Study on the nitridation of β-Ga_2O_3 films

Single-crystal GaN layers have been obtained by nitriding β-Ga_2O_3 films in NH_3 atmosphere. The effect of the temperature and time on the nitridation and conversion of Ga_2O_3 films have been investigated. The nitridation process results in lots of holes in the surface of films. The higher nitridation temperature and longer time can promote the nitridation and improve the crystal quality of GaN films. The converted Ga N porous films show the single-crystal structures and lowstress, which can be used as templates for the epitaxial growth of high-quality GaN.     

Growth of β-Ga_2O_3 Films on Sapphire by Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy

Two-inch Ga_2O_3 films with(ˉ201)-orientation are grown on c-sapphire at 850–1050°C by hydride vapor phase epitaxy. High-resolution x-ray diffraction shows that pure β-Ga_2O_3 with a smooth surface has a higher crystal quality, and the Raman spectra reveal a very small residual strain in β-Ga_2O_3 grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy compared with bulk single crystal. The optical transmittance is higher than 80% in the visible and near-UV regions, and the optical bandgap energy is calculated to be 4.9 e V.     

Synthesis and characterization of β-Ga_2O_3@GaN nanowires

In this work, we prepared the β-Ga_2O_3@GaN nanowires(NWs) by oxidizing GaN NWs. High-quality hexagonal wurtzite GaN NWs were achieved and the conversion from GaN to β-Ga_2O_3 was confirmed by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of the oxidation temperature and time on the oxidation degree of GaN NWs was investigated systematically. The oxidation rate of GaN NWs was estimated at different temperatures.     

High-responsivity solar-blind photodetector based on MOCVD-grown Si-doped β-Ga_2O_3 thin film

Si-doped β-Ga_2O_3 films are fabricated through metal-organic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD). Solar-blind ultraviolet(UV) photodetector(PD) based on the films is fabricated by standard photolithography, and the photodetection properties are investigated. The results show that the photocurrent increases to 11.2 m A under 200 μW·cm-2254 nm illumination and ±20 V bias, leading to photo-responsivity as high as 788 A·W~(-1). The Si-doped β-Ga_2O_3-based PD is promised to perform solar-blind photodetection with high performance.     

Study on nitridation processes of β-Ga_2O_3 single crystal

Nitridatedβ-Ga_2O_3(100)substrate was investigated as the substrate for GaN epitaxial growth.The effects of nitridation temperature and surface roughness ofβ-Ga_2O_3 wafers on the formation of GaN were studied.It was found that the most optimized nitridation temperature was 900°C,and hexagonal GaN with preferred orientation was produced on the well-polished wafer.The nitridation mechanism was also discussed.     

Characterization of vertical Au/β-Ga_2O_3 single-crystal Schottky photodiodes with MBE-grown high-resistivity epitaxial layer

High-resistivity β-Ga_2O_3 thin films were grown on Si-doped n-type conductive β-Ga_2O_3 single crystals by molecular beam epitaxy(MBE).Vertical-type Schottky diodes were fabricated,and the electrical properties of the Schottky diodes were studied in this letter.The ideality factor and the series resistance of the Schottky diodes were estimated to be about1.4 and 4.6×10~6 Ω.The ionized donor concentration and the spreading voltage in the Schottky diodes region are about4×10~(18)cm~(-3) and 7.6 V,respectively.The ultra-violet(UV) photo-sensitivity of the Schottky diodes was demonstrated by a low-pressure mercury lamp illumination.A photoresponsivity of 1.8 A/W and an external quantum efficiency of8.7 ×10~2%were observed at forward bias voltage of 3.8 V,the proper driving voltage of read-out integrated circuit for UV camera.The gain of the Schottky diode was attributed to the existence of a potential barrier in the i-n junction between the MBE-grown highly resistive β-Ga_2O_3 thin films and the n-type conductive β-Ga_2O_3 single-crystal substrate.     

Device topological thermal management of β-Ga_2O_3 Schottky barrier diodes

The ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor β gallium oxide(β-Ga_2 O_3) gives promise to low conduction loss and high power for electronic devices. However, due to the natural poor thermal conductivity of β-Ga_2 O_3, their power devices suffer from serious self-heating effect. To overcome this problem, we emphasize on the effect of device structure on peak temperature in β-Ga_2 O_3 Schottky barrier diodes(SBDs) using TCAD simulation and experiment. The SBD topologies including crystal orientation of β-Ga_2 O_3, work function of Schottky metal, anode area, and thickness, were simulated in TCAD, showing that the thickness of β-Ga_2 O_3 plays a key role in reducing the peak temperature of diodes. Hence, we fabricated β-Ga_2 O_3 SBDs with three different thickness epitaxial layers and five different thickness substrates. The surface temperature of the diodes was measured using an infrared thermal imaging camera. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results. Thus, our results provide a new thermal management strategy for high power β-Ga_2 O_3 diode.     

