Abstract
High quality epitaxial III-N semiconductor films, ranging in thickness from 300 to 900 Å, have been grown using A3Σ+u metastable nitrogen molecules. The work employed a corona discharge supersonic free-jet to generate a molecular beam containing exclusively the A3Σ+u activation state in an otherwise ground state N2 beam. AlN films were grown on 6H-SiC(0001) and Si(001) substrates. GaN films were grown on the same substrates and on buffer layers of AlN deposited in situ on 6H-SiC(0001). The N-atom incorporation efficiency (the number of N atoms attaching to a III-N surface per incident A3Σ+u molecule) approached 100% and was independent of substrate temperature from 600 to 900°C, implying direct molecular chemisorption of the A3Σ+u. These measurements support theoretical predictions that A3Σ+u is an ideal precursor for III-N growth.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3030-3032 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 77 |
Issue number | 19 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 6 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)