Buffer Layers Having Composite Structures

Disclosed is a wafer or a material stack for semiconductor-based optoelectronic or electronic devices that minimizes or reduces misfit dislocation, as well as a method of manufacturing such wafer of material stack. A material stack according to the disclosed technology includes a substrate; a basis buffer layer of a first material disposed above the substrate; and a plurality of composite buffer layers disposed above the basis buffer layer sequentially along a growth direction. The growth direction is from the substrate to a last composite buffer layer of the plurality of composite buffer layers. Each composite buffer layer except the last composite buffer layer includes a first buffer sublayer of the first material, and a second buffer sublayer of a second material disposed above the first buffer sublayer. The thicknesses of the first buffer sublayers of the composite buffer layers decrease along the growth direction.