玻璃衬底上制备GaN薄膜的研究进展

近年来,GaN基发光二极管(LED)的发展异常迅速,以玻璃为衬底的LED具有成本低、可大面积化生产等优点而引起了国内外许多科研机构的广泛研究兴趣.但由于普通玻璃较低的软化温度(500～ 600℃)以及与GaN之间存在较大的晶格失配问题,一直阻碍其发展.重点综述了玻璃衬底上生长GaN薄膜的方法以及改善外延层晶体质量的技术.分别介绍了两种在普通玻璃上生长GaN的方法,即低温生长和局部加热生长,同时详述了采用缓冲层和横向外延过生长(ELO)技术对外延GaN晶体质量的影响.对局部加热、ELO等技术在玻璃衬底LED方面的应用进行了分析和预测,认为以玻璃为衬底的LED终会取得快速地发展.     

溅射AlN技术对GaN基LED性能的影响

研究了在图形蓝宝石衬底(PSS)上利用磁控溅射制备AlN薄膜的相关技术,随后通过采用金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)在相关AlN薄膜上生了长GaN基LED.通过一系列对比实验,分析了AlN薄膜的制备条件对GaN外延层晶体质量的影响,研究了AlN薄膜溅射前N2预处理功率和溅射后热处理温度对GaN基LED性能的作用机制.实验结果表明:AlN薄膜厚度的增加,导致GaN缓冲层成核密度逐渐升高和GaN外延膜螺位错密度降低刃位错密度升高;N2处理功率的提升会加剧衬底表面晶格损伤,在GaN外延膜引入更多的螺位错;AlN热处理温度的升高粗化了表面并提高了GaN成核密度,使得GaN外延膜螺位错密度降低刃位错密度升高;而这些GaN外延膜位错密度的变化又进一步影响到LED的光电特性.     

8英寸Si衬底上高质量AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构的生长

在8英寸(1英寸=2.54 cm)的Si衬底上采用金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)生长了高质量、无龟裂的GaN薄膜和AlGaN/GaN高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)结构.通过调节应力调控层的结构,厚度为5 μm的GaN膜层翘曲度低于50 μm.采用X射线衍射(XRD)对GaN薄膜的(002)和(102)衍射峰进行扫描,其半峰全宽(FWHM)分别为182和291 arcsec.透射电子显微镜(TEM)截面图显示GaN外延层的位错密度达到了3.5×107/cm2,证实了在大尺寸Si衬底上可以制作高质量的GaN薄膜.AlGaN/GaN HEMT结构的二维电子气浓度和载流子迁移率分别为9.29×1012/cm2和2 230 cm2/(V·s).基于这些半绝缘AlGaN/GaNHEMT结构所制作的功率电子器件的输出电流可达20 A,横向击穿电压可达1 200 V.     

ZnO微纳结构对GaN基LED光提取效率的影响研究

基于时域有限差分法(FDTD)在GaN基LED表面分别生长了 ZnO柱状与锥状微纳结构,并利用Rsoft模拟仿真软件分析了两种结构的几何参量(排列周期p、高度H、底面直径D等)对GaN基LED光提取效率的影响.结果表明两种结构均可提高器件的光提取效率,柱状结构在H=0.25 μm,p=1.5 μm,D=0.9μm时表现最优,其光提取效率是未加任何结构平板LED的5.6倍;而锥状结构在H=0.6μm,p=1.4 μm,D=1.4 μm时表现最优,其光提取效率是未加任何结构平板LED的5.3倍.研究结果对高性能GaN基LED的设计与制备具有一定指导意义.     

采用铟束流保护下的调制中断生长技术改善(0001)GaN表面形貌

使用分子束外延方法,采用In束流保护下的调制中断生长技术,在(0001)蓝宝石衬底上生长GaN薄膜.利用反射式高能电子衍射(RHEED)对生长进行实时监控,并用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、原子力显微镜(AFM)和X射线衍射(XRD)法对GaN外延薄膜的表面形貌和晶体质量进行分析.实验结果表明:采用该技术生长的Ga极性GaN外延薄膜中的晶体表面残留Ga滴密度大大降低,GaN外延薄膜的表面形貌得到改善,其均方根粗糙度(RMS)由3nm降低为0.6nm,同时XRD双晶摇摆曲线测试的结果表明,GaN外延层的晶格质量也得到改善.     

