Effect of double AlN buffer layer on the qualities of GaN films grown by radio-frequency molecular beam epitaxy

This paper reports that the GaN thin films with Ga-polarity and high quality were grown by radio-frequency molecular beam epitaxy on sapphire （0001） substrate with a double A1N buffer layer. The buffer layer consists of a high-temperature （HT） A1N layer and a low-temperature （LT） A1N layer grown at 800℃ and 600℃, respectively. It is demonstrated that the HT-A1N layer can result in the growth of GaN epilayer in Ga-polarity and the LT-A1N layer is helpful for the improvement of the epilayer quality. It is observed that the carrier mobility of the GaN epilayer increases from 458 to 858cm^2/V.s at room temperature when the thickness of LT-A1N layer varies from 0 to 20nm. The full width at half maximum of x-ray rocking curves also demonstrates a substantial improvement in the quality of GaN epilavers by the utilization of LT-A1N layer.     

Influence of AlN buffer layer thickness on structural properties of GaN epilayer grown on Si (111) substrate with AlGaN interlayer

We present the growth of GaN epilayer on Si (111) substrate with a single AlGaN interlayer sandwiched between the GaN epilayer and AlN buffer layer by using the metalorganic chemical vapour deposition. The influence of the AlN buffer layer thickness on structural properties of the GaN epilayer has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy and high-resolution x-ray diffraction. It is found that an AlN buffer layer with the appropriate thickness plays an important role in increasing compressive strain and improving crystal quality during the growth of AlGaN interlayer, which can introduce a more compressive strain into the subsequent grown GaN layer, and reduce the crack density and threading dislocation density in GaN film.     

The effect of single A1GaN interlayer on the structural properties of GaN epilayers grown on Si （111） substrates

High-quality and nearly crack-free GaN epitaxial layer was obtained by inserting a single AlGaN interlayer between GaN epilayer and high-temperature AlN buffer layer on Si (111) substrate by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. This paper investigates the effect of AlGaN interlayer on the structural properties of the resulting GaN epilayer. It confirms from the optical microscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy that the AlGaN interlayer has a remarkable effect on introducing relative compressive strain to the top GaN layer and preventing the formation of cracks. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis reveal that a significant reduction in both screw and edge threading dislocations is achieved in GaN epilayer by the insertion of AlGaN interlayer. The process of threading dislocation reduction in both AlGaN interlayer and GaN epilayer is demonstrated.     

The influence of SixNy interlayer on GaN film grown on Si(111) substrate

A method to drastically reduce dislocation density in a GaN film grown on an Si(111) substrate is newly developed. In this method, the Si_xN_y interlayer which is deposited on an AlN buffer layer in situ is introduced to grow the GaN film laterally. The crack-free GaN film with thickness over 1.7 micron is grown on an Si(111) substrate successfully. Synthesized GaN epilayer is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), and Raman spectrum. The test results show that the GaN crystal reveals a wurtzite structure with the <0001> crystal orientation and the full width at half maximum of the X-ray diffraction curve in the (0002) plane is as low as 403 arcsec for the GaN film grown on the Si substrate with an Si_xN_y interlayer. In addition, Raman scattering is used to study the stress in the sample. The results indicate that the Si_xN_y interlayer can more effectively accommodate the strain energy. So the dislocation density can be reduced drastically, and the crystal quality of GaN film can be greatly improved by introducing Si_xN_y interlayer.     

Characteristics of GaN epilayer grown on Al2O3 with AlN buffer layer by molecular beam epitaxy

Double crystal rocking curve (DCRC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence (PL) measurements on GaN epilayers grown with various thicknesses (3.4, 8.5, 17, 34, and 51 nm) of the AlN buffer layer were carried out to investigate the surface, the structural, and the optical properties of the GaN epilayers. The results of the DCRC, AFM, SEM, and PL measurements showed that the GaN epilayer grown on a 3.4 nm AlN buffer layer had the best quality. These results indicate that GaN active layers grown on 3.4 nm AlN buffer layers hold promise for potential applications in optoelectronic devices.     

