The origins of near band-edge transitions in hexagonal boron nitride epilayers

Photoluminescence spectroscopy has been employed to probe the near band-edge transitions in hexagonal BN (h-BN) epilayers synthesized under varying ammonia flow rates. The results suggest that the quasi-donor-acceptor pair emission line at 5.3 eV is due to the transition between the nitrogen vacancy and a deep acceptor, whereas the 5.5 eV emission line is due to the recombination of an exciton bound to a deep acceptor formed by carbon impurity occupying the nitrogen site. By growing h-BN under high ammonia flow rates, nitrogen vacancy related peaks can be eliminated and epilayers exhibiting pure free exciton emission have been obtained. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.