journal article·2018-10-01Open access

Effect of different buffer layers on the quality of InGaN layers grown on Si

V. J. Gómez, J. Grandal, A. Núñez-Cascajero, F. B. Naranjo, M. Varela, M. A. Sánchez-García, E. Calleja

AIP Advances· Volume 8· Issue 10

Abstract

This work studies the effect of four different types of buffer layers on the structural and optical properties of InGaN layers grown on Si(111) substrates and their correlation with electrical characteristics. The vertical electrical conduction of n-InGaN/buffer-layer/p-Si heterostructures, with In composition near 46%, which theoretically produces an alignment of the bands, is analyzed. Droplet elimination by radical-beam irradiation was successfully applied to grow high quality InGaN films on Si substrates for the first time. Among several buffer choices, an AlN buffer layer with a thickness above 24 nm improves the structural and optical quality of the InGaN epilayer while keeping a top to bottom ohmic behavior. These results will allow fabricating double-junction InGaN/Si solar cells without the need of tunnel junctions between the two sub-cells, therefore simplifying the device design.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: GaN-based semiconductor devices and materials · Nanowire Synthesis and Applications · Semiconductor materials and devices

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

Affiliations

Independent Researcher 1 , 28039 Madrid, Spain

ETSIT-ISOM, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid 2 , Avda. Complutense 30, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Grupo de Ingeniería Fotónica, Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Electrónica 3 , Alcalá de Henares, 28801 Madrid, Spain

Grupo de Física de Materiales Complejos, Departamento de Física de Materiales & Instituto Pluridisciplinar, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 4 , 28040 Madrid, Spain

Funding

Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación · H2020 European Research Council

References (30)

Show source-provided references
1. Luque · 2002
2. Solar cell efficiency tables (version 32)10.1002/pip.842 ↗
3. 40% efficient metamorphic GaInP/GaInAs/Ge multijunction solar cells10.1063/1.2734507 ↗
4. Low resistance GaN/InGaN/GaN tunnel junctions10.1063/1.4796041 ↗
5. GdN nanoisland-based GaN tunnel junctions10.1021/nl4006723 ↗
6. Modeling of InGaN/Si tandem solar cells10.1063/1.2952031 ↗
7. Theoretical analysis of unstable two-phase region and microscopic structure in wurtzite and zinc-blende InGaN using modified valence force field model10.1063/1.373783 ↗
8. Solid phase immiscibility in GaInN10.1063/1.117683 ↗
9. 1989
10. Comparative study of single InGaN layers grown on Si (111) and GaN (0001) templates: The role of surface wetting and epitaxial constraint10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2016.04.007 ↗
11. First observation of the Si(111)-7x7↔1x1 phase separation by the optical second harmonic generation10.1143/jjap.32.l610 ↗
12. 2007
13. Growth of III-nitrides on Si(111) by molecular beam epitaxy doping, optical, and electrical properties10.1016/s0022-0248(98)01346-3 ↗
14. A comprehensive diagram to grow InAlN alloys by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy10.1063/1.3026541 ↗
15. Study of high In-content AlInN deposition on p-Si(111) by RF-sputtering10.7567/jjap.55.05fb07 ↗
16. Influence of substrate nitridation temperature on epitaxial alignment of GaN nanowires to Si(111) substrate10.1088/0957-4484/24/3/035703 ↗
17. Structure determination of the Si3N4/Si(111)-8x8 surface: A combined study of Kikuchi electron holography, scanning tunneling microscopy and ab-initio calculations10.1103/physrevlett.86.2818 ↗
18. Thermal nitridation of the Si(111)-(7x7) surface studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy10.1103/physrevb.65.045309 ↗
19. T. A. Rawdanowicz, “Laser molecular beam epitaxial growth and properties of III-nitride thin film heterostructures on silicon,” PhD thesis, North Carolina State University, USA (2005).
20. Indium droplet elimination by radical beam irradiation for reproducible and high-quality growth of InN by RF molecular beam epitaxy10.1143/apex.2.051001 ↗
21. Growth of thick InGaN films with entire alloy composition using droplet elimination by radical-beam irradiation10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2013.05.009 ↗
22. Lattice pulling effect and strain relaxation in axial (In, Ga) N/GaN nanowire heterostructures grown on GaN-buffered Si (111) substrate10.1002/pssa.201400198 ↗
23. The composition pulling effect in InGaN growth on the GaN and AlGaN epitaxial layers grown by MOVPE10.1557/proc-449-89 ↗
24. The formation of crystalline defects and crystal growth mechanism in InxGa1−xN/GaN heterostructure grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy10.1016/s0022-0248(98)00149-3 ↗
25. Crystallographically uniform arrays of ordered (In)GaN nanocolumns10.1063/1.4905951 ↗
26. Near-infrared emitting In-rich InGaN layers grown directly on Si: Towards the whole composition range10.1063/1.4909515 ↗
27. GaN growth on (111) very thin amorphous SiN layer by ECR plasma-assisted MBE
28. Influence of defects and indium distribution on emission properties of thick In-rich InGaN layers grown by the DERI technique10.1088/1361-6641/32/2/025012 ↗
29. Leakage currents at crystallites in ZrAlxOyZrAlxOy thin films measured by conductive atomic-force microscopy10.1063/1.2746058 ↗
30. Compatibility of the selective area growth of GaN nanowires on AlN-buffered Si substrates with the operation of light emitting diodes10.1088/0957-4484/26/8/085605 ↗