Optical and structural investigation of a-plane GaN layers on r-plane sapphire with nucleation layer optimization

Nonpolar a-plane GaN epilayers are grown on several r-plane sapphire substrates by metal organic chemical vapour deposition using different nucleation layers:(A) a GaN nucleation layer deposited at low temperature(LT);(B) an AlN nucleation layer deposited at high temperature;or(C) an LT thin AlN nucleation layer with an AlN layer and an AlN/AlGaN superlattice both subsequently deposited at high temperature.The samples have been characterized by Xray diffraction(XRD),atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence.The GaN layers grown using nucleation layers B and C show narrower XRD rocking curves than that using nucleation layer A,indicating a reduction in crystal defect density.Furthermore,the GaN layer grown using nucleation layer C exhibits a surface morphology with triangular defect pits eliminated completely.The improved optical property,corresponding to the enhanced crystal quality,is also confirmed by temperature-dependent and excitation power-dependent photoluminescence measurements.     

氮化铝单晶薄膜的ECR PEMOCVD低温生长研究

采用电子回旋共振等离子体增强金属有机物化学气相沉积（ECR－PEMOCVD）技术，在c轴取向的蓝宝石即α Al2O3（0001）衬底上，以氮化镓（GaN）缓冲层和外延层作为初始层，分别以高纯氮气（N2）和三甲基铝(TMAl)为氮源和铝源低温生长氮化铝（AlN）薄膜.并利用反射高能电子衍射（RHEED）、原子力显微镜（AFM）和x射线衍射（XRD）等测量结果，研究了氢等离子体清洗、氮化和GaN初始层对六方AlN外延层质量的影响，从而获得解理性与α Al2O3衬底一致的六方相AlN单晶薄膜，其XRD半高宽为1 关键词： AlN 氢等离子体清洗 氮化 GaN     

High resolution X-ray diffraction of GaN grown on Si (1 1 1) by MOVPE

High temperature GaN layers have been grown on Si (1 1 1) substrate by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). AlN was used as a buffer layer and studied as a function of thickness and growth temperature. The growth was monitored by in situ laser reflectometry. High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) revealed that optimized monocrystalline GaN was obtained for a 40 nm AlN grown at 1080 °C. This is in good agreement with the results of morphological study by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations. The best morphology of AlN with columnar structure and lower rms surface roughness is greatly advantageous to the coalescence of the GaN epilayer. Symmetric and asymmetric GaN reflections were combined for twist and stress measurements in monocrystalline GaN. It was found that mosaicity and biaxial tensile stress are still high in 1.7 μm GaN. Curvature radius measurement was also done and correlated to the cracks observations over the GaN surface.     

Si(111)衬底上生长有多缓冲层的六方GaN晶格常数计算和应变分析

利用卢瑟福背散射/沟道技术和高分辨率X射线衍射技术对在Si(111)衬底上利用金属有机化合物气相外延技术(MOVPE)生长有多缓冲层的六方GaN外延膜进行结晶品质计算、晶格常数计算和应变分析. 实验结果表明：GaN外延膜的结晶品质为χ_min=1.54%，已达到完美晶体的结晶品质(χ_min=1%—2%)；GaN外延膜的水平方向和垂直方向晶格常数分别为：a_epi＝0.31903nm，c_epi=0.51837nm，基本达到G 关键词： GaN 高分辨X射线衍射 卢瑟福背散射/沟道 弹性应变     

Study on the relationships between Raman shifts and temperature range for α-plane GaN using temperature-dependent Raman scattering

In this paper,Raman shifts of a-plane GaN layers grown on r-plane sapphire substrates by low-pressure metal-organic chemical vapor deposition(LPMOCVD) are investigated.We compare the crystal qualities and study the relationships between Raman shift and temperature for conventional a-plane GaN epilayer and insertion AlN/AlGaN superlattice layers for a-plane GaN epilayer using temperature-dependent Raman scattering in a temperature range from 83 K to 503 K.The temperature-dependences of GaN phonon modes(A1(TO),E2(high),and E1(TO)) and the linewidths of E2(high) phonon peak are studied.The results indicate that there exist two mechanisms between phonon peaks in the whole temperature range,and the relationship can be fitted to the pseudo-Voigt function.From analytic results we find a critical temperature existing in the relationship,which can characterize the anharmonic effects of a-plane GaN in different temperature ranges.In the range of higher temperature,the relationship exhibits an approximately linear behavior,which is consistent with the analyzed results theoretically.     

