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AlGaN-based deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (DUV LEDs) have been identified as a prospective mercury-free UV source. However, the observation of severe electron overflow and low hole injection efficiency in the conventional DUV LED deteriorates the device performance, attributing to the downward band bending as a result of the strong polarization-induced electric fields between the last quantum barrier (LQB) and the electron blocking layer (EBL). In this study, a composition-graded AlGaN layer with linearly increasing of Al composition from 0.5 to 0.65 is proposed to act as the LQB, replacing the conventional flat LQB to reduce the effective barrier height for hole injection while improving the electron blocking ability. Hence, a considerable enhancement of the output power can be obtained. Moreover, further investigations show that the thickness of graded LQB determine the band bending in the LQB and thus significantly suppress the electron leakage, eventually leading to a boosted output power. The thorough investigation on the LQB could pave the way towards the realization of efficient DUV LEDs of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide bandgap aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) semiconductor alloys have established themselves as the key materials for building ultraviolet (UV) optoelectronic and power electronic devices. However, further improvements to device performance are lagging, largely due to the difficulties in precisely controlling carrier behavior, both carrier generation and carrier transport, within AlGaN-based devices. Fortunately, it has been discovered that instead of using AlGaN layers with fixed Al compositions, by grading the Al composition along the growth direction, it is possible to (1) generate high-density electrons and holes via polarization-induced doping; (2) manipulate carrier transport behavior via energy band modulation, also known as 'band engineering'. Consequently, such compositionally graded AlGaN alloys have attracted extensive interest as promising building blocks for efficient AlGaN-based UV light emitters and power electronic devices. In this review, we focus on the unique physical properties of graded AlGaN alloys and highlight the key roles that such graded structures play in device exploration. Firstly, we elaborate on the underlying mechanisms of efficient carrier generation and transport manipulation enabled by graded AlGaN alloys. Thereafter, we comprehensively summarize and discuss the recent progress in UV light emitters and power electronic devices incorporating graded AlGaN structures. Finally, we outline the prospects associated with the implementation of graded AlGaN alloys in the pursuit of high-performance optoelectronic and power electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]