Effects of Substrate Pretreatment Conditions on Quality of GaN Epilayer

The pure cubic GaN(c-GaN) has been grown on (001) GaAs substrates by ECR-PAMOCVD technique at low temperature using TMGa and high pure N2 as Ga and N sources,respectively.The effects of substrate pretreatment conditions on quality of cubic GaN epilayer are investigated by the measurements of TEM and XRD.It is found that hydrogen plasma cleaning,nitridation and buffer layer growth are very important for quality of cubic GaN epilayer.     

初始层生长条件和Mg活性剂对MOVPE方法生长GaN薄膜质量的影响

The initial growth conditions of a 100 nm thick GaN layer and Mg-surfactant on the quality of the GaN epilayer grown on a 6H-SiC substrate by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy have been investigated in this research. Experimental results have shown that a high Ⅴ/Ⅲ ratio and the initially low growth rate of the GaN layer are favorable for two-dimension growth and surface morphology of GaN and the formation of a smoother growth surface. Mg-surfactant occurring during GaN growth can reduce the dislocations density of the GaN epilayer but increase the surface RMS, which are attributed to the change of growth mode.     

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.     

Analysis of the growth of GaN epitaxy on silicon

Due to the great potential of GaN based devices,the analysis of the growth of crack-free GaN with high quality has always been a research hotspot.In this paper,two methods for improving the property of the GaN epitaxial layer on Si (111) substrate are researched.Sample A,as a reference,only has an AlN buffer between the Si substrate and the epitaxy.In the following two samples,a GaN transition layer (sample B) and an AlGaN buffer (sample C) are grown on the AlN buffer separately.Both methods improve the quality of GaN.Meanwhile,using the second method,the residual tensile thermal stress decreases.To further study the impact of the two introduced layers,we investigate the stress condition of GaN epitaxial layer by Raman spectrum.According to the Raman spectrum,the calculated residual stress in the GaN epitaxial layer is approximately 0.72 GPa for sample B and 0.42 GPa for sample C.The photoluminescence property of GaN epitaxy is also investigated by room temperature PL spectrum.     

Comparison of GexSi1—x Grown by UHV／CVD from Si2H6／GeH4 and SiH4／GeH4

Using double crystal X-rays diffraction (DCXRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), the results of Ge x Si 1- x grown by UHV/CVD from Si 2H 6 and SiH 4 are analyzed and compared. Adsorbates can migrate to the energy-favoring position due to the slow growth rate from SiH 4. In this case, a Si buffer that isolates the effect of substrate on epilayer could not be grown, which results in a pit penetrating into epilayer and buffer. The FWHM is 0.055° in DCXRD from SiH 4. The presence of diffraction fringes is an indication of an excellent crystalline quality. The roughness of the surface is improved if grown by Si 2H 6; however, the crystal quality of the Ge x Si 1- x material became worse than that from SiH 4 due to much larger growth rate from Si 2H 6. The content of Ge is obtained from DCXRD, which indicates the growth rate from Si 2H 6 is largest, then GeH 4, and that from SiH 4 is least.     

Laser lift-off technique and the re-utilization of GaN-based LED films grown on sapphire substrate

A thin GaN LED film,grown on 2-inch-diameter sapphire substrates,is separated by laser lift-off. Atom force microscopy (AFM) and the double-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been employed to characterize the performance of GaN before and after the lift-off process. It is demonstrated that the separation and transfer processes do not alter the crystal quality of the GaN films obviously. InGaN/ GaN multi-quantum-wells (MQW's) structure is grown on the separated sapphire sub-strate later and is compared with that grown on the conventional substrate under the same condition by using PL and XRD spectrum.     

Laser lift-off technique and the re-utilization of GaN-based LED films grown on sapphire substrate

A thin GaN LED film, grown on 2-inch-diameter sapphire substrates, is separated by laser lift-off. Atom force microscopy （AFM） and the double-crystal X-ray diffraction （XRD） have been employed to characterize the performance of Gan before and after the lift-off process. It is demonstrated that the separation and transfer processes do not alter the crystal quality of the GaN films obviously. InGaN/GaN multi-quantum-wells （MQW＇s） structure is grown on the separated sapphire substrate later and is compared with that grown on the conventional substmte under the same condition by using PL and XRD spectrum.     