The influence of an SixNy interlayer on a GaN film grown on an Si（lll） substrate

<正>A method to drastically reduce dislocation density in a GaN film grown on an Si(111) substrate is newly developed. In this method,the Si_xN_y interlayer which is deposited on an A1N buffer layer in situ is introduced to grow the GaN film laterally.The crack-free GaN film with thickness over 1.7 micron is successfully grown on an Si(111) substrate. A synthesized GaN epilayer is characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),atomic force microscope(AFM),and Raman spectrum.The test results show that the GaN crystal reveals a wurtzite structure with the(0001) crystal orientation and the full width at half maximum of the X-ray diffraction curve in the(0002) plane is as low as 403 arcsec for the GaN film grown on the Si substrate with an Si_xN_y interlayer.In addition,Raman scattering is used to study the stress in the sample.The results indicate that the Si_xN_y interlayer can more effectively accommodate the strain energy.So the dislocation density can be reduced drastically,and the crystal quality of GaN film can be greatly improved by introducing an Si_xN_y interlayer.     

The influence of AlN/GaN superlattice intermediate layer on the properties of GaN grown on Si（111） substrates

AlN/GaN superlattice buffer is inserted between GaN epitaxial layer and Si substrate before epitaxial growth of GaN layer. High-quality and crack-free GaN epitaxial layers can be obtained by inserting AlN/GaN superlattice buffer layer. The influence of AlN/GaN superlattice buffer layer on the properties of GaN films are investigated in this paper. One of the important roles of the superlattice is to release tensile strain between Si substrate and epilayer. Raman spectra show a substantial decrease of in-plane tensile strain in GaN layers by using AlN/GaN superlattice buffer layer. Moreover, TEM cross-sectional images show that the densities of both screw and edge dislocations are significantly reduced. The GaN films grown on Si with the superlattice buffer also have better surface morphology and optical properties.     

Structural characterization of Al_(0.55)Ga_(0.45)N epitaxial layer determined by high resolution x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy

Structural characteristics of Alo.55 Gao.45N epilayer were investigated by high resolution x-ray diffraction(HRXRD)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM);the epilayer was grown on GaN/sapphire substrates using a high-temperature A1 N interlayer by metal organic chemical vapor deposition technique.The mosaic characteristics including tilt,twist,heterogeneous strain,and correlation lengths were extracted by symmetric and asymmetric XRD rocking curves as well as reciprocal space map(RSM).According to Williamson-Hall plots,the vertical coherence length of AlGaN epilayer was calculated,which is consistent with the thickness of AlGaN layer measured by cross section TEM.Besides,the lateral coherence length was determined from RSM as well.Deducing from the tilt and twist results,the screw-type and edge-type dislocation densities are 1.0×10~8 cm~(-2) and 1.8×10~(10) cm~(-2),which agree with the results observed from TEM.     

MOCVD生长Si衬底上HT-AlN缓冲层低生长压力对GaN薄膜的影响

采用金属有机化学气相沉积（MOCVD）技术在Si（111）衬底上外延GaN薄膜,对高温AlN（HT-AlN）缓冲层在小范围内低生长压力（6.7~16.6 kPa）条件下对GaN薄膜特性的影响进行了研究。研究结果表明GaN外延层的表面形貌、结构和光学性质对HT-AlN缓冲层的生长压力有很强的的依赖关系。增加HT-AlN缓冲层的生长压力,GaN薄膜的光学和形貌特性均有明显改善,当HT-AlN缓冲层的生长压力为13.3 kPa时,得到无裂纹的GaN薄膜,其（002）和（102）面的X射线衍射峰值半高宽分别为735 arcsec和778 arcsec,由拉曼光谱计算得到的张应力为0.437 GPa,原子力显微镜（AFM）观测到表面粗糙度为1.57 nm。     

Influence of double A1N buffer layers on the qualities of GaN films prepared by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition

<正>In this paper we report that the GaN thin film is grown by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition on a sapphire (0001) substrate with double AlN buffer layers.The buffer layer consists of a low-temperature(LT) AlN layer and a high-temperature(HT) AlN layer that are grown at 600℃and 1000℃,respectively.It is observed that the thickness of the LT-AlN layer drastically influences the quality of GaN thin film,and that the optimized 4.25-min-LT-AlN layer minimizes the dislocation density of GaN thin film.The reason for the improved properties is discussed in this paper.     

