Tunneling currents and surface leakage currents are both contributors to the overall dark current which limits many semiconductor devices. Surface leakage current is generally controlled by applying a post-epitaxial passivation layer; however, surface passivation is often expensive and ineffective. Band-to-band and trap assisted tunneling currents cannot be controlled through surface passivants, thus an alternative means of control is necessary. Unipolar barriers, when appropriately applied to standard electronic device structures, can reduce the effects of both surface leakage and tunneling currents more easily and cost effectively than other methods, including surface passivation. Unipolar barriers are applied to the p -type region of a conventional, MBE grown, InAs based pn junction structures resulting in a reduction of surface leakage current. Placing the unipolar barrier in the n -type region of the device, has the added benefit of reducing trap assisted tunneling current as well as surface leakage currents. Conventional, InAs pn junctions are shown to exhibit surface leakage current while unipolar barrier photodiodes show no detectable surface currents.
