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Study on electrochemical etching of nitride semiconductors

Research Project

Project/Area Number 09650350
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Electronic materials/Electric materials
Research InstitutionFukui University

Principal Investigator

YAMAMOTO Akio  Faculty of Engineering, Fukui University Professor, 工学部, 教授 (90210517)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) HASHIMOTO Akihiro  Faculty of Engineering, Fukui University Associate Professor, 工学部, 助教授 (10251985)
Project Period (FY) 1997 – 1999
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1999)
Budget Amount *help
¥1,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Keywordselectrochemical etching / GaN / hole injection / photo-electrochemistry / needle-like hillocks / detection of dislocations / 貫通転位 / 転位 / 光電気化学エッチング / 陽極溶解反応 / 紫外線照射効果 / 剥離 / サファイア基板 / キャリア濃度 / 電流密度-電解電位曲線 / 正孔 / 紫外光照射 / 結晶欠陥
Research Abstract

III-nitrides such as GaN are known to be chemically stable. This results in that chemical dissolution processes can not be applied to these semiconductors. The purpose of this study is develop etching technologies for III-nitrides as a surface polishing, selective removal in device process and/or defect detection in the crystals, through the investigation of electrochemical behavior of III-nitrides, especially GaN. Results obtained are summarized as follows.
1) Electrochemical properties of GaN: Basic electrochemical properties of GaN are similar to those of other semiconductors such as GaAs. Because of notable non-uniformity in electrical properties and/or defect density and, moreover, presence of nano-pipe defects in GaN crystals grown on sapphire substrates, reproducibility of electrochemical data obtained for those samples are very low. This is a major cause for misunderstandings of electrochemical properties of GaN, such as the passivation effects.
2) Electrochemical behavior and non-uniformity of GaN: By clarifying the relationships between electrochemical behavior and electrical properties and presence of defects, it is possible to evaluate the uniformity of GaN films from electrochemical data.
3) Photo-electrochemical etching of n-type GaN - Detection of dislocations -: Electrochemical etching (anodic dissolution) of n-type semiconductors needs extra hole supply. Under the He-Cd laser (wavelength 325 nm) irradiation, photo-electrochemical etching of n-type GaN film on sapphire is made in a NaOH solution. After the etching of current density 〜1mA/cmィイD12ィエD1 and etching time of 1 hour, needle-like hillocks with a density of 10ィイD18ィエD1-10ィイD110ィエD1 cmィイD1-2ィエD1 are formed on the etched surface. From the shape and the density of the hillocks, it is reasonable to interpret that such a needle-like hillock is due to a threading dislocation in the samples. Thus, electrochemical etching becomes a simple and safe method for defect detection for III-nitrides.

Report

(4 results)
  • 1999 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1998 Annual Research Report
  • 1997 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (9 results)

All Other

All Publications (9 results)

  • [Publications] A. Hashimoto: "Formation of GaN Nano-column Structure by Nitridation using Dimethyl- hydrazine (DMHy)"Materials Science Forum. 264-268. 1129-1132 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] A. Yamamoto: "Anomalous Electrochemical Behavior of N-Type GaN Films on α-Al_2O_3 Substrates"Japanese Journal of Applied Physics. 38. 2619-2621 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] A. Yamamoto: "Evidences for the Existence of a High-Carrier-Density Layer near Nondoped -GaN/α-Al_2O_3 Substrates Interface"Physica Status Solidi (a). 176. 689-692 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] A. Hashimoto, T. Motizuki, H. Wada, A. Yamamoto: "Formation of GaN Nono-column Structure by Nitridation using Dimethyl-hydrazine (DMHy)"Materials Science Forum. 264-268. 1129-1132 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] A. Yamamoto, Y. Tsuji, T. Sugiura, A. Hashimoto: "Anomalous Electrochemical Behavior of N-Type GaN Films on -AlィイD22ィエD2OィイD23ィエD2 Substrates"Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.. 38. 2619 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] A. Yamamoto, K. Ueno, K. Azuma, Y. Tsuji, A. Hashimoto: ""Evidences for the Existence of a High-Carrier-Density Layer near Nondoped-GaN/α-AlィイD22ィエD2OィイD23ィエD2 Substrate Interface""Physica Status Solidi (a). 176. 689 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Akio Yamamoto: "Anomalous Electrochemical Behavior of N-Type GaN Films on α-Al_2O_3 Substrates"Japanese Journal of Applied Physics. 38・4B. 2619-2621 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Akio Yamamoto: "Evidences for the Existence of a High-Carrier-Density Layer near Nondoped-GaN/α-Al_2O_3 Substrate Interface"Physica Status Solidi (a). 176・1. 689-692 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] A.Yamamoto: "Anomalous Electrochemical Behavior of N-Type GaN Films on α-Al_2O_3 Substrates" Jpn.J.Appl.Phys.(in press). (1999)

    • Related Report
      1998 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1997-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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