SiC/AlN上外延GaN薄膜的黄带发光与晶体缺陷的关系

利用室温光致发光(PL)技术研究了在6HSiC(0001)上用金属有机物化学汽相沉积(MOCVD)外延生长的GaN薄膜“黄带”发光(YL)特点,与扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)技术得到的GaN薄膜的表面形貌质量和内部结晶质量的结果相对照,表明“YL”发光强度与GaN薄膜的扩展缺陷多少直接相对应通过二次离子质谱(SIMS)技术获取的GaN薄膜中Ga元素深度分布揭示出镓空位(V_Ga)最可能是“YL”发光的微观来源分析认为,虽然宏观扩展缺陷(丝状缺陷、螺形位错等)和微观点缺陷V_Ga及其与杂质的络合物(complexes)都表现出与“YL”发射密切相关,但V_Ga及其与杂质的络合物更可能是“YL”发射的根本微观来源室温下获得的样品“YL”发射强度和光谱精细结构可用于分析GaN薄膜缺陷和晶体质量.     

SiN插入层对GaN外延膜应力和光学质量的影响

研究了MOCVD系统中原位SiN插入层对GaN薄膜应力和光学性质的影响。采用SiN插入层后,GaN薄膜的裂纹数量大大减少,薄膜所承受的张应力得到了一定的释放。同时,GaN薄膜的缺陷密度降低一倍,晶体质量得到了极大的改善。研究表明,位错密度的降低在GaN薄膜中留存较大的残余应力,补偿了降温过程中所引入的张应力。同样,随着SiN插入层的应用,低温PL谱的半峰宽降低,薄膜光学质量提高。最后研究了PL谱发光峰与应力的关系,得到了一个-13.8的线性系数。     

MOVPE 生长GaN薄膜的 光致黄带发光与激发光源的相关性

用四种不同光源作为激发光源,研究了蓝宝石衬底金属有机物汽相外延方法生长的氮化镓薄膜的光致发光特性。结果发现用连续光作为激发光源时,光致发光谱中除出现365 nm的带边发射峰外,同时观察到中心波长位于约550 nm 的较宽黄带发光;而用脉冲光作为激发光源时其发光光谱主要是365 nm附近的带边发光峰,未观察到黄带发光。氮化镓薄膜的光致发光特性依赖于所用的激发光源性质。     

Comparative study of different properties of GaN films grown on(0001) sapphire using high and low temperature AlN interlayers

Comparative study of high and low temperature AlN interlayers and their roles in the properties of GaN epilayers prepared by means of metal organic chemical vapour deposition on (0001) plane sapphire substrates is carried out by high resolution x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. It is found that the crystalline quality of GaN epilayers is improved significantly by using the high temperature AlN interlayers, which prevent the threading dislocations from extending, especially for the edge type dislocation. The analysis results based on photoluminescence and Raman measurements demonstrate that there exist more compressive stress in GaN epilayers with high temperature AlN interlayers. The band edge emission energy increases from 3.423~eV to 3.438~eV and the frequency of Raman shift of $E_{2 }$(TO) moves from 571.3~cm$^{ - 1}$ to 572.9~cm$^{ - 1}$ when the temperature of AlN interlayers increases from 700~$^{\circ}$C to 1050~$^{\circ}$C. It is believed that the temperature of AlN interlayers effectively determines the size, the density and the coalescence rate of the islands, and the high temperature AlN interlayers provide large size and low density islands for GaN epilayer growth and the threading dislocations are bent and interactive easily. Due to the threading dislocation reduction in GaN epilayers with high temperature AlN interlayers, the approaches of strain relaxation reduce drastically, and thus the compressive stress in GaN epilayers with high temperature AlN interlayers is high compared with that in GaN epilayers with low temperature AlN interlayers.     

AlN/蓝宝石模板上生长的GaN研究

研究了在分子束外延制备的AlN/蓝宝石模板上采用金属有机物化学气相外延生长的非故意掺杂GaN的材料性质.采用X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)和原子力显微镜研究了AlN模板的晶体质量和表面相貌对GaN的影响.结果表明,当AlN的表面粗糙度较小时,尽管AlN模板的位错密度较高((102)面XRD ω扫描半高全宽900—1500 arcsec),但生长得到的GaN依然具有和在蓝宝石衬底上采用"二步法"生长的GaN可比拟的晶体质量((002)面XRD ω扫描半高全宽200—30 关键词： 氮化镓 氮化铝 金属有机物化学气相外延