journal article·2025-08Open access

Unraveling the Atomic Mechanism of the Crystalline Phase‐Dependent Structural Features and Special Spectral Design of α‐, β‐, and Ɛ‐Ga₂O₃

Xinqing Han, Yong Liu, Yang Li, Miguel L. Crespillo, Eva Zarkadoula, Wenxiang Mu, Peng Liu

Advanced Science· Volume 12· Issue 31

Abstract

Abstract Atomic‐scale phase transformations profoundly influence the functional properties of Ga₂O₃ polymorphs. By combining irradiation experiments with microstructure characterization and theoretical approaches, phase‐specific energy‐dissipation pathways in α‐, β‐, and ε‐Ga₂O₃ are uncovered and strategies for targeted property design are outlined. Competing antiphase boundaries (APBs) and twin domain boundaries (TDBs) promote irreversible α→ε interconversion through domain fragmentation. In β‐Ga₂O₃, defect‐induced stress gradients drive two distinct local transformations: surface Ga‐aggregated β→δ that stabilizes transient states, and latent‐track‐confined β→κ phase transition with recoverable distortions via cation reordering. Under electronic excitation, β‐Ga₂O₃ forms nanohillocks via robust GaO₆ octahedra (high density/strong Ga─O bonds), while α/ε‐Ga₂O₃ generates nanopores from tetrahedral Ga looseness (low bonding energy), highlighting phase‐dependent surface dynamics shaped by atomic packing and bonding anisotropy. Defect‐regulated recombination suppresses visible photoluminescence in α/β‐Ga₂O₃, whereas in ε‐Ga₂O₃ bandgap narrowing of ΔE: 0.30 eV is observed, enhancing emission. Linking phase‐dependent defect‐carrier interactions and metastable‐phase engineering in Ga₂O₃ enables property optimization for power‐electronics and optoelectronics devices.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Ga2O3 and related materials · Luminescence Properties of Advanced Materials · ZnO doping and properties

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nuclear Science Nuclear Energy Technology and Comprehensive Utilization School of Nuclear Science Energy and Power Engineering Shandong University Jinan Shandong 250061 P. R. China

State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials and Institute of Novel Semiconductor Shandong University Jinan Shandong 250100 P. R. China

Department of Nuclear Engineering University of Tennessee Knoxville TN 37996 USA

Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN 37831 USA

Institute of Frontier and Interdisciplinary Science and Key Laboratory of Particle Physics and Particle Irradiation Shandong University Qingdao 266237 P. R. China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · China Postdoctoral Science Foundation · Qingdao Postdoctoral Science Foundation · Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province

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