Combining x-ray real and reciprocal space mapping techniques to explore the epitaxial growth of semiconductors

In the present work, the importance of determining the strain states of semiconductor compounds with high accuracy is demonstrated. For the matter in question, new software titled LAPAs, the acronym for LAttice PArameters is presented. The lattice parameters as well as the chemical composition of Al1-xInxN and Ge1-xSnx compounds grown on top of GaN- and Ge-buffered c-Al2O3 and (001) oriented Si substrates, respectively, are calculated via the real space Bond's method. The uncertainties in the lattice parameters and composition are derived, compared and discussed with the ones found via x-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping. Broad peaks lead to increased centroid uncertainty and are found to constitute up to 99% of the total uncertainty in the lattice parameters. Refraction correction is included in the calculations and found to have an impact of 0.001 angstrom in the lattice parameters of both hexagonal and cubic crystallographic systems and below 0.01% in the quantification of the InN and Sn contents. Although the relaxation degrees of the nitride and tin compounds agree perfectly between the real and reciprocal-spaces methods, the uncertainty in the latter is found to be ten times higher. The impact of the findings may be substantial for the development of applications and devices as the intervals found for the lattice match the condition of Al1-xInxN grown on GaN templates vary between similar to 1.8% (0.1675-0.1859) and 0.04% (0.1708-0.1712) if derived via the real- and reciprocal spaces methods.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates the importance of accurately determining the strain states of semiconductor compounds and introduces a new software called LAPAs. The lattice parameters and chemical composition of Al1-xInxN and Ge1-xSnx compounds grown on different substrates are calculated using the Bond's method and compared with results from x-ray diffraction. The findings show that broad peaks contribute significantly to the uncertainty in lattice parameters, and the inclusion of refraction correction has a small impact on the results. The differences between real space and reciprocal space methods are also discussed.