transparent Conducting Material with a Boosted Figure of Merit
PNAS 113, 12929-12933 (2016) | doi
R. Karsthof, P. Räcke, Z. Zhang, H. von Wenckstern, M. Grundmann
Semi-transparent n-ZnO/p-NiO UV solar cells
phys. stat. sol. (a) 213, 30 (2016) | doi
H. Frenzel, A. Lajn, M. Grundmann
One decade of fully transparent oxide thin film transistors: fabrication, performance and stability
phys. stat. sol. RRL 7, 605 (2013) | doi
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Ultra-wide Gap Semiconductors
We investigate gallium oxide, monoclinic β-Ga2O3, a material with very large
band gap of about 5 eV, and related compounds alloyed with In and Al for the
use in high power electronics and as solar-blind deep UV photodetectors. Also inter-subband devices are researched
for this material and its heterostructures. Interesting polymorphs like InGaO3-II or hexagonal ε-Ga2O3
are stabilized using epitaxial techniques.
The dielectric function of color dispersive materials, such as monoclinic Ga2O3, is analyzed in terms of dipoles (phonons and
interband transitions).
Key publications
S. Müller, H. von Wenckstern, F. Schmidt, D. Splith, H. Frenzel, M. Grundmann
Method of choice for fabrication of high-quality β-gallium oxide-based Schottky diodes
Semic. Sci. Technol. 32, 065013 (2017) | doi
C. Sturm, R. Schmidt-Grund, C. Kranert, J. Furthmüller, F. Bechstedt, M. Grundmann
Dipole analysis of the dielectric function of color dispersive materials: Application to monoclinic Ga2O3
Phys. Rev. B 94, 035148 (2016) | doi
C. Kranert, M. Jenderka, J. Lenzner, M. Lorenz, H. von Wenckstern, R. Schmidt-Grund, M. Grundmann
Lattice parameters and Raman-active phonon modes of β-(AlxGa1-x)2O3
J. Appl. Phys. 117, 125703 (2015) | doi
R. Schewski, G. Wagner, M. Baldini, D. Gogova, Z. Galazka, T. Schulz, T. Remmele, T. Markurt, H. von Wenckstern, M. Grundmann, O. Bierwagen,
P. Vogt, M. Albrecht
Epitaxial stabilization of pseudomorphic α-Ga2O3 on sapphire (0001)
Appl. Phys. Expr. 8, 011101 (2015) | doi
C. Kranert, J. Lenzner, M. Jenderka, M. Lorenz, H. von Wenckstern, R. Schmidt-Grund, M. Grundmann
Lattice parameters and Raman-active phonon modes of (InxGa1-x)2O3 for x < 0.4
J. Appl. Phys. 116, 013505 (2014) | doi
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Microcavities and Polariton Condensates
We fabricate highly reflective dielectric Bragg mirrors for various design wavelengths in the visible
and ultraviolet spectral range. In conjunction with cavity materials (ZnO) we investigate microcavities in the strong
coupling regime,
in particular the condensation of exciton-polaritons at room temperature
into Bose-Einstein-like condensates. The polariton dispersion, scattering mechanisms
and the influence of disorder on the quantum liquid are subjects of investigation.
Also the Purcell enhancement
of nanostructures (NV centers in diamond, CuI-based organic molecules, C-dots, ...) is studied.
Key publications
T. Michalsky, M. Wille, M. Grundmann, R. Schmidt-Grund
Spatiotemporal evolution of coherent polariton modes in ZnO microwire cavities
Nano Letters XX, XXXXXX (2018) | doi
M. Thunert, A. Janot, H. Franke, C. Sturm, T. Michalsky, M.D. Martín, L. Viña, B. Rosenow, M. Grundmann, R. Schmidt-Grund
Cavity Polariton Condensate in a Disordered Environment
Phys. Rev. B 93, 064203 (2016) | doi
S. Richter, T. Michalsky, L. Fricke, C. Sturm, H. Franke, M. Grundmann, R. Schmidt-Grund
Maxwell consideration of polaritonic quasi-particle Hamiltonians in multi-level systems
Appl. Phys. Lett. 107, 231104 (2015) | doi
H. Franke, C. Sturm, R. Schmidt-Grund, G. Wagner, M. Grundmann
Ballistic propagation of exciton-polariton condensates in a ZnO-based microcavity
New J. Phys. 14, 013037 (2012) | doi
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Anisotropic Optical Bulk Materials
In biaxial materials each of the optic axes splits into two circularly polarized
singular axes when absorption or other dissipation
processes set in and cause imaginary parts in the dielectric tensor. We investigate this for all possible crystal
structures showing this effect (orthorhombic, monoclinic and triclinic) and for modern functional
materials (Ga2O3, KTP, ...). Also the Raman scattering in optically anisotropic materials
and structures is studied.