采用铟束流保护下的调制中断生长技术改善(0001)GaN表面形貌

使用分子束外延方法,采用In束流保护下的调制中断生长技术,在(0001)蓝宝石衬底上生长GaN薄膜.利用反射式高能电子衍射(RHEED)对生长进行实时监控,并用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、原子力显微镜(AFM)和X射线衍射(XRD)法对GaN外延薄膜的表面形貌和晶体质量进行分析.实验结果表明:采用该技术生长的Ga极性GaN外延薄膜中的晶体表面残留Ga滴密度大大降低,GaN外延薄膜的表面形貌得到改善,其均方根粗糙度(RMS)由3nm降低为0.6nm,同时XRD双晶摇摆曲线测试的结果表明,GaN外延层的晶格质量也得到改善.     

6英寸硅基GaN HEMT外延材料的制备

采用金属有机物化学气相沉积(MOCVD)方法,在6英寸(1英寸=2.54 cm)Si(111)衬底上,使用多层不同Al摩尔组分的AlGaN插入层技术,成功生长出厚度为2.9 μm无裂纹(扣除边缘2mm)的GaN外延层,解决了大尺寸外延片的翘曲度问题,并在此基础上生长了全结构的高电子迁移率晶体管(HEMT)外延片.采用X射线双晶衍射对外延材料结构进行了表征.Hall测试结果表明,HEMT外延材料的迁移率为2 080 cm2/(V·s),方块电阻为279.8 Ω/□,电荷面密度为1.07×1013 cm-2.采用喇曼光谱仪对GaN的应力进行了表征,GaN的喇曼E2(h)峰位于567.02 cm-1,表面受到的张应力为0.170 6 GPa,由于GaN外延层受到的张应力很小,说明插入多层AlGaN后应力已经释放.汞探针C-V测试二维电子气浓度较Hall测试结果偏低,可能是在C-V测试时肖特基势垒接触会降低载流子浓度.     

图形化蓝宝石衬底形貌对GaN基LED出光性能的影响

近年来,图形化蓝宝石衬底(PSS)作为GaN基LED外延衬底材料被广泛应用.通过干法刻蚀和湿法腐蚀制备了不同规格和形状的蓝宝石衬底图形,并进行外延生长、芯片制备和封装验证,采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和3D轮廓仪进行形貌表征,研究了不同规格和形状的衬底图形对LED芯片出光性能影响,并与外购锥形衬底(PSSZ2)进行对比.结果表明,在20 mA工作电流下,PSSZ2的LED光通量为8.33 lm.采用类三角锥和盾形衬底的LED光通量分别为7.83 lm和7.67 lm,分别比PSSZ2衬底低6.00％和7.92％.对锥形形貌进行优化,采用高1.69 μm、直径2.62 μm、间距0.42 μm的锥形衬底(PSSZ3)的LED光通量为8.67 lm,比PSSZ2衬底高4.08％,优化的PSSZ3能有效地提高LED出光性能.     

SiNx插入层对Si衬底上生长GaN薄膜晶体质量和表面形貌的影响

在Si(111)衬底上采用金属有机化合物化学气相沉积(MOCVD)技术外延生长GaN薄膜,对外延生长所得GaN薄膜的晶体结构和表面形貌进行表征,并研究SiNx插入层对GaN薄膜的晶体质量和表面形貌的影响.结果表明,在Si衬底上生长GaN薄膜过程中引入SiNx插入层可使GaN薄膜的(10-12)面的X-射线回摆曲线的半峰宽(FWHM)值从974.01减小到602.01arcsec;表面凹坑等缺陷减少、表面平整度提高.可见,SiNx插入层对在Si衬底上外延生长GaN薄膜的晶体质量和表面形貌有着重要的影响.     