Preparation and NO_2-gas sensing property of individual β-Ga_2O_3 nanobelt

Monoclinic gallium oxide (β-Ga_2O_3) nanobelts are synthesized from gallium and oxygen by thermal evaporation in an argon atmosphere and their NO_2 sensing properties are studied at room temperature.Electron microscopy studies show that the nanobelts have breadths ranging from 30 to 50 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers.Both the x-ray diffraction (XRD) and the selected are electron diffraction (SAED) examinations indicate that β-Ga_2O_3 nanobelts have grown into single crystals.Room temperature NO_2 sensing tests show that the current of individual β-Ga_2O_3 nanobelt decreases quickly,and then gently when the NO_2 concentration increases from low to high.It is caused by the NO_2 molecule chemisorption and desorption processes in the surface of β-Ga_2O_3 nanobelt.     

Electronic structures and optical properties of Si-and Sn-doped β-Ga_2O_3: A GGA+U study

The electronic structures and optical properties of β-Ga_2O_3 and Si-and Sn-doped β-Ga_2O_3 are studied using the GGA + U method based on density functional theory. The calculated bandgap and Ga 3d-state peak of β-Ga_2O_3 are in good agreement with experimental results. Si-and Sn-doped β-Ga_2O_3 tend to form under O-poor conditions, and the formation energy of Si-doped β-Ga_2O_3 is larger than that of Sn-doped β-Ga_2O_3 because of the large bond length variation between Ga–O and Si–O. Si-and Sn-doped β-Ga_2O_3 have wider optical gaps than β-Ga_2O_3, due to the Burstein–Moss effect and the bandgap renormalization effect. Si-doped β-Ga_2O_3 shows better electron conductivity and a higher optical absorption edge than Sn-doped β-Ga_2O_3, so Si is more suitable as a dopant of n-type β-Ga_2O_3, which can be applied in deep-UV photoelectric devices.     

Variable Energy Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy of GaN Grown on Sapphire Substrates with MOCVD

Depth profiled Doppler broadening of positron annihilation spectroscopy (DBPAS), which is also called the variable energy positron annihilation spectroscopy (VEPAS), is used in characterization of GaN grown on sapphire substrates with metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD). The GaN film and the film/substrate interface are investigated. The VEPFIT (variable energy positron fit) software was used for analysing the data,and the positron diffusion length of the sapphire is obtained. The results suggest that there is a highly defected region near the GaN/sapphire interface. This thin dislocated region is generated at the film/substrate interface to relieve the strain. Effects of implantation dose on defect formation, for the GaN/Sapphire samples, which implanted by Al^ ions, are also investigated. Studies on AI implanted GaN films (not including the interface and sapphire) have revealed that there are two different regions of implantation damage. For the low Al^ implantation dose samples, in the region close to the surface, defects are mainly composed of vacancy pairs with small amount of vacancy clusters, and in the interior region of the film the positron traps are vacancy clusters without micro-voids. For the highest dose sample, however, some positron trap centres are in the form of micro-voids in the second region.     

Initial stages of misfit stress relaxation through the formation of prismatic dislocation loops in GaN–Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> composite nanostructures

The initial stages of misfit stress relaxation through the formation of rectangular prismatic dislocation loops in model composite nanostructures have been considered. The nanostructures are either spherical or cylindrical GaN shells grown on solid or hollow β-Ga²O₃ cores or planar thin GaN films on β-Ga²O₃ substrates. Three characteristic configurations of prismatic dislocation loops, namely, square loops, loops elongated along the GaN/Ga²O₃ interface, and loops elongated along the normal to the GaN/Ga²O₃ interface, have been analyzed. The generation of prismatic dislocation loops from the interface into the bulk of the GaN shell (film), from the free surface into the GaN shell (film), and from the interface into the β-Ga²O₃ core (substrate) has been investigated. It has been shown that, for the minimum known estimate of the lattice misfit (2.6%) in some of the considered nanostructures, no any prismatic dislocation loops can be generated. If the generation of prismatic dislocation loops is possible, then in all the considered nanostructures, the energetically more favorable case corresponds to prismatic dislocation loops elongated along the GaN/Ga²O₃ interfaces, and the more preferred generation of prismatic dislocation loops occurs from the GaN free surface. The GaN/Ga²O₃ nanostructures that are the most and least resistant to the formation of prismatic dislocation loops have been determined. It has been found that, among the considered nanostructures, the planar two-layer GaN/Ga²O₃ plate is the most resistant to the generation of prismatic dislocation loops, which is explained by the action of an alternative mechanism for the relaxation of misfit stresses due to the bending of the plate. The least resistant nanostructure is the planar three-layer GaN/Ga²O₃/GaN plate, in which GaN films have an identical thickness and which itself as a whole does not undergo bending. The critical thicknesses of the GaN shells (films), which must be exceeded to ensure the growth of these shells (films) so as to avoid the formation of prismatic dislocation loops, have been calculated for all the studied nanostructures and three known estimates of the lattice misfits (2.6, 4.7, and 10.1%).     

