AlN成核层厚度对Si上外延GaN的影响

采用低温AlN成核层,在Si(111)衬底上,用金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)法生长了GaN薄膜。采用高分辨X射线衍射(XRD)、椭圆偏振光谱仪和原子力显微镜(AFM)研究了AlN成核层的厚度对GaN外延层的影响。对AlN的测试表明,AlN的表面粗糙度(RMS)随着厚度增加而变大。对GaN的测试表明,所有GaN样品在垂直方向处于压应变状态,并且随AlN厚度增加而略有减弱。GaN的(0002)_ω扫描的峰值半宽(FWHM)随着AlN成核层厚度增加而略有升高,GaN(10-12)_ω扫描的FWHM随着厚度增加而有所下降。(10-12)_ω扫描的FWHM与GaN的刃型穿透位错密度相关,A1N成核层的厚度较大时会降低刃型穿透位错密度,并减弱c轴方向的压应变状态。     

使用溅射AlN成核层实现大规模生产深紫外LED

高质量AlN薄膜对制造高性能深紫外器件非常重要,但是目前还很难使用大型工业MOCVD生长出高质量的AlN薄膜.采用磁控溅射制备了不同厚度的用作成核层的AlN薄膜,使用大型工业MOCVD直接在成核层上高温生长AlN外延层,研究了不同成核层对AlN外延层质量的影响.通过扫描电子显微镜和原子力显微镜对成核层AlN薄膜的表面形貌进行表征;使用高分辨X射线衍射仪对AlN外延层晶体质量进行表征,结果表明:在溅射成核层上生长的AlN外延层的晶体质量有显著提高.使用大型工业MOCVD在蓝宝石衬底上成功制备出中心波长为282 nm的可商用深紫外LED,在注入电流为20 mA时,单颗深紫外LED芯片的光输出功率达到了1.65 mW,对应的外量子效率为1.87%,饱和光输出功率达到4.31 mW.     

LED蓝宝石图形化衬底的研究进展及发展趋势

图形化蓝宝石衬底作为GaN基LED照明外延衬底材料,由于其能降低GaN外延薄膜的线位错密度和提高LED的光萃取效率的显著性能在近几年来引起国内外许多科研机构和厂商的广泛兴趣。从衬底的制备工艺、图形尺寸角度出发,综述了图形化蓝宝石衬底GaN基LED的研究进展,并对其未来在大功率照明市场的应用进行了展望。     

缓冲层温度对Si(111)上GaN表面形貌影响

用不同温度的Al N缓冲层在Si(111)衬底上外延GaN薄膜。通过对薄膜表面扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和高分辨率双晶X射线衍射(DCXRD)的分析,研究了缓冲层生长温度对外延层表面形貌的影响,分析解释了表面形貌中凹坑的形成及缓冲层生长温度对凹坑的影响。结果表明:缓冲层生长温度通过影响缓冲层初始成核密度和成核尺寸来影响外延层表面形貌。较低温度下的Al N缓冲层,在衬底表面形成的成核颗粒因温度太低,无法运动到相邻的颗粒而结合成大的成核颗粒,因此成核密度高,成核尺寸小;高温生长的Al N缓冲层,成核颗粒有足够的能量运动到相邻的成核颗粒,因此使成核颗粒的尺寸增大,成核密度低。这种初始成核密度和尺寸的不同,造成外延层形貌的差异,如表面形貌中凹坑的密度和大小就是受初始成核的直接影响。通过实验和分析,提出了外延生长的物理模型。     

图形化蓝宝石衬底表面原位处理对GaN外延薄膜的影响

采用预铺Ga或NH_3氮化等方式原位处理图形化蓝宝石衬底(PSS)表面,然后外延生长了GaN薄膜,研究了PSS表面预处理对GaN薄膜表面形貌、晶体质量以及残余应力的影响。结果显示,PSS经过预铺Ga后生长的GaN薄膜具有平滑的表面和清晰平直的原子台阶,且位错密度最低;氮化后生长的GaN薄膜原子台阶较宽,螺型位错密度较低;衬底未经表面处理生长的GaN薄膜,原子台阶模糊,位错密度最高;同时,与氮化或未经预处理的方法相比,经过预铺Ga的方式预处理PSS表面后生长的GaN薄膜残余应力最小。分析认为,预铺Ga、氮化等方式处理衬底表面,改变了PSS微结构,有利于生长表面平滑、晶体质量高、残余应力小的GaN薄膜。     

