Long-range ordered vertical III-nitride nano-cylinder arrays via plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition

In this work, we demonstrate vertical GaN, AlN, and InN hollow nano-cylindrical arrays (HNCs) grown on Si substrates using anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane templated low-temperature plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (PA-ALD). III-Nitride HNCs have been characterized for their structural, chemical, surface, and optical properties. The material properties of nanostructured III-nitride materials have been compared with the thin-film counterparts which were also grown using PA-ALD. Our results revealed that long-range ordered arrays of III nitride HNCs were successfully integrated on Si substrates and possess hexagonal polycrystalline wurtzite crystalline structure. Such long-range ordered wafer-scale III-nitride nanostructures might be potentially used in piezotronic sensing, energy harvesting, resistive memory, flexible and wearable electronics, III-nitride photovoltaics, and (photo)catalysis.