Ga2O3/GaN/蓝宝石模板上β-Ga2O3薄膜的生长

为获得高质量的β-Ga2O3薄膜,将c面蓝宝石上生长的GaN薄膜进行高温氧化制成了Ga2O3/GaN/蓝宝石模板,进而在模板上利用金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)工艺进行了β-Ga2O3薄膜的同质外延。通过X射线衍射仪、原子力显微镜、场发射扫描电子显微镜等方法对样品的晶体结构、表面形貌等性质进行测试与分析。结果表明,该方法获得的β-Ga2O3薄膜晶体质量受GaN薄膜氧化效果与MOCVD工艺条件等因素影响较大。通过优化实验条件,得到了质量较高的β-Ga2O3薄膜。与蓝宝石上或GaN薄膜上异质外延得到的β-Ga2O3薄膜相比,薄膜的晶体质量明显提高。通过对比不同样品的晶体质量、表面形貌和制备过程,发现该方法成功地将β-Ga2O3薄膜在蓝宝石衬底或GaN/蓝宝石模板上异质外延转化为了Ga2O3/GaN/蓝宝石模板上的同质外延,有效地减小了β-Ga2O3薄膜和蓝宝石、GaN之间较大的晶格失配和热失配,有利于提高β-Ga2O3薄膜的晶体质量。     

Investigation of the Si doping effect in β-Ga2O3 films by co-sputtering of gallium oxide and Si

A transparent electrode of Si doped β-Ga₂O₃ films for solar cells, flat panel displays and other devices, which consists of chemically abundant and ecological friendly elements of gallium and oxygen, was grown on silicon substrates by RF magnetron sputtering using sintered Ga₂O₃ and Si target. The Si composition in the β-Ga₂O₃ film is determined by electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy peak ratio of oxygen over gallium decreases with increasing Si content. It is concluded that Si substitutes for the Ga sites in the β-Ga₂O₃ film.     

Synthesis of ZnAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/α-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> complex substrates and growth of GaN films

With the solid phase reaction between pulsed-laser-deposited (PLD) ZnO film and α-Al₂O₃ substrate, ZnAl₂O₄/α-Al₂O₃ complex substrates were synthesized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra show that as the reaction proceeds, ZnAl₂O₄ changes from the initial (111)-oriented single crystal to poly-crystal, and then to inadequate (111) orientation. Corresponding scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate that the surface morphology of ZnAl₂O₄ transforms from uniform islands to stick structures, and then to bulgy-line structures. In addition, XRD spectra present that ZnAl₂O₄ prepared at low temperature is unstable at the environment of higher temperature. On the as-obtained ZnAl₂O₄/α-Al₂O₃ substrates, GaN films were grown without any nitride buffer using light-radiation heating low-pressure MOCVD (LRH-LP-MOCVD). XRD spectra indicate that GaN film on this kind of complex substrate changes fromc-axis single crystal to poly-crystal as ZnAl₂O₄ layer is thickened. For the single crystal GaN, its full width at half maximum (FWHM) of X-ray rocking curve is 0.4°. Results indicate that islands on thin ZnAl₂O₄ layer can promote nucleation at initial stage of GaN growth, which leads to the (0001)-oriented GaN film.     

Zn掺杂β-Ga2O3薄膜的制备和特性研究

β-Ga₂O₃是一种宽带隙半导体材料,能带宽度E_g≈5.0eV,在光学和光电子学领域有广泛的应用。用射频磁控溅射方法在Si衬底和远紫外光学石英玻璃衬底制备了本征β-Ga₂O₃薄膜及Zn掺杂β-Ga₂O₃薄膜,用紫外 可见分光光度计、X射线衍射仪、荧光分光光度计对本征β-Ga₂O₃薄膜及Zn掺杂β-Ga₂O₃薄膜的光学透过、光学吸收、结构和光致发光进行了测量,研究了Zn掺杂和热退火对薄膜结构和光学性质的影响。退火后的β-Ga₂O₃薄膜为多晶结构,与本征β-Ga₂O₃薄膜相比,Zn掺杂β-Ga₂O₃薄膜的β-Ga₂O₃(111)衍射峰强度变小,结晶性变差,衍射峰位从35.69°减小至35.66°。退火后的Zn掺杂β-Ga₂O₃薄膜的光学带隙变窄,光学透过降低,光学吸收增强,出现了近边吸收,薄膜的紫外、蓝光及绿光发射增强。表明退火后Zn掺杂β-Ga₂O₃薄膜中的Zn原子被激活充当受主。     

