AlN缓冲层对Si基GaN外延薄膜性质的影响

采用金属有机化合物化学气相沉积（MOCVD）方法制备了不同AlN缓冲层厚度的GaN样品,研究了AlN缓冲层厚度对GaN外延层的应力、表面形貌和晶体质量的影响。研究结果表明：厚度为15 nm的AlN缓冲层不仅可以有效抑制Si扩散,而且还给GaN外延层提供了一个较大的压应力,避免GaN薄膜出现裂纹。在该厚度AlN缓冲层上制备的GaN薄膜表面光亮、无裂纹,受到的张应力为0.3 GPa,（0002）和（1012）面的高分辨X射线衍射摇摆曲线峰值半高宽分别为536 arcsec和594 arcsec,原子力显微镜测试得到表面粗糙度为0.2 nm。     

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.     

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     

Si基GaN的微结构表征

采用快速辐射加热/低压-金属有机化学气相淀积(RTP/LP-MOCVD)方法分别以AlN和阳极氧化铝为缓冲层材料在Si衬底上外延生长GaN薄膜,通过X射线衍射谱(XRD)、光荧光谱(PL)、拉曼散射谱(RamanScattering)等手段对它们的微结构进行了表征和分析,结果指出AlN是优良的缓冲层材料。     

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.     

Misfit dislocation locking and rotation during gallium nitride growth on SiC/Si substrates

The effect of changing the misfit dislocation propagation direction during GaN layer growth on the AlN/SiC/Si(111) structure surface is detected. The effect is as follows. As the GaN layer growing on AlN/SiC/Si(111) reaches a certain thickness of ~300 nm, misfit dislocations initially along the layer growth axis stop and begin to move in the direction perpendicular to the growth axis. A theoretical model of AlN and GaN nucleation on the (111) SiC/Si face, explaining the effect of changing the misfit dislocation motion direction, is constructed. The effect of changing the nucleation mechanism from the island one for AlN on SiC/Si(111) to the layer one for the GaN layer on AlN/SiC/Si is experimentally detected and theoretically explained.     

Morphological properties of AlN and GaN grown by MOVPE on porous Si(111) and Si(111) substrates

Metal Organic Vapour Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) of AlN and GaN layers at a temperature of 1080 C were performed on porous Si(111) and Si(111) substrates. The thermal stability of porous silicon (PS) is studied versus growth time under AlN and GaN growth conditions. The surface morphology evolution of the annealed PS is revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Porous Si(111) with low porosity (40%) is more thermally stable than porous Si(100) with relatively high porosity (60%).AlN layers with various thicknesses were grown under the same conditions on the two substrates. Morphological properties of AlN were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and compared taking into account the two different surfaces of the substrates. The two growth kinetics of AlN were found to be different due to the initial surface roughness of the PS substrate. The effect of AlN buffer morphology on the qualities of subsequent GaN layers is discussed. Morphological qualities of GaN layers grown on PS are improved compared to those obtained on porous Si(100) but are still less than those grown on Si substrate.     

A Comparison of GaN Epilayers with Multiple Buffer Layers and with a Single Buffer Layer Grown on Si（111） Studied by HRXRD and RBS/Channeling

Two hexagonal GaN epilayers （samples A and B） with multiple buffer layers and single buffer layer are grown on Si （111） by metal-organic vapour phase epitaxy （MOVPE）. From the results of Rutherford backscattering （RBS）/channeling and high resolution x-ray diffraction （HRXRD）, we obtain the lattice constant （a and c） of two GaN epilayers （aA = 0.3190 nm, cA = 0.5184 nm and aB = 0.3192 nm, CB = 0.5179 nm）, the crystal quality of two GaN epilayers （ ХminA=4.87%, ХminB =7.35% along 〈1-↑213〉 axis） and the tetragonal distortion eT of the two samples along depth （sample A is nearly fully relaxed, sample B is not relaxed enough）. Comparing the results with the two samples, it is indicated that sample A with multiple buffer layers have better crystal quality than sample B with a single buffer layer, and it is a good way to grow GaN epilayer on Si （111） substrates using multiple buffer layers to improve crystal quality and to reduce lattice mismatch.     

