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Title: Ab initio modeling of zincblende AlN layer in Al-AlN-TiN multilayers

Abstract

An unusual growth mechanism of metastable zincblende AlN thin film by diffusion of nitrogen atoms into Al lattice is established. Using first-principles density functional theory, we studied the possibility of thermodynamic stability of AlN as a zincblende phase due to epitaxial strains and interface effect, which fails to explain the formation of zincblende AlN. We then compared the formation energetics of rocksalt and zincblende AlN in fcc Al through direct diffusion of nitrogen atoms to Al octahedral and tetrahedral interstitials. Furthermore, the formation of a zincblende AlN thin film is determined to be a kinetically driven process, not a thermodynamically driven process.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1258604
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1256778
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-22656
Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979; JAPIAU
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 119; Journal Issue: 22; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Yadav, S. K., Wang, J., and Liu, X. -Y.. Ab initio modeling of zincblende AlN layer in Al-AlN-TiN multilayers. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4953593.
Yadav, S. K., Wang, J., & Liu, X. -Y.. Ab initio modeling of zincblende AlN layer in Al-AlN-TiN multilayers. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4953593
Yadav, S. K., Wang, J., and Liu, X. -Y.. Mon . "Ab initio modeling of zincblende AlN layer in Al-AlN-TiN multilayers". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4953593. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1258604.
@article{osti_1258604,
title = {Ab initio modeling of zincblende AlN layer in Al-AlN-TiN multilayers},
author = {Yadav, S. K. and Wang, J. and Liu, X. -Y.},
abstractNote = {An unusual growth mechanism of metastable zincblende AlN thin film by diffusion of nitrogen atoms into Al lattice is established. Using first-principles density functional theory, we studied the possibility of thermodynamic stability of AlN as a zincblende phase due to epitaxial strains and interface effect, which fails to explain the formation of zincblende AlN. We then compared the formation energetics of rocksalt and zincblende AlN in fcc Al through direct diffusion of nitrogen atoms to Al octahedral and tetrahedral interstitials. Furthermore, the formation of a zincblende AlN thin film is determined to be a kinetically driven process, not a thermodynamically driven process.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4953593},
journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
number = 22,
volume = 119,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
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Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 11 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: The schematic of Al-AlN-TiN trilayer growth. (a) Al layer is exposed to nitrogen and titanium. (b) and (c): This leads to the formation of zb-AlN and TiN layer. Under uniaxial indentation zb-AlN partially transforms to wz-AlN.

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Mechanically controlling the reversible phase transformation from zinc blende to wurtzite in AlN
journal, March 2017


Piezoresistivity of InAsP Nanowires: Role of Crystal Phases and Phosphorus Atoms in Strain-Induced Channel Conductances
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Mechanically controlling the reversible phase transformation from zinc blende to wurtzite in AlN [Supplemental Data]
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