RF-MBE Grown AlGaN/GaN HEMT Structure with High Al Content

A Si doped AlGaN/GaN HEMT structure with high Al content (x=43%) in the barrier layer is grown on sapphire substrate by RF-MBE.The structural and electrical properties of the heterostructure are investigated by the triple axis Xray diffraction and Van der PauwHall measurement,respectively.The observed prominent Bragg peaks of the GaN and AlGaN and the Hall results show that the structure is of high quality with smooth interface.The high 2DEG mobility in excess of 1260cm2／（V·s） is achieved with an electron density of 1.429e13cm－2 at 297K,corresponding to a sheet-densitymobility product of 1.8e16V－1·s－1.Devices based on the structure are fabricated and characterized.Better DC characteristics,maximum drain current of 1.0A/mm and extrinsic transconductance of 218mS/mm are obtained when compared with HEMTs fabricated using structures with lower Al mole fraction in the AlGaN barrier layer.The results suggest that the high Al content in the AlGaN barrier layer is promising in improving material electrical properties and device performance.     

成核层形貌对AlGaN/GaN异质结晶体质量，表面形貌以及电学特性的影响

Nucleation layer formation is a key factor for high quality gallium nitride（GaN）growth on a sapphire substrate.We found that the growth rate substantially affected the nucleation layer morphology,thereby having a great impact on the crystal quality,surface morphology and electrical properties of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures on sapphire substrates.A nucleation layer with a low growth rate of 2.5 nm/min is larger and has better coalescence than one grown at a high growth rate of 5 nm/min.AlGaN/GaN heterostructures on a nucleation layer with low growth rate have better crystal quality,surface morphology and electrical properties.     

Remote plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition of gallium oxide thin films with NH_3 plasma pretreatment

High quality gallium oxide(Ga_2O_3) thin films are deposited by remote plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition(RPEALD) with trimethylgallium(TMG) and oxygen plasma as precursors. By introducing in-situ NH3 plasma pretreatment on the substrates, the deposition rate of Ga_2O_3 films on Si and GaN are remarkably enhanced, reached to 0.53 and 0.46 ?/cycle at 250 °C,respectively. The increasing of deposition rate is attributed to more hydroxyls(–OH) generated on the substrate surfaces after NH3 pretreatment, which has no effect on the stoichiometry and surface morphology of the oxide films, but only modifies the surface states of substrates by enhancing reactive site density. Ga_2O_3 film deposited on GaN wafer is crystallized at 250 °C, with an epitaxial interface between Ga_2O_3 and GaN clearly observed. This is potentially very important for reducing the interface state density through high quality passivation.     

利用三步法MOCVD生长器件质量的GaN

在传统的二步MOCVD外延生长的基础上，报道了一种在低压MOCVD中用三步外延生长GaN材料的新方法，它在生长低温缓冲层前，用原子层的方法生长一层高质量的AIN层来减少Al2O3与GaN缓冲层之间的应力以提高缓冲层的质量，从而提高外延层GaN的质量，达到器件制作的要求。     

引入GaN过渡层对Si（111）衬底上生长GaN外延的影响

本文研究了在Si(111)衬底上生长GaN外延层的方法。相比于直接在AlN缓冲层上生长GaN外延层,引入GaN过渡层显著地提高了外延层的晶体质量并降低了外延层的裂纹密度。使用X射线双晶衍射仪、光学显微镜以及在位监测曲线分析了GaN过渡层对外延层的晶体质量以及裂纹密度的影响。实验发现,直接在AlN缓冲层上生长外延层,晶体质量较差, X射线(0002)面半高宽最优值为0.686°,引入GaN过渡层后,通过调整生长条件,控制岛的长大与合并的过程,从而控制三维生长到二维生长过渡的过程,外延层的晶体质量明显提高, (0002)面半高宽降低为0.206°,并且裂纹明显减少。研究结果证明,通过生长合适厚度的GaN过渡层,可以得到高质量、无裂纹的GaN外延层。     

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。     

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.     

