Tem Characterization of ZnO and AIN/ZnO Thin Films Grown on Sapphire

Abstract

AbstractThin (~ 250 nm) films of ZnO grown by pulsed laser deposition on basal plane of sapphire were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Plan-view TEM study proved the films to be single crystal with the following epitaxial relationship with the substrate: (0001)znO || (0001)sap with the 30 30° in-plane rotation - [0110]ZnO || [1210]sap. Dislocations lying mostly in basal plane of ZnO and aligned along both <:1010> and <1120> directions having b=1/3[1120] were found. ZnO films were found to have layered growth morphology contrary to columnar morphology of III-nitrides. Consequently, the threading dislocation density in ZnO films (opposing to the AIN and GaN) drops very fast with the thickness: down to 107cm-2 at ~ 250 nm. The effect of post-annealing (which caused significant improvement in electrical and optical properties) on the microstructure of ZnO films was also studied. Contrary to the atomically sharp and clean interface in the as-deposited films, the post-annealed ZnO/sapphire interface contained reacted layer of 30 - 60 A thickness. The structure of the interlayer was determined to be ZnAl2O4 (spinel). The formation of this single crystal spinel layer did not cause deterioration of the ZnO film structure or properties. We have also explored the possibilities of using ZnO as a buffer for III-nitride growth. The epitaxial AIN films were grown on top of the ZnO layer by pulsed laser deposition. Thin (20 -60 A) interfacial reaction layer (also spinel ZnAm2O4) was observed between AIN and ZnO. Formation of this interlayer is studied in conjunction with the AIN epitaxy and the characteristics of defects and interfaces.