Predicted bond length variation in wurtzite and zinc-blende InGaN and AlGaN alloys
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, 80401 (United States)
Valence force field simulations utilizing large supercells are used to investigate the bond lengths in wurtzite and zinc-blende In{sub x}Ga{sub 1{minus}x}N and Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1{minus}x}N random alloys. We find that (i) while the first-neighbor cation{endash}anion shell is split into two distinct values in both wurtzite and zinc-blende alloys (R{sub Ga{minus}N{sub 1}}{ne}R{sub In{minus}N{sub 1}}), the second-neighbor cation{endash}anion bonds are equal (R{sub Ga{minus}N{sub 2}}=R{sub In{minus}N{sub 2}}). (ii) The second-neighbor cation{endash}anion bonds exhibit a crucial difference between wurtzite and zinc-blende binary structures: in wurtzite we find {ital two} bond distances which differ in length by 13{percent} while in the zinc-blende structure there is only {ital one} bond length. This splitting is preserved in the alloy, and acts as a fingerprint, distinguishing the wurtzite from the zinc-blende structure. (iii) The small splitting of the first-neighbor cation{endash}anion bonds in the wurtzite structure due to nonideal {ital c/a} ratio is preserved in the alloy, but is obscured by the bond length broadening. (iv) The cation{endash}cation bond lengths exhibit three distinct values in the alloy (Ga{endash}Ga, Ga{endash}In, and In{endash}In), while the anion{endash}anion bonds are split into two values corresponding to N{endash}Ga{endash}N and N{endash}In{endash}N. (v) The cation{endash}related splitting of the bonds and alloy broadening are considerably larger in InGaN alloy than in AlGaN alloy due to larger mismatch between the binary compounds. (vi) The calculated first-neighbor cation{endash}anion and cation{endash}cation bond lengths in In{sub x}Ga{sub 1{minus}x}N alloy are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The remaining bond lengths are provided as predictions. In particular, the predicted splitting for the second-neighbor cation{endash}anion bonds in the wurtzite structure awaits experimental testing. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 300133
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 85; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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