正晶向SiC衬底上表面光滑的N极性GaN薄膜材料的生长

采用MOCVD技术在101.6 mm(4英寸)正晶向半绝缘C面SiC衬底上生长了厚度为1μm的GaN缓冲层。通过深入研究不同AlN成核层上生长的GaN缓冲层的性质,揭示了正晶向SiC衬底上氮极性GaN的生长机制,发现成核层表面AlN岛的密度是决定缓冲层表面形貌的重要参数,对后续GaN的成核以及GaN岛间的合并具有显著影响。通过在AlN成核层外延期间引入N2作为载气并且以脉冲方式供应铝源,研制的成核层表面成核岛尺寸小且致密性高,有利于促进GaN成核岛之间的横向合并,并抑制GaN缓冲层的岛状生长模式,从而获得了表面光滑的N极性GaN薄膜材料,原子力显微镜20μm×20μm扫描范围下的均方根(rms)粗糙度值为1.5 nm。此外,在表面平滑的GaN薄膜上生长的GaN/AlGaN异质结的电子输运特性也同步得到提升,这有利于N极性GaN材料的微波应用。     

采用低温AlN插入层在氢化物气相外延中生长GaN膜

采用低温AlN插入层在氢化物气相外延(HVPE)设备中生长出高质量GaN膜。X射线衍射(XRD)测量发现,低温AlN插入层有助于提高GaN膜的结晶质量。低温(10K)光致发光(PL)谱测量表明,低温AlN插入层有助于释放GaN膜外延生长的应力。原子力显微镜(AFM)测量显示,GaN膜具有非常光滑的表面形貌,并估算出其位错密度约为3.3×108cm-2。     

额外HCl和氮化对HVPE GaN生长的影响

在氢化物气相外延(HVPE)生长GaN过程中,发现了一种在成核阶段向生长区添加额外HCl来改善GaN外延薄膜质量的方法,并且讨论了额外HCl和氮化对GaN形貌和质量的影响.两种方法都可以大幅度地改善GaN的晶体质量和性质,但机理不同.氮化是通过在衬底表面形成AlN小岛,促进了衬底表面的成核和薄膜的融合;而添加额外HCl则被认为是通过改变生长表面的过饱和度引起快速成核从而促进薄膜的生长而改善晶体质量和性质的.     

SiC衬底AlN缓冲层的应变对GaN外延层质量的影响

在3英寸(1英寸=2.54 cm)SiC衬底上采用金属有机物化学气相沉积(MOCVD)法生长GaN外延材料。研究了AlN缓冲层的应变状态对GaN外延层应变状态和质量的影响。使用原子力显微镜和高分辨率X射线双晶衍射仪观察样品表面形貌,表征外延材料质量的变化,使用高分辨喇曼光谱仪观察外延材料应力的变化,提出了基于外延生长的应变变化模型。实验表明,GaN外延层的张应变随着AlN缓冲层应变状态的由压变张逐渐减小,随着GaN张应力的逐渐减小,GaN位错密度也大大减少,表面形貌也逐渐变好。     

硅衬底GaN基LED外延生长的研究

采用在AlN缓冲层后原位沉积SiN掩膜层,然后横向外延生长GaN薄膜.通过该法在硅衬底上获得了1.7 μm无裂纹的GaN薄膜,并在此基础上外延生长出了GaN基发光二极管(LED)外延片,其外延片的总厚度约为1.9 μm.采用高分辨率双晶X-射线衍射(DCXRD)、原子力显微镜(AFM)测试分析.结果表明,GaN薄膜(0002)面的半峰全宽(FWHM)降低到403 arcsec,其表面平整度得到了很大的改善;InGaN/GaN多量子阱的界面较平整,结晶质量良好.光致发光谱表明,GaN基LED峰值波长为469.2 nm.     

