Formation and characteristics of AlGaN-based three-dimensional hexagonal nanopyramid semi-polar multiple quantum wells

Abstract

We demonstrated for the first time the formation and study of semi-polar AlGaN multiple-quantum-wells (MQWs) grown on highly regular hexagonal AlN nanopyramids. The AlN nanopyramids were obtained by a metal–organic chemical vapor phase deposition regrowth method on a well-ordered AlN nanorod array prepared by a top-down etching process. The growth mechanism of the AlN nanopyramids was ascribed to the slow growth of the (101) semi-polar plane, which resulted from hydrogen passivation. Beneath the semi-polar facets, air voids were formed. This was attributed to the insufficient delivery of gas reactants to the bottom of the nanorods during the growth process. The polarization effect in semi-polar AlGaN MQWs was numerically calculated. The results showed that the internal electric field (IEF) in the semi-polar MQWs was remarkably reduced by 80% in comparison with c-plane MQWs. Power dependent photoluminescence indicated that the semi-polar AlGaN MQWs had negligible wavelength shifts that resulted from the reduced IEF, which was in accordance with theoretical predictions. In addition, epitaxial strain was greatly relieved in the AlN regrowth layer, which was revealed from the peak shift of the E₂(high) phonon using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The advantages of AlGaN-based hexagonal nanopyramid semi-polar three dimensional nanostructures would lead to a large improvement of output power in UV-LEDs.