Key publications
M. Grundmann, C. Sturm, C. Kranert, S. Richter, R. Schmidt-Grund, C. Deparis, J. Zúñiga-Pérez
Optically Anisotropic Media: New Approaches to the Dielectric Function, Singular Axes, Raman Scattering Intensities and Microcavity Modes
phys. stat. sol. RRL 11, 1600295 (2017) | doi
C. Sturm, M. Grundmann
The Singular Optical Axes in Biaxial Crystals and Analysis of Their Spectral Dispersion Effects in β-Ga2O3
Phys. Rev. A 93, 053839 (2016) | doi
C. Kranert, C. Sturm, R. Schmidt-Grund, M. Grundmann
Raman Tensor Formalism for Optically Anisotropic Crystals
Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 127401 (2016) | doi
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Singular Optical Modes in Metamaterials
A similar anisotropy effect as singular optic axes in bulk material has been predicted by us for stratified metamaterials.
It is investigated
experimentally by us for anisotropic microcavities where the mirror axis does not lie parallel to the optic axis of
the uniaxial cavity material (ZnO, GaN, ...). The occurrence of generally elliptically polarized modes and
singular axes with circularly polarized exceptional points represents
a unique feature of such anisotropic metamaterials.
Key publications
S. Richter, T. Michalsky, C. Sturm, B. Rosenow, M. Grundmann, R. Schmidt-Grund
Exceptional points in anisotropic planar microcavities
Phys. Rev. A 95, 023836 (2017) | doi
M. Grundmann, C. Sturm, C. Kranert, S. Richter, R. Schmidt-Grund, C. Deparis, J. Zúñiga-Pérez
Optically Anisotropic Media: New Approaches to the Dielectric Function, Singular Axes, Raman Scattering Intensities and Microcavity Modes
phys. stat. sol. RRL 11, 1600295 (2017) | doi
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Multiferroic Heterostructures
Materials that show both ferroelectric and magnetic response are called multiferroic, and when the two properties are coupled, they are magnetoelectric.
Such materials are currently highly interesting due to their potential applications as sensors and memory devices.
Epitaxial thin-film structures show a much stronger magnetoelectric coupling
than multiferroic bulk materials. Our two-dimensional superlattice composites show the highest reported magnetoelectric voltage coefficients.
However, the detailed understanding of the coupling mechanism and of the temperature and DC magnetic field dependence of the magnetoelectric coupling are subjects of current research.
Key publications
M. Lorenz, J. Barzola-Quiquia, C. Yang, C. Patzig, T. Höche, P. Esquinazi, M. Grundmann, H. Wei
Charge transfer-induced magnetic exchange bias and electron localization in (111)- and (001)-oriented LaNiO3/LaMnO3 superlattices
Appl. Phys. Lett. 110, 102403 (2017) | doi
H. Wei, M. Grundmann, M. Lorenz
Confinement-driven metal-insulator transition and polarity-controlled conductivity of epitaxial LaNiO3/LaAlO3 (111) superlattices
Appl. Phys. Lett. 109, 082108 (2016) | doi
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Complex Nanostructures
With a focus on nanowires and microwires we investigate the growth and optical properties
of various nanostructures with the purpose to create miniaturized laser sources. Laser emission
on whispering gallery modes has been observed for a variety of materials (ZnO, CuI, ...). The
gain mechanisms and the mode properties are investigated with time- and angular-resolved
optical spectroscopy. Also the
effects of mechanical strain are researched for bent, stretched and twisted wires. Lateral mode confinement
is investigated for concentric Bragg mirrors wrapped around the wires.