Analysis of reactor geometry and diluent gas flow effects on the metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy of AIN and GaN thin films on α(6H)-SiC substrates

The influence of diluent gas on the metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy of AlN and GaN thin films has been investigated. A computational fluid dynamics model using the finite element method was employed to improve film uniformity and to analyze transport phenomena. The properties of AlN and GaN thin films grown on α(6H)-SiC(0001) substrates in H₂ and N₂ diluent gas environments were evaluated. Thin films of AlN grown in H₂ and N₂ had root mean square (rms) roughness values of 1.5 and 1.8 nm, respectively. The surface and defect microstructures of the GaN thin films, observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, respectively, were very similar for both diluents. Low temperature (12K) photoluminescence measurements of GaN films grown in N₂ had peak intensities and full widths at half maximum equal to or better than those films grown in H₂. A room temperature Hall mobility of 275 cm²/V·s was measured on 1 μm thick, Si-doped, n-type (1×10¹⁷ cm⁻³) GaN films grown in N₂. Acceptor-type behavior of Mg-doped GaN films deposited in N₂ was repeatably obtained without post-growth annealing, in contrast to similar films grown in H₂. The GaN growth rates were ∼30% higher when H₂ was used as the diluent. The measured differences in the growth rates of AlN and GaN films in H₂ and N₂ was attributed to the different transport properties of these mixtures, and agreed well with the computer model predictions. Nitrogen is shown to be a feasible alternative diluent to hydrogen for the growth of AlN and GaN thin films.     

Evolution of Threading Dislocation Density and Stress in GaN Films Grown on (111) Si Substrates by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition

We have studied the evolution of threading dislocations (TDs), stress, and cracking of GaN films grown on (111) Si substrates using a variety of buffer layers including thin AlN, compositionally graded Al _x Ga_1-x N (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), and AlN/Al _y Ga_1-y N/Al _x Ga_1-x N (0 ≤ x ≤ 1, y = 0 and 0.25) multilayer buffers. We find a reduction in TD density in GaN films grown on graded Al _x Ga_1-x N buffer layers, in comparison with those grown directly on a thin AlN buffer layer. Threading dislocation bending and annihilation occurs in the region in the graded Al _x Ga_1-x N grown under a compressive stress, which leads to a decrease of TD density in the overgrown GaN films. In addition, growing a thin AlN/Al _y Ga_1-y N bilayer prior to growing the compositionally graded Al _x Ga_1-x N buffer layer significantly reduces the initial TD density in the Al _x Ga_1-x N buffer layer, which subsequently further reduces the TD density in the overgrown GaN film. In-situ stress measurements reveal a delayed compressive-to-tensile stress transition for GaN films grown on graded Al _x Ga_1-x N buffer layers or multilayer buffers, in comparison to the film grown on a thin AlN buffer layer, which subsequently reduces the crack densities in the films.     

Growth of thick gan films on rf sputtered ain buffer layer by hydride vapor phase epitaxy

High crystalline quality thick GaN films were grown by vapor phase epitaxy using GaCl₃ and NH₃. The growth rate was in the range of 10~15 Μm/h. GaN films grown at higher temperatures (960~ 1020?C) were single crystalline with smooth surface morphologies. No chlorine impurity was incorporated in these films during growth. The best crystalline quality and surface morphology of grown films was achieved by sputtering a thin A1N buffer layer, prior to growth. According to reflection high energy electron diffraction and atomic force microscopy measurements, as-sputtered A1N buffer layer was amorphous with root means square roughness of 0.395 nm and then crystallized during the GaN growth. This improved the GaN growth due to more uniform distribution of GaN nucleation. Rutherford backscattering channeling experiments produced the lowest value from the GaN film grown on a-Al₂O₃ with a 500å A1N buffer layer at 1020?C.     

