Skip to main content
Log in

Reduction of Threading Dislocation Density in AlGaN by Indium Incorporation

  • Published:
MRS Online Proceedings Library Aims and scope

Abstract

The addition of indium, even to small concentrations, to AlGaN has resulted in improved optical and doping properties for these materials. This paper is the first report of improved structural properties for indium containing AlGaN layers. A systematic series of the AlGaN layers with nominal concentration of 20% aluminum were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition with traces amounts of indium incorporated into the layers (up to 0.15% indium). X-ray diffraction analysis of the layers was completed using Williamson Hall plots and reciprocal space mapping to investigate any change in the columnar structure of the initial AlGaN layers. It was found that the threading dislocation densities and lateral coherence length showed a systematic variation with indium incorporation. The threading dislocation density is lowered as indium composition increased with a corresponding increase in lateral coherence length. This indicates that even the incorporation of trace amounts of indium improves the structural properties of these epilayers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. H. Kang, N. Spencer, D. Nicol, Z.C. Feng, I. Ferguson, S. Guo, M. Pophristic, and B. Peres, Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 743, L6.12.1 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. R.D. Dupuis, J. Cryst. Growth 178 56–73 (1997)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. H. Hirayama, A. Kinoshita, T. Yamabi, Y. Enomoto, A. Hirata, T. Araki, Y. Nanishi, and Y. Aoyagi, Appl. Phys. Lett., 81, 207–209 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. S. Guo, M. Pophristic, I. Ferguson, J. Cryst. Growth 252 486–492 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. V. Adivarahan, G. Simin, G. Tamulaitis, R. Srinivasan, J. Yang, M. Asif Khan, M. S. Shur and R. Gaska, Appl. Phys. Lett., 79, 1903–1905 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. C. J. Lua, L. A. Bendersky, Hai Lu and W. J. Schaff, Appl. Phys. Lett., 83, 2817–2819 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Z.H. Feng, H. Yang, S.M. Zhang, and Y.T. Wang, J. Cryst. Growth 235 207–211 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. E. Monroy, N. Gogneau, D. Jalabert, E. Amalric, Y. Hori, F. Enjalbert, L. Dang, and B. Daudin Appl. Phys. Lett., 82, 2242–2233 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Y. Liu, T. Egawa, H. Ishikawa, T. Jimbo, J. Cryst. Growth 259 245–251 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. P. Fewster, “X-Ray Scattering from semiconductors”, Imperial Press, London, 345 2000).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. P. Fewster, “X-Ray and Neutron Dynamical Diffraction: Theory and Applications”, NATO ASI Series B: Physics, 357, 321 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  12. D. Bowen, “High Resolution XRD and Topography”, Talyor & Francis, 67 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  13. T. Metzger, R. Hopler, E. Born, and O. Ambacher, Phil. Mag., A 77, 1013–1025 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. H. Wang, J. Zhang, C. Chen, Q. Fareed, and J. Yang,, Appl. Phys. Lett., 81, 605–607 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  15. H. Heinke, V. Kirchner, S. Einfeldt, and D. Hommel, Phys. Stat. Sol., A 172, 391–395 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. G. Williamson and W. Hall, Acta. Metall., 1, 22 (1953).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. De Keijser {etet al}, J. Appl. Crystallogr., 16, 309 (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by DARPA (John Carrano) and ONR (Yoon-Soo Park) under contract number N00014-02-1-0596 as part of the SUVOS program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kang, H., Feng, Z.C., Ferguson, I. et al. Reduction of Threading Dislocation Density in AlGaN by Indium Incorporation. MRS Online Proceedings Library 798, 653–658 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-798-Y5.71

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-798-Y5.71

Navigation