MOCVD epitaxy of InAlN on different templates

InAlN epilayers were grown on high quality GaN and A1N templates with the same growth parameters. Measurement results showed that two samples had the same In content of～16%,while the crystal quality and surface topography of the InAlN epilayer grown on the AlN template,with 282.3"（002） full width at half maximum （FWHM） of rocking curve,313.5"（102） FWHM,surface roughness of 0.39 nm and V-pit density of 2.8×10⁸ cm^-2,were better than that of the InAlN epilayer grown on the GaN template,309.3",339.1",0.593 nm and 4.2×10⁸ cm^-2.A primary conclusion was proposed that both the crystal quality and the surface topography of the InAlN epilayer grown on the AlN template were better than that of the InAlN epilayer grown on the GaN template. Therefore,the AlN template was a better choice than the GaN template for getting high quality InAlN epilayers.     

High quality AIN and GaN grown on compliant Si/SiC substrates by gas source molecular beam epitaxy

Epitaxial layers of AlN and GaN were grown by gas source molecular-beam epitaxy on a composite substrate consisting of a thin (250 nm) layer of silicon (111) bonded to a polycrystalline SiC substrate. Two dimensional growth modes of AlN and GaN were observed. We show that the plastic deformation of the thin Si layer results in initial relaxation of the AlN buffer layer and thus eliminates cracking of the epitaxial layer of GaN. Raman, x-ray diffraction, and cathodoluminescence measurements confirm the wurtzite structure of the GaN epilayer and the c-axis crystal growth orientation. The average stress in the GaN layer is estimated at 320 MPa. This is a factor of two less than the stress reported for HVPE growth on 6H-SiC (0001).     

Influence of AlN buffer layer thickness on the properties of GaN epilayer on Si(1 1 1) by MOCVD

The effect of thickness of the high-temperature (HT) AlN buffer layer on the properties of GaN grown on Si(1 1 1) has been investigated. Optical microscopy (OM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are employed to characterize these samples grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The results demonstrate that the morphology and crystalline properties of the GaN epilayer strongly depend on the thickness of HT AlN buffer layer, and the optimized thickness of the HT AlN buffer layer is about 110 nm. Together with the low-temperature (LT) AlN interlayer, high-quality GaN epilayer with low crack density can be obtained.     

Growth optimization and doping with Si and Be of high quality GaN on Si(111) by molecular beam epitaxy

GaN layers have been grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on AlN-buffered Si(111) substrates. An initial Al coverage of the Si substrate of aproximately 3 nm lead to the best AlN layers in terms of x-ray diffraction data, with values of full-width at half-maximum down to 10 arcmin. A (2×2) surface reconstruction of the AlN layer can be observed when growing under stoichiometry conditions and for substrate temperatures up to 850°C. Atomic force microscopy reveals that an optimal roughness of 4.6 nm is obtained for AlN layers grown at 850°C. Optimization in the subsequent growth of the GaN determined that a reduced growth rate at the beginning of the growth favors the coalescence of the grains on the surface and improves the optical quality of the film. Following this procedure, an optimum x-ray full-width at half-maximum value of 8.5 arcmin for the GaN layer was obtained. Si-doped GaN layers were grown with doping concentrations up to 1.7×10¹⁹ cm⁻³ and mobilities approximately 100 cm²/V s. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurements of Be-doped GaN films indicate that Be is incorporated in the film covering more than two orders of magnitude by increasing the Be-cell temperature. Optical activation energy of Be acceptors between 90 and 100 meV was derived from photoluminescence experiments.     

LP－MOCVD生长InGaN单晶薄膜

报道了以Ａｌ２Ｏ３为衬底在ＧａＮ薄膜上ＬＰ－ＭＯＣＶＤ外延生长ＩｎＧａＮ单晶薄膜，并研究了ＩｎＧａＮ的生长特性。实验给出了ＩｎｘＧ１－ｘＮ合金的固相组分与汽相组分和生长温度的变化关系，并应用Ｘ射线衍射（ＸＲＤ）、Ｘ射线回摆曲线（ＸＲＣ）和室温光致荧光（ＰＬ）谱等技术对外延层的晶体质量、完整性和发光特性进行了分析。发现ＩｎＧａＮ／ＧａＮ系统中保持适当的压应力有助于提高外延层的晶体完整性，减少非故意掺杂杂质的引入，能改善外延层的发光特性。