Electrical and luminescent properties and deep traps spectra in GaN nanopillar layers prepared by dry etching

A. Y. Polyakov, Dae Woo Jeon, N. B. Smirnov, A. V. Govorkov, E. A. Kozhukhova, E. B. Yakimov, In Hwan Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Electrical properties, microcathodoluminescence spectra, and spectra of deep traps were studied for nanopillar structures prepared by dry etching of undoped GaN films using natural masks formed by Ni nanoparticles. It is shown that as-prepared nanopillar structures have low bandedge intensity, very high leakage current of Schottky diodes, their electrical properties are determined by 0.2 eV electron traps or, after etching in aqua regia, 0.14 eV electron traps that are commonly associated with radiation defects. Deep levels transient spectroscopy spectra measured after aqua regia etching are dominated by 1 eV electron traps, other common radiation defects. Annealing at 600 °C is instrumental in eliminating the 0.2 eV and 0.14 eV electron traps, but not the 1 eV traps. A higher temperature annealing at 900 °C is required for strongly suppressing the latter and increasing the bandedge luminescence peak magnitude by 2 times compared to control sample. The best results in terms of luminescence efficiency increase are produced by additional etching in aqueous solution of KOH, but subsequent etching in aqua regia is necessary to suppress excessive surface leakage due to surface contamination by the KOH treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Article number073112
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume112
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Oct 1
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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