Structural and optical properties of GaN thin films grown on Al2O3 substrates by MOCVD at different reactor pressures

GaN thin films grown by MOCVD on (0 0 0 1) Al2O3 substrates at different growth pressures were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, micro-Raman, and photoluminescence at room temperature. It was found that there is an optimum pressure of 76 Torr at which the structural and optical properties of the GaN samples are superior. On the other hand samples grown at higher pressure exhibited hexagonal surface pits and surface spirals. The results showed that the growth pressure strongly influences the morphology, and significantly affects the structural and optical properties of the GaN epilayers.

► Surface voids and spirals were imaged by field-emission SEM on GaN/Al2O3 films. ► Such defects strongly affect the PL response. ► An optimum MOCVD reactor pressure avoids surface defects and improves the GaN optical and structural properties.