Improvement in a-plane GaN crystalline quality using wet etching method

Nonpolar （1120） GaN films are grown on the etched a-plane GaN substrates via metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. High-resolution X-ray diffraction analysis shows great decreases in the full width at half maximum of the samples grown on etched substrates compared with those of the sample without etching, both on-axis and off-axis, indicating the reduced dislocation densities and improved crystalline quality of these samples. The spatial mapping of the E2 （high） phonon mode demonstrates the smaller line width with a black background in the wing region, which testifies the reduced dislocation densities and enhanced crystalline quality of the epitaxial lateral overgrowth areas. Raman scattering spectra of the E2 （high） peaks exhibit in-plane compressive stress for all the overgrowth samples, and the E2 （high） peaks of samples grown on etched substrates shift toward the lower frequency range, indicating the relaxations of in-plane stress in these GaN films. Furthermore, room temperature photoluminescence measurement demonstrates a significant decrease in the yellow-band emission intensity of a-plane GaN grown on etched templates, which also illustrates the better optical properties of these samples.     

Improved crystal quality of GaN film with the in-plane lattice-matched Ino.17Alo.s3N interlayer grown on sapphire substrate using pulsed metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

We report on an improvement in the crystal quality of GaN film with an Ino.17Alo.83N interlayer grown by pulsed metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, which is in-plane lattice-matched to GaN films. The indium composition of about 17% and the reductions of both screw and edge threading dislocations （TDs） in GaN film with the InA1N interlayer are estimated by high resolution X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） measurements are employed to understand the mechanism of reduction in TD density. Raman and photoluminescence measurements indicate that the InA1N interlayer can improve the crystal quality of GaN film, and verify that there is no additional residual stress induced into the GaN film with InA1N interlayer. Atomic force microscopy measurement shows that the InA1N interlayer brings in a smooth surface morphology of GaN film. All the results show that the insertion of the InA1N interlayer is a convenient method to achieve excellent crystal quality in GaN epitaxy.     

Improved crystal quality of GaN film with the in-plane lattice-matched In_(0.17)Al_(0.83)N interlayer grown on sapphire substrate using pulsed metal organic chemical vapor deposition

We report on an improvement in the crystal quality of GaN film with an In0.17Al0.83N interlayer grown by pulsed metal–organic chemical vapor deposition, which is in-plane lattice-matched to GaN films. The indium composition of about 17% and the reductions of both screw and edge threading dislocations(TDs) in GaN film with the InAlN interlayer are estimated by high resolution X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) measurements are employed to understand the mechanism of reduction in TD density. Raman and photoluminescence measurements indicate that the InAlN interlayer can improve the crystal quality of GaN film, and verify that there is no additional residual stress induced into the GaN film with InAlN interlayer. Atomic force microscopy measurement shows that the InAlN interlayer brings in a smooth surface morphology of GaN film. All the results show that the insertion of the InAlN interlayer is a convenient method to achieve excellent crystal quality in GaN epitaxy.     

Improved mobility of AIGaN channel heterojunction material using an AIGaN/GaN composite buffer layer

The quality of an A1GaN channel heterojunction on a sapphire substrate is massively improved by using an A1- GaN/GaN composite buffer layer. We demonstrate an A10.4Gao.6N/AI0.18Ga0.82N heterojunction with a state-of-the-art mobility of 815 cm2/（V.s） and a sheet resistance of 890Ω/口 under room temperature. The crystalline quality and the electrical properties of the A1GaN heterojunction material are analyzed by atomic force microscopy, high-resolution X-ray diffraction, and van der Pauw Hall and capacitance-voltage （C-V） measurements. The results indicate that the improved electrical properties should derive from the reduced surface roughness and low dislocation density.     

Improved mobility of AlGaN channel heterojunction material using an AlGaN/GaN composite buffer layer

The quality of an AlGaN channel heterojunction on a sapphire substrate is massively improved by using an AlGaN/GaN composite buffer layer. We demonstrate an Al0.4Ga0.6N/Al0.18Ga0.82N heterojunction with a state-of-the-art mobility of 815 cm2/(V·s) and a sheet resistance of 890Ω/ under room temperature. The crystalline quality and the electrical properties of the AlGaN heterojunction material are analyzed by atomic force microscopy, high-resolution X-ray diffraction, and van der Pauw Hall and capacitance–voltage(C–V) measurements. The results indicate that the improved electrical properties should derive from the reduced surface roughness and low dislocation density.