Polarity determination by electron energy-loss spectroscopy: application to ultra-small III-nitride semiconductor nanocolumns

Channeling-enhanced electron energy-loss spectroscopy is applied to determine the polarity of ultra-small nitride semiconductor nanocolumns in transmission electron microscopy. The technique demonstrates some practical advantages in the nanostructure analysis, especially for feature sizes of less than 50 nm. We have studied GaN and (Al, Ga)N nanocolumns grown in a self-assembled way by molecular beam epitaxy directly on bare Si(111) substrates and on AlN buffer layers, respectively. The GaN nanocolumns on Si show an N polarity, while the (Al, Ga)N nanocolumns on an AlN buffer exhibit a Ga polarity. The different polarities of nanocolumns grown in a similar procedure are interpreted in terms of the specific interface bonding configurations. Our investigation contributes to the understanding of polarity control in III-nitride nanocolumn growth.