View source for Aluminium gallium indium phosphide

{{Short description|Semiconductor material}}
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'''Aluminium gallium indium phosphide''' ('''{{chem2|auto=1|AlGaInP}}''', also '''AlInGaP''', '''InGaAlP''', etc.) is a [[semiconductor material]] that provides a platform for the development of [[Multi-junction solar cell|multi-junction photovoltaics]] and optoelectronic devices. It has a [[direct and indirect band gaps|direct]] [[bandgap]] ranging from ultraviolet to infrared photon energies.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal| pmid=19708798 | doi=10.1089/pho.2008.2306 | volume=27 | title=Analysis of the systemic effect of red and infrared laser therapy on wound repair | year=2009 | journal=Photomed Laser Surg | pages=929–35 | last1 = Rodrigo | first1 = SM | last2 = Cunha | first2 = A | last3 = Pozza | first3 = DH | last4 = Blaya | first4 = DS | last5 = Moraes | first5 = JF | last6 = Weber | first6 = JB | last7 = de Oliveira | first7 = MG| issue=6 | hdl = 10216/25679 | hdl-access = free }}</ref>

AlGaInP is used in [[heterostructure]]s for high-brightness red, orange, green, and yellow [[light-emitting diode]]s. It is also used to make [[diode laser]]s.

==Preparation==
AlGaInP is typically grown by [[heteroepitaxy]] on [[gallium arsenide]] or [[gallium phosphide]] substrates in order to form a [[quantum well]] structure that can be fabricated into different devices.

==Properties==
{| class=wikitable
! colspan=2 | Optical properties
|-
| [[Refractive index]] || 3.49
|-
| [[Chromatic dispersion]] || -1.68 μm<sup>−1</sup>
|-
| [[Absorption coefficient]] || 50536 cm<sup>−1</sup>
|}
The direct bandgap of AlGaInP encompasses the energy range of visible light (1.7&nbsp;eV - 3.1&nbsp;eV). By selecting a specific composition of AlGaInP, the bandgap can be selected to correspond to the energy of a specific wavelength of visible light. For instance, this can be used to obtain LEDs that emit red, orange, or yellow light.<ref name=":0" />

Like most other III-V semiconductors and their alloys, AlGaInP possesses a [[zincblende structure|zincblende crystal structure]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ee.sc.edu/classes/Fall12/elct566/Class_Notes/Status_and_Future_of_High_Power_LED_for_Solid_State_Lighting.pdf |title=Krames, Michael, R., Oleg B. Shcekin, Regina Mueller-Mach, Gerd O. Mueller, Ling Zhou, Gerard Harbers, and George M Craford. "Status and Future of High-Power Light-Emitting." JOURNAL OF DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY Vol. 3.No. 2 (2007): 160. ''Department of Electrical Engineering.'' 20 July 2009. Web |access-date=2015-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208184715/http://www.ee.sc.edu/classes/Fall12/elct566/Class_Notes/Status_and_Future_of_High_Power_LED_for_Solid_State_Lighting.pdf |archive-date=2015-12-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Applications==
AlGaInP is used as the active material in:

*Light emitting diodes of high brightness
*Diode lasers
*Quantum well structures
*Solar cells (potential). The use of aluminium gallium indium phosphide with high aluminium content, in a five junction structure, can lead to solar cells with maximum theoretical [[solar cell efficiency|efficiencies]] above 40%.<ref name=":0" />

AlGaInP is frequently used in LEDs for lighting systems, along with [[indium gallium nitride]] (InGaN).{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===Diode laser===
A diode laser consists of a semiconductor material in which a p-n junction forms the active medium and optical feedback is typically provided by reflections at the device facets. AlGaInP diode lasers emit visible and near-infrared light with wavelengths of 0.63-0.76&nbsp;μm.<ref>Chan, B. L.; Jutamulia, S. (2 December 2010). "Lasers in light skin interaction", ''Proc. SPIE 7851'', Information Optics and Optical Data Storage, 78510O; doi: 10.1117/12.872732</ref> The primary applications of AlGaInP diode lasers are in optical disc readers, laser pointers, and gas sensors, as well as for [[optical pumping]], and machining.<ref name=":0" />

==Safety and toxicity aspects==
The toxicology of AlGaInP has not been fully investigated. The dust is an irritant to skin, eyes and lungs. The environment, health and safety aspects of aluminium indium gallium phosphide sources (such as [[trimethylgallium]], [[trimethylindium]] and [[phosphine]]) and industrial hygiene monitoring studies of standard [[MOVPE]] sources have been reported in a review.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2004.09.007 | volume=272 | title=Environment, health and safety issues for sources used in MOVPE growth of compound semiconductors | year=2004 | journal=Journal of Crystal Growth | pages=816–821 | last1 = Shenai-Khatkhate | first1 = Deodatta V.| issue=1–4 | bibcode=2004JCrGr.272..816S }}</ref>

Illumination by an AlGaInP laser was associated in one study with slower healing of skin wounds in laboratory rats.<ref>{{cite journal| pmid=19708798 | doi=10.1089/pho.2008.2306 | volume=27 | title=Analysis of the systemic effect of red and infrared laser therapy on wound repair | year=2009 | journal=Photomed Laser Surg | pages=929–35 | last1 = Rodrigo | first1 = SM | last2 = Cunha | first2 = A | last3 = Pozza | first3 = DH | last4 = Blaya | first4 = DS | last5 = Moraes | first5 = JF | last6 = Weber | first6 = JB | last7 = de Oliveira | first7 = MG| issue=6 | hdl = 10216/25679 | hdl-access = free }}</ref>{{Medical citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==See also==
* [[Indium phosphide]]
* [[Indium gallium phosphide]]
* [[Aluminium gallium phosphide]]
* [[Indium gallium arsenide phosphide]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
;Notes
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite journal | doi = 10.1088/0268-1242/15/11/303 | volume=15 | title=Band structure parameters of quaternary phosphide semiconductor alloys investigated by magneto-optical spectroscopy | year=2000 | journal=Semiconductor Science and Technology | pages=1030–1034 | last1 = Griffin | first1 = I J| issue=11 | bibcode=2000SeScT..15.1030G | s2cid=250827812 }}
*''High Brightness Light Emitting Diodes'':G. B. Stringfellow and M. George Craford, Semiconductors and Semimetals, vol. 48, pp.&nbsp;97–226.
{{refend}}

{{Aluminium compounds}}
{{Gallium compounds}}
{{Indium compounds}}
{{Phosphorus compounds}}
{{Phosphides}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aluminium Gallium Indium Phosphide}}
[[Category:III-V semiconductors]]
[[Category:Aluminium compounds]]
[[Category:Gallium compounds]]
[[Category:Indium compounds]]
[[Category:Phosphides]]
[[Category:III-V compounds]]
[[Category:Light-emitting diode materials]]
[[Category:Zincblende crystal structure]]