High optical quality AlInGaN by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

We report on the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition of the quaternary alloy AlInGaN. We found it desirable to grow quaternary films at temperatures greater than 855 °C in order to suppress deep level emissions in the room-temperature photoluminescence. Details of the conditions necessary to grow In0.1Ga0.9N at 875 °C are presented. Strained and relaxed AlInGaN films were grown with good optical and structural properties for AlN compositions up to 26% and InN content up to 11%. The effects of strain were observed by a difference in the band gap between thin and thick films with the same compositions. The potential impact of the use of quaternary films is discussed regarding strain engineering for the improvement of present device designs.