Study of GaN growth on ultra-thin Si membranes

10 mu m-thick ultra-thin Si (111) membranes for GaN epi-layers growth were successfully fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate by backside etching the handle Si and buried oxide (BOX) layer. Then 1 mu m-thick GaN layers were deposited on these Si membranes by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The crack-free areas of 250 mu m, x 250 mu m were obtained on the GaN layers due to the reduction of thermal stress by using these ultra-thin Si membranes, which was further confirmed by the photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the simulation results from the finite element method calculation by using the software of ANSYS. In this paper, a newly developed approach was demonstrated to utilize micromechanical structures for GaN growth, which would improve the material quality of the epi-layers and facilitate GaN-based micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) fabrication, especially the pressure sensor, in the future applications. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of GaN nanotip triangle pyramids on 3C-SiC epilayer/Si substrates via an in situ In-doping technique

GaN nanotip triangle pyramids were synthesized on 3C-SiC epilayer via an isoelectronic In-doping technique. The synthesis was carried out in a specially designed two-hot-boat chemical vapor deposition system. In (99.999%) and molten Ga (99.99%) with a mass ratio of about 1:4 were used as the source, and pieces of Si (111) wafer covered with 400-500 nm 3C-SiC epilayer were used as the substrates. The products were analyzed by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. Our results show that the as-synthesized GaN pyramids are perfect single crystal with wurtzite structure, which may have potential applications in electronic/photonic devices.

Comparison of the properties of GaN grown on complex Si-based structures

With the aim of investigating the possible integration of optoelectronic devices, epitaxial GaN layers have been grown on Si(Ill) semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) and on Si/CoSi2/Si(111) using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The samples are found to possess a highly oriented wurtzite structure, a uniform thickness, and abrupt interfaces. The epitaxial orientation is determined as GaN(0001)//Si(111), GaN[1120]//Si[110], and GaN[1010]//Si[112], and the GaN layer is tensilely strained in the direction parallel to the interface. According to Rutherford backscattering/channeling spectrometry and (0002) rocking curves, the crystalline quality of GaN on Si(111) SOI is better than that of GaN on silicide. Room-temperature photoluminescence of GaN/SOI reveals a strong near-band-edge emission at 368 nm (3.37 eV) with a full width at half-maximum of 59 meV. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Effects of ZnO interlayers on thick GaN/Si film prepared by RF magnetron sputtering

We have successfully prepared a high-quality 2 mu m-thick GaN film with three inserted 30 nm-thick ZnO interlayers on Si (111) substrate without cracks by magnetron sputtering. The effects of the thickness and number of ZnO interlayers on the crystal quality of the GaN films were studied. It was found that the GaN crystal quality initially improved with the increase of the thickness of ZnO interlayers, but deteriorated quickly when the thickness exceeded 30 nm. Multiple ZnO interlayers were used as an effective means to further improve the crystal quality of the GaN film. By increasing the number of interlayers up to three, the cracks can be constrained to a certain extent, and the crystal quality of the GaN film greatly improved. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crack control in GaN grown on silicon (111) using In doped low-temperature AlGaN interlayer by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

The effects of In doped low-temperature (LT) AlGaN interlayer on the properties of GaN/Si(111) by MOCVD have been investigated. Using In doping LT-interlayer can decrease the stress sufficiently for avoiding crack formation in a thick (2.0 mu m) GaN layer. Significant improvement in the crystal and optical properties of GaN layer is also achieved. In doping is observed to reduce the stress in AlGaN interlayer measured by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD). It can provide more compressive stress to counteract tensile stress and reduce crack density in subsequent GaN layer. Moreover, as a surfactant, indium is observed to cause an enhanced PL intensity and the narrowed linewidths of PL and XRD spectra for the LT-interlayer. Additionally, the crystal quality of GaN layer is found to be dependent on the growth parameters of underneath In-doped LT-AlGaN interlayer. The optimal parameters, such as TMIn flow rate, TMAl flow rates and thickness, are achieved to obtain nearly 2.0 mu m thick crack free GaN film with advanced optical and crystal properties. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microtwins and twin inclusions in the 3C-SiC epilayers grown on Si(001) by APCVD