The effect of low temperature AlN interlayers on the growth of GaN epilayer on Si (111) by MOCVD

Low temperature (LT) AlN interlayers were used to effectively reduce the tension stress and micro-cracks on the surface of the GaN epilayer grown on Si (111) substrate. Optical Microscopy (OM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Surface Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterize these samples grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). In addition, wet etching method was used to evaluate the defect of the GaN epilayer. The results demonstrate that the morphology and crystalline properties of the GaN epilayer strongly depend on the thickness, interlayer number and growth temperature of the LT AlN interlayer. With the optimized LT AlN interlayer structures, high quality GaN epilayers with a low crack density can be obtained.     

Microstructural and compositional characteristics of GaN films grown on a ZnO-buffered Si (111) wafer

Polycrystalline GaN thin films have been deposited epitaxially on a ZnO-buffered (111)-oriented Si substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. The microstructural and compositional characteristics of the films were studied by analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A SiO(2) amorphous layer about 3.5 nm in thickness between the Si/ZnO interface has been identified by means of spatially resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy. Cross-sectional and plan-view TEM investigations reveal (GaN/ZnO/SiO(2)/Si) layers exhibiting definite a crystallographic relationship: [111](Si)//[111](ZnO)//[0001](GaN) along the epitaxy direction. GaN films are polycrystalline with nanoscale grains ( approximately 100 nm in size) grown along [0001] direction with about 20 degrees between the (1l00) planes of adjacent grains. A three-dimensional growth mode for the buffer layer and the film is proposed to explain the formation of the as-grown polycrystalline GaN films and the functionality of the buffer layer.     

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。     

国产SiC衬底上利用AIN缓冲层生长高质量GaN外延薄膜

采用高温AlN作为缓冲层在国产SiC衬底上利用金属有机物化学气相外延技术生长GaN外延薄膜.通过优化AlN缓冲层的生长参数得到了高质量的GaN外延薄膜,其对称(0002)面和非对称(1012)面X射线衍射摇摆曲线的半峰宽分别达到130 arcsec和252 arcsec,这是目前报道的在国产SiC衬底上生长GaN最好的...     

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.     

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.     

Engineering of nearly strain-free ZnO films on Si(1 1 1) by tuning AlN buffer thickness

ZnO properties were investigated as a function of AlN buffer layer thickness (0–100 nm) in ZnO/AlN/Si(1 1 1) structures grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy. A significant improvement of ZnO film crystallinity by tuning AlN buffer thickness was confirmed by x-ray diffraction, topography and photoluminescence measurements. An optimal AlN buffer layer thickness of 50 nm is defined, which allows for growth of nearly strain-free ZnO films. The presence of free excitons at 10 K suggests high crystal quality for all ZnO samples grown on AlN/Si(1 1 1) templates. The intensities of neutral and ionized donor bound exciton lines are found to correlate with the in-plane and out-of-plane strain in the films, respectively.     

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.     

脉冲激光沉积GaN薄膜的结构和光学特性研究

采用准分子脉冲激光,在Si(111)衬底上生长了带有AlN缓冲层的GaN薄膜, 利用X射线衍射(XRD)、原子力显微镜(AFM)和光致发光光谱(PL)等测试手段研究了不同沉积温度所生长的GaN薄膜结构特征和光学性能.研究表明:沉积温度影响GaN薄膜结构和光学性能,黄带发射峰主要与晶体缺陷有关.在400～700℃沉积范围内随着温度升高,GaN薄膜结构和光学性能提高.     

GaAs(111)衬底上生长的GaN的极性与生长方法和生长条件的关系

研究了在GaAs(111)衬底上生长的六角相GaN的极性的相关关系.在高Ⅴ/Ⅲ比的条件下用MOVPE和MOMBE方法生长的GaN的极性和GaAs衬底的极性一致;在(111)A-Ga表面上的生长层呈现Ga的极性,而在(111)B-As表面上的生长层呈现N的极性.然而,在低的Ⅴ/Ⅲ比,或采用一个AIN中间层的条件下,用HVPE和MOMBE方法在GaAs(111)B表面上生长的GaN呈现出Ga的极性.目前,其原因尚不清楚,但是这些结果表明采用HVPE生长方法或用一高温AlN阻挡层可以得到高质量的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.     

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.