Morphology of AlN whiskers grown by reacting N2 gas and Al vapor

Abstract

We have investigated the morphology of AlN whiskers on a polycrystalline AlN substrate by using Fe-Al alloy melts under the different synthesis conditions. Formation density of the AlN whiskers increases and the diameter of the whisker decreases with increasing Al content of the Fe-Al alloy melt. Most of the AlN whiskers were zigzag shape with the hexagonal cross section. The longitudinal direction was the [0001] direction. The facet with the zigzag shape was the {11¯01} or {11¯01¯} pyramidal plane and the period of the zigzag facet was almost constant. The average diameter of the whiskers and the period of the zigzag facet decrease with increasing Al content. At the initial stage of the whisker formation, the island of AlN formed on the AlN substrate and the pyramidal facet grows via step-flow growth. From the observation, we discussed the possible mechanism for the formation of the zigzag-shape AlN whiskers.