Growth and microstructure of In xGa 1− xN films grown on SiC substrates via low pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy

Abstract

The growth and microstructures of In x Ga 1− x N films ( x≤0.23) grown on α(6H)–SiC(0001) wafer/AIN buffer layer/GaN heterostructures by low pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy have been investigated. The system deposition pressure limited the InN content in these films. The maximum InN contents achievable at the deposition pressures of 45 and 90 torr were ∼13 and ∼23%, respectively. Kinetic phenomena based on the rates of adsorption and desorption of the In growth species off the growth surface are presented to explain the film composition dependence on the system pressure. The surface morphologies and microstructures of the In x Ga 1− x N films were analyzed using several techniques, and the formation of pinhole defects in the films was investigated. Most of the pinhole defects were associated with threading dislocations with a c-component Burgers vector. Edge-type dislocations were never observed to terminate in pinholes in the samples observed here. Indium segregation to areas around the defect areas was observed, as was an In compositional gradient in the growth direction. Based on experimental observations, the strain field around dislocations with a c-component Burgers vector could result in the increase of In atoms at the dislocation sites in the film, which result in a change to the local growth mode of the film and causes the pinhole defects to form.