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Title: Deep level optical and thermal spectroscopy of traps in n-GaN grown by ammonia molecular beam epitaxy

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2981571· OSTI ID:21175584
;  [1]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 (United States)
  2. Materials and Electrical and Computer Engineering Departments, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 (United States)

The incorporation of deep level defects in n-type GaN grown by ammonia-based molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is studied via systematic adjustment of the NH{sub 3}/Ga flux ratio. Deep level optical and transient spectroscopies, which together enable deep level detection throughout the GaN bandgap, reveal defect states whose individual concentrations vary with the NH{sub 3}/Ga flux ratio. A general trend of lower concentration for deep levels at E{sub C}-3.28, E{sub C}-1.28, E{sub C}-0.62, and E{sub C}-0.25 eV with higher NH{sub 3}/Ga flux ratio was observed, with the strongest reduction at the E{sub C}-0.25 eV level, consistent with expectations for a V{sub N}-related defect. The known C{sub N} impurity state at E{sub C}-3.28 eV and suspected C{sub I}-related state at E{sub C}-1.28 eV also showed a moderate decrease in concentration at the higher NH{sub 3}/Ga flux ratio. In contrast, the V{sub Ga}-related defect at E{sub C}-2.62 eV was insensitive to the NH{sub 3}/Ga flux ratio over the range studied here. Taken together, ammonia-MBE GaN has deep level defects with different sensitivities in flux ratios suggestive of independent physical sources. However, the total trap concentrations were significantly reduced for higher NH{sub 3}/Ga flux ratios in n-type GaN grown by ammonia-MBE under the range of growth conditions used in this study, suggesting that higher NH{sub 3}/Ga flux ratios will generate higher electronic quality GaN material when using ammonia-based MBE for device applications.

OSTI ID:
21175584
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 93, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2981571; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English