Molecular beam epitaxy of GaN on a substrate of MoS2 layered compound

The feasibility of MoS₂ layered compound as a substrate for GaN growth was investigated. GaN films were successfully grown on MoS₂ by plasma-enhanced molecular beam epitaxy and the crystal quality of GaN on MoS₂ was compared with that on Al₂O₃. For GaN grown on MoS₂ substrate, it was found that the surface flatness observed by atomic force microscopy, stress in the film measured by Raman spectroscopy, optical properties measured by photoluminescence spectroscopy, and threading dislocation density observed by transmission electron microscopy show superior properties compared with that grown on Al₂O₃. These results suggest the layered compound such as MoS₂, which has no dangling bonds on the surface and has lattice mismatching of 0.9% to GaN, has high potential for a substrate of GaN growth. Received: 1 March 1999 / Accepted: 8 March 1999 / Published online: 26 May 1999     

The structure and optical characters of the ZnO film grown on GaAs/Al2O3 substrate

In this paper ZnO films are grown on GaAs/Al₂O₃ substrates at different temperature by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The GaAs/Al₂O₃ substrates are formed by depositing GaAs layer (∼35 nm) on the Al₂O₃ substrate. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrate that most of the Ga and As atoms form Ga-As bond and the GaAs layer does not present any orientation. The characters of the ZnO films grown on GaAs/Al₂O₃ substrates are investigated by XRD, photoluminescence (PL), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman scattering. Compared with ZnO film grown on Al₂O₃ substrate, ZnO film prepared by our fabrication scheme has good crystal and optical quality. Meanwhile its grain size becomes bigger according to the AFM image. Raman analysis indicates that the intrinsic defects and the in-plane tensile stress are obviously reduced in ZnO/GaAs/Al₂O₃ samples.     

Si掺杂β-Ga2O3的第一性原理计算与实验研究

采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一性原理平面波超软赝势(USPP)法, 在广义梯度近似(GGA)下计算了本征β-Ga₂O₃和Si掺杂β-Ga₂O₃的能带结构、电子态密度、差分电荷密度和光学特性. 在蓝宝石衬底(0001)晶面上用脉冲激光沉积(PLD)法制备了本征β-Ga₂O₃和Si掺杂β-Ga₂O₃薄膜, 测量了其吸收光谱和反射光 关键词： 第一性原理 超软赝势 密度泛函理论 2O₃')" href="#">Si掺杂β-Ga₂O₃     

Electrical properties and emission mechanisms of Zn-doped β-Ga2O3 films

We study the electrical properties and emission mechanisms of Zn-doped β-Ga₂O₃ film grown by pulsed laser deposition through Hall effect and cathodoluminescence which consist of ultraviolet luminescence (UV), blue luminescence (BL) and green luminescence (GL) bands. The Hall effect measurements indicate that the carrier concentration increases from 7.16×10¹¹ to 6.35×10¹² cm⁻³ with increasing a nominal Zn content from 3 to 7 at%. The UV band at 272 nm is not attributed to Zn dopants and ascribed as radiative electron transition from conduction band to a self-trapped hole while the BL band is attributable to defect level related to Zn dopant. The BL band has two emission peaks at 415 and 455 nm, which are ascribed to the radiative electron transition from oxygen vacancy (V_O) to valence band and recombination of a donor–acceptor pair (DAP) between V_O donor and Zn on Ga site (Zn_Ga) acceptor, respectively. The GL band is attributed to the phonon replicas’ emission of the DAP. The acceptor level of Zn_Ga is estimated to be 0.26 eV above the valence band maximum. The transmittance and absorption spectra prove that the Zn-doped β-Ga₂O₃ film is a dominantly direct bandgap material. The results of Hall and cathodoluminescence measurements imply that the Zn dopant in β-Ga₂O₃ film will form an acceptor Zn_Ga to produce p-type conductivity.     

Si(111)衬底切偏角对GaN基LED外延膜的影响

利用金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)方法在具有偏角(0°~0.9°)的Si(111)衬底上生长了GaN薄膜。采用高分辨X射线衍射(HRXRD)对Si衬底的偏角进行了精确的测量,利用HRXRD、原子力显微镜(AFM)以及光致发光(PL)对外延薄膜的晶体质量、量子阱中In组分、表面形貌及光学特性进行了研究。结果表明,Si(111)衬底偏角对量子阱中的In组分、 GaN外延膜的表面形貌、晶体质量以及光学性能具有重大影响。为了获得高质量的GaN外延薄膜,衬底偏角必须控制在小于0.5°的范围内。超出该范围,GaN薄膜的晶体质量、表面形貌及光学性能都明显下降。