Hydrogenation of Schottky-barrier multiple-quantum-well modulator structures

We describe the first investigations of hydrogenation on multiple-quantum-well (MQW) optical modulator structures. In particular, we have studied Schottky-barrier modulator structures. We find that hydrogen has a marked beneficial effect on the photocurrent collection efficiency of Schottky-barrier-based MQW modulators. Further, room temperature photoluminescence intensity of our samples was 25 times larger with hydrogen exposure. Both of these results suggest that carrier lifetimes in our samples are increased by hydrogenation, indicating that deep-level non-radiative recombination centers are passivated by hydrogenation. Further, we find that shallow-donor levels are also passivated