Selected Energy Epitaxial Deposition and Low Energy Electron Microscopy of AIN, GaN and SiC Thin Films.

Abstract

Epitaxial AIN films were grown on as-received and hydrogen etched 6H-SiC(00Ol) substrates using an ammonia supersonic seeded beam. The films on the latter substrates exhibited a higher degree of order. Cross-sectional electron microscopy revealed sharper SiC-AiN interfaces with extended flat terraces. The few stacking mismatch boundaries originated from the 1.5 nm steps corresponding to the 6H stacking sequence. in situ LEEM/LEED studies were conducted on GaN homoepitaxial growth on MOCVD GaN substrates by plasma-assisted gas-source MBE. After 6 hours of growth at 6600C, LEEM images showed a GaN layer with a hexagonal parquet structure and a large number of dark spots on the surface. Ex situ AFM studies revealed that the former was a result of spiral growth and the latter were due to surface pits of hexagonal shape. The surface density of the pits is l-2x1O9 CZn.2. In situ cleaning of MOCVD-grown GaN/AlN/6H-SiC substrates using NH3-seeded supersonic molecular beams was investigated. Complete oxygen removal was achieved by heating in vacuum at 73O0C. Surface carbon concentrations of -3%, as evidenced by xPS, were achieved by heating at 73O0C under a hyperthermal NH3 flux. Modifications have been made to the SEE system to provide a cleaner vacuum ambient and are detailed in this report A new substrate holder was fabricated that uses Mo clips and a polished Mo block to ensure good thermal contact without Ag paste. Outgassing of the colloidal Ag paste is believed to be one source of carbon contamination at high temperatures. The design of the N plasma source and testing chamber is also reported.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA353949

Entities

People

  • H. Henry Lamb
  • Robert F Davis
  • S. T. Tsong

Organizations

  • North Carolina State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Chemistry
  • Compound Semiconductors
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Electrons
  • Epitaxial Growth
  • Films
  • High Temperature
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Materials
  • Materials Science
  • Microscopy
  • Molecular Beams
  • Semiconductors
  • Silicon Carbide
  • Spectra
  • Thin Films

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Semiconductor Device Technology
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene