Effect of AlN Buffer Layer Properties on the Morphology and Polarity of GaN Nanowires Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Published

September 8, 2011

Author(s)

Matthew D. Brubaker, Kristine A. Bertness, Norman A. Sanford, Albert Davydov, Igor Levin, Devin M. Rourke, Victor M. Bright

Abstract

Low temperature AlN buffer layers grown by plasma-assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) on Si (111) were found to significantly affect the subsequent growth morphology of GaN nanowires. The AlN buffer layers exhibited nanowire-like columnar protrusions with size, shape, and tilt determined by the AlN V/III flux ratio. Piezoresponse Force Microscopy and polarity-sensitive etching indicate that the AlN films and protruding columns have mixed crystallographic polarity. Low density Ga-polar nanowires could be grown on AlN buffers that were predominantly N-polar with isolated Al-polar columns, indicating a higher growth rate for Ga-polar nanowires under typical growth conditions. The nanowires were frequently observed to adopt the structural characteristics of the underlying AlN columns, including size and degree of tilt. AlN buffer layers grown using slightly N-rich conditions (V/III flux ratio = 1.0-1.3) were found to provide a favorable growth surface for low density, coalescence-free nanowires.

Citation

Applied Physics

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Nanostructures, Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Nitrides, Semiconducting III-V Materials

Citation

Brubaker, M. , Bertness, K. , Sanford, N. , Davydov, A. , Levin, I. , Rourke, D. and Bright, V. (2011), Effect of AlN Buffer Layer Properties on the Morphology and Polarity of GaN Nanowires Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Applied Physics, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908715 (Accessed December 26, 2024)