Abstract
AlN(0001) films have been grown by plasma-enhanced molecular beam epitaxy on sapphire(0001) surfaces utilizing monoenergetic activated-nitrogen beams at elevated substrate temperatures (900-1300 °C). AlN films synthesized under stoichiometric conditions, with ECR microwave powers of less than 100 W, substrate temperatures of 925-1150 °C and a low temperature buffer layer exhibit narrow X-ray diffraction rocking curve widths [6 arcmin, AlN(0002)]. Smooth surface morphologies with typical RMS surface roughness of approximately 15 angstroms are found for approximately 1 μm AlN growth when the lower range of substrate temperatures are used. The φ-scan of the AlN(101̄3) X-ray Bragg reflection has six-fold symmetry with peak widths of 1.6°, indicating that the highest quality films are aligned, albeit with small angle grain boundaries in the a-b plane. Lattice constants of 3.079 angstroms (a) and 5.036 angstroms (c) are inferred from the X-ray diffraction data, indicating a bi-axial compressive strain of 1.03% in the a-b plane. Even smoother surfaces with an RMS roughness approximately 6 angstroms can be produced if pre-growth surface nitridation is eliminated. In that case, degradation in the AlN thin-film crystal quality is found, as judged by the 24 arcmin rocking curve widths. The influence of growth conditions (i.e. substrate temperature, ratio of activated-nitrogen to Al flux, ion kinetic energy, pre-growth sapphire nitridation and the properties of the buffer layer) on the resulting crystal quality and surface morphology are directly addressed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 80-87 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Materials Science and Engineering B: Solid-State Materials for Advanced Technology |
Volume | 67 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 8 1999 |
Event | Proceedings of the 1999 1st Lawrence Symposium on Critical Issues in Epitaxy - Mesa, AZ, USA Duration: Jan 6 1999 → Jan 9 1999 |