Abstract
Schottky contacts of Pt(111) and Au(111) were deposited on chemical-vapor-cleaned, n-type GaN(0001) thin films. The growth mode of the deposition, as determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, followed the two-dimensional Frank-van der Merwe growth model. The resulting as-deposited metal films were monocrystalline and epitaxial with a (111)//(0002) relationship with the GaN. Selected samples were annealed for three minutes at 400°C, 600°C or 800°C. The rectifying behavior of both contacts degraded at 400°C; they became ohmic after annealing at 600°C (Au) or 800°C (Pt). High-resolution transmission electron micrographs revealed reactions at the metal/GaN interfaces for the higher temperature samples. X-ray diffraction results revealed an unidentified phase in the Pt sample annealed at 800°C. A decrease in the room temperature in-plane (111) lattice constant for both metals, ranging from -0.1% to -0.5%, was observed as the annealing temperature was increased from 400 to 800°C. This plastic deformation was caused by tensile stresses along the [111] direction that exceeded the yield strength as a result of the large differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the metal contacts and the GaN film.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2133-2137 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Applied Physics |
Volume | 91 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2002 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy