The electronic properties of SiCAlN quaternary compounds

We have investigated the properties of SiCAlN quaternary compounds composed of SiC and AlN polytypes by first-principle calculations. We find that their band gaps have a large tunability and are sensitive to the polytype structures. Their electronic properties vary from wide-band-gap semiconducting to metallic due to the complex charge transfer between the two constituents SiC and AlN. The formation energies are also calculated. These results show SiCAlN quaternary compounds have potential applications in the electronic devices that can be tuned over a large wavelength range.