AlGaN缓冲层结构对Si基GaN材料性能的影响

Si衬底与GaN之间较大的晶格失配和热失配引起的张应力使GaN外延层极易产生裂纹,如何补偿GaN所受到的张应力是进行Si基GaN外延生长面临的首要问题.采用金属有机化合物化学气相沉积(MOCVD)技术在4英寸(1英寸=2.54 cm)Si (111)衬底上制备了GaN外延材料并研究了不同AlGaN缓冲层结构对Si基GaN外延材料性能的影响,并采用高分辨X射线衍射仪(HRXRD)、原子力显微镜(AFM)、喇曼光谱以及光学显微镜对制备的GaN材料的性能进行了表征.采用3层A1GaN缓冲层结构制备了表面光亮、无裂纹的GaN外延材料,其(002)晶面半高宽为428 arcsec,表面粗糙度为0.194 nm.结果表明,采用3层A1GaN缓冲层结构可以有效地降低GaN材料的张应力和位错密度,进而遏制表面裂纹的出现,提高晶体质量.     

低温生长n型氮化镓插入层提高LED抗静电能力

在这篇论文里,我们通过在InGaN/GaN 多量子阱和n型氮化镓层中间插入一层低温生长的n型氮化镓显著提高了LED的抗静电能力。通过引入低温生长的氮化镓插入层使得LED抗击穿电压超过4000V的良品率从9.9%提升到74.7%。低温生长的氮化镓插入层作为后续生长的多量子阱的缓冲层,释放了量子阱中的应力并且改善了量子阱的界面质量。另外,我们证明了在氮气气氛下生长低温氮化镓插入层对于LED抗静电能力的改善要强于氢气气氛,同时也进一步证明低温插入层对量子阱中应力的释放有利于提高LED的抗静电能力。光电测试结果表明,在引入低温nGaN缓冲层后,LED的电学特性并没有衰退,并且LED的光输出功率提高了13.9%。     

ScAlN缓冲层厚度对Si(100)衬底上GaN外延层的影响

采用脉冲直流磁控溅射方法在Si(100)衬底上制备了ScAlN薄膜。以溅射的ScAlN作为缓冲层,在Si(100)衬底上用金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)技术外延了GaN薄膜。使用高分辨X射线衍射、原子力显微镜和拉曼光谱研究了ScAlN缓冲层的厚度对ScAlN缓冲层和GaN外延层的影响。研究结果表明,ScAlN缓冲层的厚度是影响GaN薄膜晶体质量的重要因素。随着ScAlN厚度的增加,ScAlN的(002)面X射线衍射摇摆曲线半高宽持续减小,GaN的(002)面X射线衍射摇摆曲线半高宽先减小后增大。当ScAlN缓冲层厚度为500nm时,得到的GaN晶体质量最好,其中GaN(002)面的X射线衍射摇摆曲线半高宽为0.38°,由拉曼光谱计算得到的张应力为398.38MPa。     

GaN/AIN multiple quantum wells grown on GaN-AIN waveguide structure by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy

High-optical-confinement waveguide structure based on nitride semiconductors is proposed and demonstrated for the first time with metal organic vaporphase epitaxy. The waveguide structure composed of 1-μm-thick AIN cladding layer, 2-μm-thick GaN guiding layer, and 40 periods of GaN/AIN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) was grown using optimized growth conditions for each layer. For improved material quality, the two-step growth technique using low-temperature AIN and GaN nucleation layers was utilized to reduce the stress induced by lattice mismatch between each layer. The high-optical-confinement structure could therefore be grown with high quality, leading to a successful observation of inter-sub-band absorption in GaN/AIN MQWs. The inter-sub-band absorption wavelength observed in such structure is in good agreement with that of MQWs grown on GaN layer, showing that the proposed waveguide structure can be used as a standard structure for optical devices based on inter-sub-band absorption.     

InGaN/GaN和InGaN/AlGaN多量子阱中应变对光致发光特性的影响

对蓝宝石衬底上的InGaN/GaN和InGaN/AlGaN多量子阱结构和经激光剥离去除衬底的InGaN/GaN和InGaN/AlGaN多量子阱结构薄膜样品,进行了光致发光谱、高分辨XRD和喇曼光谱测量.PL测量结果表明,相对于带有蓝宝石衬底的样品,InGaN/GaN多量子阱薄膜样品的PL谱峰值波长发生较小的蓝移,而InGaN/AlGaN多量子阱薄膜样品的PL谱峰值波长发生明显的红移;喇曼光谱的结果表明,激光剥离前后E2模的峰值从569.1减少到567.5cm-1.这说明激光剥离去除衬底使得外延层整体的压应力得到部分释放,但InGaN/GaN与InGaN/AlGaN多量子阱结构中阱层InGaN的应力发生了不同的变化.XRD的结果证实了这一结论.     

