Effects of strain and composition on the lattice parameters and applicability of Vegard's rule in Al-rich Al1-x Inx N films grown on sapphire

The lattice parameters and strain evolution in Al1-x In x N films with 0.07≤x≤0.22 grown on GaN-buffered sapphire substrates by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy have been studied by reciprocal space mapping. Decoupling of compositional effects on the strain determination was accomplished by measuring the In contents in the films both by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Differences between XRD and RBS In contents are discussed in terms of compositions and biaxial strain in the films. It is suggested that strain plays an important role for the observed deviation from Vegard's rule in the case of pseudomorphic films. On the other hand, a good agreement between the In contents determined by XRD and RBS is found for Al1-x Inx N films with low degree of strain or partially relaxed, suggesting applicability of Vegard's rule in the narrow compositional range around the lattice matching to GaN. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.