Key publications
A. Shkurmanov, C. Sturm, H. Franke, J. Lenzner, M. Grundmann
Low temperature PLD-growth of ultrathin ZnO nanowires by using ZnxAl1-xO and ZnxGa1-xO seed layers
Nanoscale Res. Lett. 12, 134 (2017) | doi
C. Sturm, M. Wille, J. Lenzner, S. Khujanov, M. Grundmann
Non-linear optical deformation potentials in uniaxially strained ZnO microwires
Appl. Phys. Lett. 110, 062103 (2017) | doi
M. Wille, T. Michalsky, E. Krüger, M. Grundmann, R. Schmidt-Grund
Absorptive lasing mode suppression in ZnO nano- and microcavities
Appl. Phys. Lett. 109, 061102 (2016) | doi
C.P. Dietrich, M. Grundmann
Pulsed-laser deposition growth of ZnO NWs
Wide Band Gap Semiconductor Nanowires: Low-Dimensionality Effects and Growth, Vincent Consonni, Guy Feuillet eds., p. 303-323 (2014) (Wiley-ISTE, 2014) | doi
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UV Photodetectors
Band gap engineering of (Mg,Zn)O and (Al,Ga,In)2O3 thin films is used to fabricate visible-blind and solar-blind photo detectors, respectively, with tailored absorption edge in the spectral range from 3.3 eV to 6 eV. In an advanced device design we integrate optical filter layers in a way that the spectral response band of these detectors is narrow, below 10 nm, enabling wavelength-selective UV and deep-UV photo detector arrays without the need of a dispersive element.
Key publications
Zh. Zhang, H. von Wenckstern, J. Lenzner, M. Grundmann
Wavelength-selective ultraviolet (Mg,Zn)O photodiodes: Tuning of parallel composition gradients with oxygen pressure
Appl. Phys. Lett. 108, 243503 (2016) | doi
Zh. Zhang, H. von Wenckstern, J. Lenzner, M. Lorenz, M. Grundmann
Visible-blind and solar-blind ultraviolet photodiodes based on (InxGa1-x)2O3
Appl. Phys. Lett. 108, 123503 (2016) | doi
Zh. Zhang, H. von Wenckstern, M. Schmidt, M. Grundmann
Wavelength selective metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors based on (Mg,Zn)O-heterostructures
Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 083502 (2011)| doi
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Integrated Circuits
On the basis of the novel electronic materials for which a stable technology has been established,
we fabricate and investigate integrated circuits (inverters, NAND, NOR, ring oscillators, ...) to test device properties and
performance in a more complex environment
and for the creation of communication and sensing devices.
Key publications
S. Vogt, H. von Wenckstern, M. Grundmann
MESFETs and inverters based on amorphous zinc-tin-oxide thin films prepared at room temperature
Appl. Phys. Lett. 113, 133501 (2018) | doi
F.J. Klüpfel, H. von Wenckstern, M. Grundmann
Ring Oscillators based on ZnO Channel JFETs and MESFETs
Adv. Electron. Mater. 2, 1500431 (2016) | doi
F.J. Klüpfel, A. Holtz, F.-L. Schein, H. von Wenckstern, M. Grundmann
All-Oxide Inverters Based On ZnO channel JFETs with amorphous ZnCo2O4 gates
IEEE Transact. Electr. Dev. 62, 4004 (2015) | doi
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Experimental setups and methods are available for the fabrication of thin films and nanostructures (pulsed laser deposition, sputter deposition, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, thermal evaporation, carbo-thermal evaporation), and the detailed characterization of structural, electrical and optical material properties, among them high-resolution X-ray diffraction, scanning force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, IV- and CV-spectroscopy, admittance spectroscopy, DLTS, optical DLTS, Hall effect, optical transmission and reflection, (micro-) Raman spectroscopy, (micro-) photoluminescence, time-resolved PL, excitation spectroscopy, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, scanning low temperature cathodoluminescence, photocurrent microscopy, generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry from the mid-infrared to the deep UV. Photonic and electronic devices are processed using photolithography, wet and dry (ICP-RIE) etching, and thermal and sputter deposition of metals. Device properties can be characterized with several set-ups, incl. on-wafer testing up to 30 GHz, the fA-regime and helium temperatures.
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Funding is provided through several cooperative projects
and numerous individual grants. Most of our research is within the
university's research profile area
"Complex Matter".
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Image credits: Ch. Yang, Zh. Zhang, J. Lenzner, S. Richter, M. Lorenz, all Universität Leipzig.
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