Effect of AlN buffer thickness on GaN epilayer grown on Si(1 1 1)

We studied the influence of high temperature AlN buffer thickness on the property of GaN film on Si (1 1 1) substrate. Samples were grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction were employed to characterize the samples. The results demonstrated that thickness of high temperature AlN buffer prominently influenced the morphology and the crystal quality of GaN epilayer. The optimized thickness of the AlN buffer is found to be about 150 nm. Under the optimized thickness, the largest crack-free range of GaN film is 10 mm×10 mm and the full width at half maximum of GaN (0 0 0 2) rocking curve peak is 621.7 arcsec. Using high temperature AlN/AlGaN multibuffer combined with AlN/GaN superlattices interlayer we have obtained 2 μm crack-free GaN epilayer on 2 in Si (1 1 1) substrates.     

Hot-electron induced degradations in GaN-based LEDs fabricated on nanoscale epitaxial lateral overgrown layers

We report investigations on the hot-electron hardness of GaN-based multiple quantum wells (MQWs) fabricated on nanoscale epitaxial lateral overgrown (NELO) GaN layers. This layer was deposited using a SiO₂ growth mask with nanometer-scale windows. The active regions of the devices consist of five-period GaN/InGaN MQWs. Structural analyses of the material indicate significant reduction in the threading dislocation density of the devices compared to the control which were fabricated without the use of the NELO GaN layers. The hot-electron degradation of the devices due to the application of a large dc. current was characterized by detailed examination of the electroluminescence (EL), I-V, thermoreflectance and the current noise power spectra of the devices as a function of the stress time. Significant improvements in the hot-electron hardness were observed in the device compared to the control.     

InGaN绿光LED中p型GaN层的优化设计

InGaN绿光LED的量子阱结构具有较高的In含量,InN与GaN之间较大的晶格失配度使得该结构的稳定性下降.由于量子阱结构生长完成之后的p型GaN的生长温度要远高于量子阱结构生长温度,因此,p型GaN的生长过程对多量子阱质量有重大影响.论文探讨了p型GaN的生长温度与厚度对绿光LED的材料结构及器件性能的影响.研究发现,p-GaN过高的生长温度和过大的厚度都能加剧多量子阱结构中In组分的波动,使得发光峰宽化,同时降低绿光量子阱的发光效率.论文据此提出了优化的p型GaN生长温度与厚度,探讨了量子阱保护层对InGaN绿光LED性能的影响,该结构有利于增强绿光LED发光波长的稳定性.     

A new buffer layer for MOCVD growth of GaN on sapphire

High quality GaN films have been grown on sapphire substrates (C face and A face) by atmospheric pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using a new buffer layer. With our reactor configuration and growth parameters, a GaN film grown on a single GaN buffer layer appears opaque with high density of hexagonal pits. Using a single A1N buffer layer results in extremely nonuniform morphology with mirror-like areas near the edge of the substrates and opaque areas in the center. The double buffer layer we report here, with GaN as the first layer and A1N as the second, each with an optimized thickness, leads to mirror-like films across the entire substrate. Scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence, x-ray diffraction, and van der Pauw geometry Hall measurement data are presented to establish the quality of our films. The mechanism for this new buffer layer is also discussed.     

Phosphor-Free GaN-Based Transverse Junction White-Light Light-Emitting Diodes With Regrown n-Type Regions

In this study, we demonstrate a GaN-based phosphor-free white-light light-emitting diode (LED), which is composed of GaN-based dual-wavelength (blue and yellow-green) multiple-quantum-wells (MQWs) and a transverse p-n junction. The device was realized by the regrowth of n-type GaN layers on the sidewall of p-type GaN and undoped MQWs. The problems related to the bias-dependent shape of the electroluminescence spectra that occur in traditional phosphor-free white-light LEDs (with vertical p-n junctions) are greatly minimized. The current-voltage performance of our device is comparable to that of the commercially available phosphor white-light LEDs. In addition, the dynamic measurement results indicate that we can attain a much higher modulation bandwidth (22 versus 3 MHz) with this device than with the currently available commercial ones.