2014 APL Materials

GaNFaceting control in core-shell GaN micropillars using selective epitaxy“, S. Krylyuk, R. Debnath, H. P. Yoon, M. R. King, J. Ha, B. Wen, A. Motayed, and A. V. Davydov, APL Materials 2, 106104, 2014.

1. Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
2. Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
3. N5 Sensors, Inc., Rockville, Maryland 20852
4. Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
5. Maryland Nanocenter, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
6. Northrop Grumman ES, Linthicum, Maryland 21090

ABSTRACT. We report on the fabrication of large-area, vertically aligned GaN epitaxial core-shell micropillar arrays. The two-step process consists of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching of lithographically patterned GaN-on-Si substrate to produce an array of micropillars followed by selective growth of GaN shells over these pillars using Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE). The most significant aspect of the study is the demonstration of the sidewall facet control in the shells, ranging from {1 1̄ 01} semi-polar to {1 1̄ 00} non-polar planes, by employing a post-ICP chemical etch and by tuning the HVPE growth temperature. Room temperature photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence, and Raman scattering measurements reveal substantial reduction of parasitic yellow luminescence as well as strain-relaxation in the core-shell structures. In addition, X-ray diffraction indicates improved crystal quality after the shell formation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of selective epitaxy on micro-/nano- engineered templates for realizing high-quality GaN-on-Si devices.

LINK

2010 Applied Physics Letters (Pillars)

apl_pillar arrayEnhanced conversion efficiencies for pillar array solar cells fabricated from crystalline silicon with short minority carrier diffusion lengths”, H. P. Yoon, Y. A. Yuwen, C. E. Kendrick, G. D. Barber, N. J. Podraza, J. M. Redwing, T. E. Mallouk, C. R. Wronski, and T. S. Mayer, Applied Physics Letters 96, 213503, 2010.

1. Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
3. Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA

ABSTRACT. Radial n+/p+ junction solar cells composed of densely packed pillar arrays, 25 μm-tall and 7.5 μm in diameter, fabricated from p-type silicon substrates with extremely short minority carrier diffusion lengths are investigated and compared to planar cells. To understand the two times higher AM 1.5 efficiencies of the pillar array cells, dark and light I-V characteristics as well as spectral responses are presented for the two structures. The higher pillar array cell efficiencies are due to the larger short-circuit currents from the larger photon absorption thickness and the shorter carrier collection length, with a significant additional contribution from multiple reflections in the structure.

LINK