Investigations of GaN growth on the sapphire substrate by MOCVD method with different AlN buffer deposition temperatures

The effects of different AlN buffer deposition temperatures on the GaN material properties grown on sapphire substrate was investigated. At relatively higher AlN buffer growth temperature, the surface morphology of subsequent grown GaN layer was decorated with island-like structure and revealed the mixed-polarity characteristics. In addition, the density of screw TD and leakage current in the GaN film was also increased. The occurrence of mixed-polarity GaN material result could be from unintentional nitridation of the sapphire substrate by ammonia (NH₃) precursor at the beginning of the AlN buffer layer growth. By using two-step temperature growth process for the buffer layer, the unintentional nitridation could be effectively suppressed. The GaN film grown on this buffer layer exhibited a smooth surface, single polarity, high crystalline quality and high resistivity. AlGaN/GaN high electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) devices were also successfully fabricated by using the two-step AlN buffer layer.     

High performance of InGaN LEDs on (111) silicon substrates grown by MOCVD

We report on the high-performance of InGaN multiple-quantum well light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on Si (111) substrates using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. A high-temperature thin AlN layer and AlN-GaN multilayers have been used for the growth of high-quality GaN-based LED structure on Si substrate. It is found that the operating voltage of the LED at 20 mA is reduced to as low as 3.8-4.1 V due to the formation of tunnel junction between the n-AlGaN layer and the n-Si substrate when the high-temperature AlN layer is reduced to 3 nm. Because Si has a better thermal conductivity than sapphire, the optical output power of the LED on Si saturates at a higher injected current density. When the injected current density is higher than 120 A/cm/sup 2/, the output power of the LED on Si is higher than that of LED on sapphire. The LED also exhibited the good reliability and the uniform emission from a large size wafer. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy observation indicated that the active layer of these LEDs consists of the dislocation-free pyramid-shaped (quantum-dot-like) structure.     

高声速（100）择优取向AIN薄膜的制备和性能研究

采用射频磁控溅射法,通过改变工艺参数在n型（100）Si片上制备了表面粗糙度小、以（100）面择优取向的AlN薄膜。研究了高温退火、N2结尾等工艺对AIN薄膜择优取向的影响。结果表明,增大工作气压有利于薄膜（100）面择优取向,但是随着工作气压升高薄膜沉积不均匀,通过退火可以减少这种缺陷;N2-Ar比低有利于（100）...     

(100)取向AlN薄膜的制备及其压电性能研究

采用射频磁控溅射法,在Si(100)衬底(含Au导电层)上制备了(100)取向的AlN薄膜并研究了工作压强和溅射功率对制备的AlN薄膜性能的影响。利用X射线衍射仪(XRD)分析了薄膜结构特性,结果表明,在一定范围内,工作压强的增加和溅射功率的减小更有利于AlN(100)晶面择优取向的生长。利用压电力显微镜(PFM)对AlN薄膜的形貌和压电性能进行了表征,发现(100)择优取向的AlN薄膜的压电性主要表现在薄膜面内方向上。     

AlN薄膜覆Al基板的物理特性

利用磁控溅射系统在6061铝材上制备了3μm的AlN薄膜。XRD、椭偏测试及耐压测试结果表明,AlN膜为具有良好取向的多晶薄膜,击穿电压高达100V/μm。利用自动划痕仪对AlN膜进行剥离实验,临界载荷为6N左右。AlN和铝基体间的结合主要是物理吸附和机械锚合。用有限元方法对基于AlN膜/Al热沉的LED(发光二极管)封装结构的散热性能进行了分析,模型的内通道热阻约2K/W。     

Enhanced output power of (indium) gallium nitride light emitting diodes by a transparent current spreading-film composed of a disordered network of indium tin oxide nanorods

A thin film consisting of a disordered nanorod network of indium tin oxide (ITO) and conventional ITO films are fabricated on gallium nitride (GaN) based-light emitting diodes (LEDs) by electron beam evaporation. The surface morphologies are observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The disordered nanorod network of ITO is grown in vacuum without oxygen. It can be applied directly on the LED as the current spreading film unlike other nanorods which require growth on a conductive layer. The transmittance, current–voltage characteristic, and the dependence of light output power on current are measured for disordered nanorod network ITO LEDs and conventional ITO LEDs, respectively. The measurement results indicate that the nanorod network provides a significant improvement in the light output power of GaN-based LEDs. The influence of the structure of ITO films on the light output power of GaN-based LEDs is discussed.