Considerations for Blue-Green Optoelectronics Based on Epitaxial ZnSe/ZnS

Abstract

The blue-emitting junction laser diode is the Holy Grail of the wide bandgap II–VI community. Such a device would permit a range of improvements in the current applications of laser diodes to the recording and reproduction of data. In this paper, we discuss the prospects for realising a “blue shift” in technology, away from III–V and towards II–VI materials. Recent rapid advances¹ in the chemical and structural control of II–VI compounds, superlattices and ordered alloys encourage us to assess these prospects. Characterisation of new material rests very firmly on a literature which goes back over twenty years.² Of particular relevance to light emitting devices is the very thorough optical spectroscopic studies pioneered in the ’60s and ’70s by the late Paul Dean and his co-workers. It is a great pity that Paul Dean did not live to see this work bear fruit.