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Title: Influence of ambient on hydrogen release from p-type gallium nitride.

Journal Article · · Proposed for publication in Journal of Applied Physics.
OSTI ID:993927

Mechanisms of H release from Mg-doped, p-type GaN were investigated in vacuum, in N{sub 2} and O{sub 2} gases, and in electron-cyclotron-resonance N{sub 2} plasmas. Replacing grown-in protium with deuterium (D) and employing sensitive nuclear-reaction analysis allowed the retained concentration to be followed quantitatively over two decades during isothermal heating, illuminating the kinetics of controlling processes. Oxidation attending the O{sub 2} exposures was monitored through nuclear-reaction analysis of {sup 18}O. N{sub 2} gas at atmospheric pressure increases the rate of D release appreciably relative to vacuum. The acceleration produced by O{sub 2} gas is much greater, but is diminished in later stages of the release by oxidation. The N{sub 2} plasma employed in these studies had no resolvable effect. We argue that surface desorption is rate controlling in the D release, and that it occurs by D-D recombination and the formation of N-D and O-D species. Our results are quantitatively consistent with a theoretical model wherein the bulk solution is in equilibrium with surface states from which desorption occurs by processes that are both first and second order in surface coverage.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
993927
Report Number(s):
SAND2003-2450J; JAPIAU; TRN: US201024%%192
Journal Information:
Proposed for publication in Journal of Applied Physics., Vol. 95, Issue 1; ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English