Photoluminescence of anodic oxide on AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures

Abstract The photoluminescence spectra of epilayers of AlGaAs having various compositions were measured. The samples were anodically oxidised in a controlled acid–glycol–water solution (AGW) and the image was recorded optically. The photoluminescence shift is related to the change in the colour of the anodic oxide grown on the AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure. We propose a calibration method for the colour of the anodic oxide formed under prescribed conditions, which has potential technological application.