Origins of epitaxial macro-terraces and macro-steps on GaN substrates

Localized lattice distortions in GaN substrates can serve as nucleation sites for epitaxial macro-steps and macro-terraces. These detrimental macro-scale features give rise to optically hazy homoepitaxial GaN surfaces. After nucleating, these macro-features grow laterally along the surface and coalesce, leading to significant coverage of the wafer surface. Dot-core GaN substrates consisting of a periodic array of cores were used as a defect-engineered system, where dislocations are intentionally concentrated at the cores. The high density of threading dislocations at the cores induced localized lattice distortions. These distortions are associated predominantly with lattice tilt on the order of hundreds of arcsec across similar to 0.5 mm laterally along the wafer surface. The resulting macro-features that nucleated at these localized distorted sites were made up of macro-terraces with lengths ranging similar to 30-similar to 150 mu m and macro-step heights ranging similar to 200-similar to 400 nm. Another source of localized distortion was threading screw dislocations or GaN nanopipes that resulted in spiral growth and hillock formation. Based on x-ray topography and optical microscopy measurements, we speculate that the coalescence of hillocks evolves into macro-terraces and macro-steps. While previous studies focused on the substrate miscut as a means to control macro-feature formation, we show that localized lattice tilt from defects is another important contributor to macro-feature formation.

Automated summary

Localized lattice distortions in GaN substrates can nucleate epitaxial macro-steps and macro-terraces, leading to optically hazy surfaces. The defects and dislocations in the substrate induce lattice distortions and result in the formation of macro-features such as macro-terraces with lengths ranging from 30 to 150 µm and macro-step heights ranging from 200 to 400 nm. Threading screw dislocations or GaN nanopipes can also cause localized distortion and hillock formation, eventually evolving into macro-terraces and macro-steps. This study highlights the importance of localized lattice tilt from defects in controlling macro-feature formation.