Structural characteristics and defect states of intrinsic GaN epi-layers in a high power device structure

We investigated the structural characteristics and defect states of intrinsic GaN epi-layers in a high power device structures grown on GaN and sapphire substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). From X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements, the structural properties of the GaN epi-structures were improved clearly using GaN substrates. Through optical conductance deep level transient spectroscopy analysis, four traps were observed in all the GaN layers. The activation energies of these traps were 0.93 eV (H1), 0.61 eV (H2), 0.50 eV (H3), and 0.2 eV (H4) above the valance band edge, and their capture cross-sections were 3.41 x 10(-14) cm(2) (H1), 3.04 x 10(-14) cm(2) (H2), 1.35 x 10(-12) cm(2) (H3) and 2.90 x 10(-16) cm(2) (H4), respectively. The origins of the H4 and H1 traps may be related to gallium vacancy (V-Ga) and V-Ga-related defects, and the H2 and H3 traps were from nitrogen vacancy (V-N). The total defect density of GaN epi-layers estimated using the space charge limited current method was reduced to 1.18 x 10(15) cm(-3) on GaN substrates from about 1.52 x 10(17) cm(-3) on sapphire substrates.

Automated summary

The study showed that using GaN substrates can significantly improve the structural properties of GaN epitaxial structures and enhance their quality. Four traps were identified through optical conductance deep level transient spectroscopy analysis, with H4 and H1 possibly related to gallium and nitrogen vacancies.