Microtwins in the 3C-SiC films grown on Si(001) by APCVD were analyzed in detail using an X-ray four-circle diffractometer. The empty set scan shows that 3C-SiC films can grow on Si substrates epitaxially and the epitaxial relationship is revealed as (001)(3C-SiC)//(001)(Si), [111](3C-SiC)//[111](Si). Other diffractions emerged in the pole figures of the (111) 3C-SiC. We performed the (10 (1) over bar0) h-SiC and the reciprocal space mapping of the (002) plane of twins for the first time, finding that the diffractions at chi = 15.8 degrees result from not hexagonal SiC but microtwins of 3C-SiC, and twin inclusions are estimated to be 1%.

The effects of carbonized buffer layer on the growth of SiC on Si

Carbonized buffer layers were formed with C2H4 on Si(100) and Si(111) substrates using different methods and SIC epilayers were grown on each buffer layer at 1050 degrees C with simultaneous supply of C2H4 and Si2H6. The structure of carbonized and epitaxy layers was analyzed with in situ RHEED. The buffer layers formed at 800 degrees C were polycrystalline on both Si(100) and Si(111) substrates whereas they were single crystals, with twins on Si(100) and without tu ins on Si(111)substrates. when formed with a gradual rise in substrate temperature from 300 degrees C to growth temperature. Raising the substrate temperature slowly results in the formation of more twins. Epilayers grown on carbonized polycrystalline lavers are polycrystalline. Single crystal epilayers without twins grow on single crystalline buffer layers without twins or with a few twins. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A study of the interface of CeO2/Si heterostructure grown by ion beam deposition

Epitaxial cerium dioxide films on single-crystal silicon substrates (CeO2/Si) have been grown by a dual mass-analyzed low-energy ion beam deposition (IBD) system. By double-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) are 23' and 33' in the rocking curves for (222) and (111) faces of the CeO2 film, respectively, and the lattice-mismatch Delta a/a with the substrate is about - 0.123%. The results show that the CeO2/Si grown by IBD is of high crystalline quality. In this work, the CeO2/Si heterostructure were investigated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) measurements. Especially, XPS and AES depth profiling was used to analyze the compositions and structures in the interface regions of the as-grown and post-annealed CeO2/Si. It was found that there was no silicon oxide in the interface region of the as-grown sample but silicon oxide in the post-annealed sample. The reason for obtaining such high quality heterostructure mainly depends on the absence of silicon oxide in the surface at the beginning of the deposition. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

CERIUM SILICIDE FORMATION IN THIN CE SI MULTILAYER FILMS

Alternating layers of Si(200 angstrom thick) and Ce(200 angstrom thick) up to 26 layers altogether were deposited by electron evaporation under ultrahigh vacuum conditions on Si(100) substrate held at 150-degrees-C. Isothermal, rapid thermal annealing has been used to react these Ce-Si multilayer films. A variety of analytical techniques has been used to study these multilayer films after annealing, and among these are Auger electron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering, X-ray diffraction, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Intermixing of these thin Ce-Si multilayer films has occurred at temperatures as low as 150-degrees-C for 2 h, when annealed. Increasing the annealing temperature from 150 to 400-degrees-C for 1 h, CeSi2 forms gradually and the completion of reaction occurs at approximately 300-400-degrees-C. During the formation of CeSi2 from 150-400-degrees-C, there is some evidence for small grains in the selected area diffraction patterns, indicating that CeSi2 crystallites were present in some regions. However, we have no conclusive evidence for the formation of epitaxial CeSi2 layers, only polycrystals were formed when reacted in the solid phase even after rapid thermal anneal at 900-degrees-C for 10 s. The formation mechanism has also been discussed in combining the results of the La-Si system.

PHOTOEMISSION-STUDY OF THE INTERFACIAL FORMATION PROCESS AND REACTIONS BETWEEN AL AND HYDROGENATED AMORPHOUS SI

Using photoemission spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy, the interfacial formation process and the reactions between Al and hydrogenated amorphous Si are probed, and annealing behaviors of the Al/a-Si:H system are investigated as well. It is found that a three-dimensional growth of Al metal clusters which includes reacted Al and non-reacted metal Al occurs at the initial Al deposition time, reacted Al and Si alloyed layers exist in the Al/a-Si:H interface, and non-reacted Al makes layer-by-layer growth forming a metal Al layer on the sample surface. The interfacial reactions and element interdiffusion of Al/a-Si:H are promoted under the vacuum annealing.

