X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of GaN/(0001)AlN and AlN/(0001)GaN growth mechanisms

The mechanisms of growth of GaN on AlN and AlN on GaN via gas source-molecular beam epitaxy with NH3 as the nitrogen source have been investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and Auger electron spectroscopy. The growth of GaN on AlN at low temperatures (650–750 °C) occurs via a Stranski–Krastanov 2D→3D type mechanism with the transition to 3D growth occurring at ≈10–15 Å. The mechanism changes to Frank van der Merwe (FM)/layer-by-layer growth above 800 °C. The growth of AlN on GaN occurred via a FM layer-by-layer mechanism within the 750–900 °C temperature range investigated. We propose a model based on the interaction of ammonia and atomic hydrogen with the GaN/AlN surfaces which indicates that the surface kinetics of hydrogen desorption and ammonia decomposition are the factors that determine the GaN growth mechanism.