Elastic Properties of GaN and AlN Films Formed on SiC/Si Hybrid Substrate, a Porous Basis

The nanoindentation method was used to study the elastic properties of gallium nitride and aluminum nitride films grown on nanoscale silicon carbide on silicon (SiC/Si), a new type of substrate. The values of the Young’s modulus of epitaxial films of such wide-gap semiconductors as GaN and AlN, grown on substrates SiC/Si. were determined for the first time. It was experimentally established using the nanoindentation method that the Young’s modulus of the GaN epitaxial layer on SiC/Si is 265 GPa, and that of the AlN film is 223 GPa. Using atomic force microscopy and spectral ellipsometry, the structural characteristics of gallium nitride and aluminum nitride films have been studied. The thicknesses of the films and the roughness of their surface are determined.