PLD工艺制备高质量ZnO/Si异质外延薄膜

采用脉冲激光沉积工艺在不同条件下以Si(111)为衬底制备了Zno薄膜.通过对不同氧压下(0～50Pa)沉积的样品的室温PL谱测试表明,氧气氛显著地提高了薄膜的发光质量,在50Pa氧气中沉积的ZnO薄膜具有最强的近带边UV发射.XRD测试说明在氧气氛中得到的薄膜结晶质量较差,没有单一的(002)取向.利用-低温(500℃)沉积的ZnO薄膜作缓冲层,得到了高质量的ZnO外延膜.与直接沉积的ZnO膜相比,生长在缓冲层上的ZnO膜展现出规则的斑点状衍射花样,而且拥有更强的UV发射和更窄的UV峰半高宽(98meV).对不同温度下沉积的缓冲层进行了RHEED表征,结果表明,在600～650℃之间生长缓冲层,有望进一步改善ZnO外延膜的质量.

氧离子束辅助激光淀积生长ZnO/Si薄膜深度剖析

对于在Si(111)上用氧离子束辅助(O~+-assisted)脉冲激光淀积(PLD)生长的ZnO薄膜,用X射线光电子能谱(XPS)深度剖析方法对长成的样品进行了异位测试,分析了导致各峰峰位能移的因素;通过异位与原位XPS谱图的比较,指出O+-assisted PLD法生成的ZnO薄膜中存在孔隙;指出生长出的ZnO薄膜中含si成分的厚度不超过18 nm;同时探讨了在长成的ZnO/Si上继续生长GaN薄膜的可行性.

Si基外延GaN的结构和力学性能

采用MOCVD技术在Si衬底(111)面上生长了GaN外延膜,分析了薄膜表面形貌和Si基GaN的临界载荷,研究了表面发光性能和GaN晶体质量随深度的变化.结果表明,外延层的表面比较平整,多组超晶格插入层可以进一步降低位错密度,提高晶体质量.膜的表面有许多颗粒状的发光中心,除了强的带边峰外,还有弱的黄光带和红光带,这可能是ON与VGa所产生的深能级跃迁产生的.GaN的晶体质量具有梯度变化,GaN外延层的上层晶体质量比较好,界面附近比较差,但是外延层与衬底的结合强度较高,临界载荷达到2.05 N.

Si上外延的n型3C-SiC欧姆接触研究

用LPCVD在si（111）上异质外延了n型3C-SiC，并在所外延的3C-SiC上蒸发Au／Ti，通过不同温度下的RTA（快速热退火）形成欧姆接触。用两种不同的传输线模型对Ti／3C-SiC欧姆接触的ρc（比接触电阻率）进行测量，在750℃退火后Ti／3C-SiC的ρc达到了最低值为3．68×10^-5Ω·cm^2这满足了应用的要求。AES分析结果还表明由于Ti的氧化，更高温度下的退火会使ρc增大。

低能离子束方法制备重掺杂Fe的Si:Fe固溶体

利用质量分离的低能离子束方法,以离子能量为1000eV,剂量为3×1017cm-2,室温下往p型Si(111)单晶衬底注入Fe离子,注入的样品在400 C真空下进行热处理.俄歇电子能谱法(AES)对原位注入样品深度分析表明Fe离子浅注入到p型Si单晶衬底,注入深度约为42nm.X射线衍射法(XRD)对热处理样品结构分析发现只有Si衬底的衍射峰,没有其他新相.X射线光电子能谱法(XPS)对热处理样品表面分析发现Fe2p束缚能对应于单质Fe的峰,没有形成Fe的硅化物.这些结果表明重掺杂Fe的Si:Fe固溶体被制备.电化学C-V法测量了热处理后样品载流子浓度随深度的分布,发现Fe重掺杂Si致使Si的导电类型从p型转为n型,Si:Fe固溶体和Si衬底形成pn结,具有整流特性.