Preparation of epitaxial AlN films by electron cyclotron resonance plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition on Ir- and Pt-coated sapphire substrates

AlN epitaxial films have been fabricated on Ir- and Pt-coated α-Al2O3 substrates via electron cyclotron resonance plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (ECRPACVD) using an AlBr3-N2-H2-Ar gas system at substrate temperatures ranging from 500 to 700 °C. The epitaxial relationships between AlN films and substrates were determined by x-ray diffraction, x-ray pole figure, and reflection high-energy electron diffraction. The results are useful in practical applications, such as AlN/metal/α-Al2O3 structure in surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices.