InAs/GaSb superlattices sandwiched between conventional InAs layers were grown by low pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Period and roughness of the superlattices were examined by field emission transmission electron microscopy. Room temperature infrared absorption spectra for InAs/GaSb superlattices were obtained by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of varying the doping levels and thicknesses of the InAs sandwiching layers on the absorption spectra of InAs/GaSb superlattices were studied. It was found that by choice of suitable doping levels and cap/buffer thicknesses, the resulting fermi level equalization (as in normal homo or heterojunctions) thereby allowed the setting or “pinning” of the superlattice Fermi level to any desired value within the range made available by the original bulk material characteristics in conjunction with the doping conditions. When the thicknesses of the InAs sandwiching layers became less than 1 &mgr;m, the sandwiching effect and the intersubband transition decreased dramatically. The structure of the interfaces inside the superlattice was also studied. Energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to estimate interdiffusion conditions within the superlattice. The effects of different periods and purge gases on the absorption spectra were also studied. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.