Phenomenological description of strain relief in step-graded metamorphic buffer layers based on In
                                x
                            Al1 − x
                            As ternary solutions

ABSTRACTAn In(Ga)As-based self-assembled quantum dot laser test structure grown on strain-relief Al0.5Ga0.5As1-ySby strain-relief buffer layers (0≤y ≤ 0.24) on a GaAs substrate is investigated in an effort to increase dot size and therefore extend the emission wavelength over conventional InAs quantum dots on GaAs platforms. Cross-section transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution x-ray diffraction are used to monitor the dislocation filtering process and morphology in the buffer layers. Results show that the buffer layers act as an efficient dislocation filter by drastically reducing threading dislocations, thus providing a relaxed, low dislocation, compositionally modulated Al0.5Ga0.5Sb0.24As0.76 substrate for large (500Å height x 300Å width) defect -free InAs quantum dots. Photoluminescence shows a ground-state emission of the InAs quantum dots at 1.45 μm.

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Equilibrium Lattice Relaxation and Misfit Dislocations in Continuously- and Step-Graded InxGa1-xAs/GaAs (001) and GaAs1-yPy/GaAs (001) Metamorphic Buffer Layers

International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems ◽

10.1142/s0129156415200098 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (03n04) ◽

pp. 1520009 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tedi Kujofsa ◽

John E. Ayers

Keyword(s):

Dislocation Density ◽

Buffer Layer ◽

Minimum Energy ◽

Lattice Relaxation ◽

Structure Type ◽

Elastic Stiffness ◽

Buffer Layers ◽

Threading Dislocation ◽

Misfit Dislocations ◽

Metamorphic Buffer

The inclusion of metamorphic buffer layers (MBL) in the design of lattice-mismatched semiconductor heterostructures is important in enhancing reliability and performance of optical and electronic devices. These metamorphic buffer layers usually employ linear grading of composition, and materials including InxGa1-xAs and GaAs1-yPy have been used. Non-uniform and continuously graded profiles are beneficial for the design of partially-relaxed buffer layers because they reduce the threading dislocation density by allowing the distribution of the misfit dislocations throughout the metamorphic buffer layer, rather than concentrating them at the interface where substrate defects and tangling can pin dislocations or otherwise reduce their mobility as in the case of uniform compositional growth. In this work we considered heterostructures involving a linearly-graded (type A) or step-graded (type B) buffer layer grown on a GaAs (001) substrate. For each structure type we present minimum energy calculations and compare the cases of cation (Group III) and anion (Group V) grading. In addition, we studied the (i) average and surface in-plane strain and (ii) average misfit dislocation density for heterostructures with various thickness and compositional profile. Moreover, we show that differences in the elastic stiffness constants give rise to significantly different behavior in these two commonly-used buffer layer systems.

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