Cross Reference to Related Applications This application is related to the following commonly assigned United States patent applications: 1. Serial No. 09/965,022, filed September 26,2001 in the names of Ignatius S. T.

Tsong, John Kouvetakis, Radek Rouka and John Tolle, entitled"Low Temperature Epitaxial Growth of Quaternary Wide Bandgap Semiconductors." 2. Serial No. 09/981,024, filed October 16,2001 in the names of Ignatius S. T.

Tsong, John Kouvetakis, Radek Rouka and John Tolle, entitled"Low Temperature Epitaxial Growth of Quaternary Wide Bandgap Semiconductors. "Priority from that application is claimed herein.

3. Provisional application serial No. 60/380,998 in the names of Ignatius S. T.

Tsong, John Kouvetakis, Radek Rouka and John Tolle entitled"Growth of SiCAIN on Si <BR> <BR> (111) via a Chrystalline Oxide Interface. "Priority from that application is claimed herein.

Each of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Introduction Field of Invention This invention concerns a method for forming epitaxial thin films by means of gas source molecular beam epitaxy (GSMBE). More particularly, this invention relates to a method for growing high purity, low defect, device quality SiCAIN epitaxial films on silicon and silicon carbide substrates. SiCAIN films deposited on large diameter silicon wafers also serve as large-area substrates for Group III nitride growth. Semiconductor films are provided

with bandgaps ranging from 2 eV to 6 eV with a spectral range from visible to ultraviolet, useful for a variety of optoelectronic and microelectronic applications.

Background Quaternary semiconductors have been sought which incorporate the promising physical and electronic properties of their individual components. Wurtzite AIN and a-SiC have many similar physical properties such as mechanical hardness (1) and thermal expansion (2,3) as well as closely matched lattice parameters (a = 3. 1 lA, c = 4. 98A for AIN ; a = 3. 08Å, c = 5. 04Å for 2H-SiC). Both AIN and SiC are well known wide bandgap semiconductors, with wurtzite AIN having a 6.3 eV direct bandgap and 2H-SiC a 3.3 eV indirect bandgap. Quaternary materials are expected to have bandgaps intermediate to those of the constituent binary systems and in some cases the bandgaps may become direct. Thus quaternary compounds offer promise for application in a wide variety of optoelectronic devices.

Early attempts to fabricate ceramic alloys in the quaternary SiC-AIN system by hot- pressing generally involve very high temperatures in the range of 1700-2100°C (4,5).

Studies of hot-pressed SiCAIN samples led Zangvil and Ruh (6) to propose a phase diagram showing a flat miscibility gap at 1900°C above which a 2H solid solution of SiCAIN could form. Below 1900°C, the ceramic was found to consist of separate SiC and AIN phases, indicating negligible solubilities between AIN and SiC. The miscibility gap spans from 15 to 85 mol % AIN, thus posing likely difficulties for the growth of SiCAIN alloy thin films by conventional techniques at lower temperatures.

Hunter in U. S. Patent Number 6,063, 185 discloses methods for producing bulk crystals of SiCAIN which are useful as substrates when sliced into thin wafers for thin film deposition.

The epitaxial growth of thin films is one of the major successes in epitaxial techniques such as molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) (7). The growth of metastable structures not available in nature allows the achievement of properties previously unattainable in equilibrium systems.

Solid solutions of AIN and SiC have been grown on vicinal 6H-SiC substrates by MBE at temperatures between 900°C and 1300°C by Kern et al. (8,9) using disilane (Si2H6), ethylene (C2H4), nitrogen plasma from an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) source, and Al evaporated from an effusion cell. The (SiC) z a (AlN) a films were shown to be monocrystalline

with a wurtzite (2H) structure for a > 0.25 and a cubic (3C) structure with a < 0.25. Jenkins et al. (10) reported the growth of (SiC) i-a (A ! N) a solid solutions with a varying from a = 0.1 to a = 0.9 using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) with silane (SiH4), propane (C3H8), ammonia (NH3) and trimethylaluminum (TMA) in a hydrogen carrier gas. The films were grown on Si (100) substrates at temperatures 1200-1250°C and pressures between 10 and 76 Torr. Safaraliev et al. (11) deposited films of (SiC) 1 a (AIN) a on 6H-SiC substrates via the sublimation of sintered SiC-AIN plates at temperatures 1900-2100°C. They determined a range of hardness between 20 and 30 GPa for the alloy films. Because of the hardness of the components, it is anticipated that GeCAIN films or coatings and other carbide/nitride quaternary semiconductors comprising Group IV and Group III elements would possess similar superhard properties.

These high temperature synthetic methods, although of research importance, are not suitable for commercial production of SiCAIN or other quaternary thin films comprising Group IV and Group III elements. Methods for growing epitaxial quaternary thin films, especially SiCAIN, under low temperature conditions that are commercially acceptable have been sought. Likewise, other promising epitaxial quaternary semiconductors and methods for depositing them as thin films on substrates useful as semiconductor devices in a wide variety of optoelectronic and microelectronic applications have been sought.

Summary Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a low temperature MBE method for the production of epitaxial quaternary semiconducting thin films. Methods for growing low-defect, thin film semiconductors of the general formula (XC) (0. s-a) (ZN) (o. 5+a) wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is a Group III element and 0<a<0. 5 on a silicon or silicon carbide substrate are provided.

It is a further object of the invention to provide epitaxial quaternary SiCAIN and GeCAIN and other semiconductors produced by the present method. Semiconductor films comprising the quaternary compounds are provided. Such films exhibit bandgaps from about 2 eV to about 6eV and exhibit a spectral range from visible to ultraviolet which makes them useful for a variety of optoelectronic applications. The quaternary compounds may also be used as a superhard coating material.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a low temperature

for depositing an epitaxial thin film having the quaternary formula XCZN wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is a Group III element, on a substrate, preferrably Si or SiC at temperature between ambient temperature and 1000°C in a gas source molecular beam epitaxial chamber. In the method, a gaseous flux of precursor H3XCN, wherein H is hydrogen or deuterium, and vapor flux of Z atoms are introduced into the chamber under conditions whereby the precursor and the Z atoms combine to form epitaxial XCZN on the substrate. Most preferably, the temperature is between about 550°C to 750°C. Preferred substrates are Si (111) or a-SiC (0001). In certain preferred embodiments the substrate is a large-diameter silicon wafer. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention X is silicon, germanium or tin. In yet other preferred embodiments Z is aluminum, gallium, indium or boron.

In certain preferred instances of the invention methods are given for depositing thin film XCZN wherein X is silicon and said precursor is H3SiCN. In other preferred methods the thin film XCZN wherein X is germanium and said precursor is H3GeCN is given. Most preferably methods are given for depositing epitaxial thin film SiCZN on a substrate wherein the precursor is H3SiCN, Z atom is aluminum and substrate is Si (111) or a-SiC (0001). In other preferred methods epitaxial thin film GeCZN is deposited on a substrate wherein the precursor is D3GeCN and substrate is Si (111), Si (0001) or a-SiC (0001) GeCAlN is deposited on the substrate in these methods.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the substrate comprises a native oxide layer or a thermal oxide layer. In other preferred embodiments, the Si substrate is cleaned, most preferably by hydrogen etching, prior to deposition of the quaternary film. In yet other preferred embodiments, the substrate comprises a buffer layer deposited on the substrate prior to deposition of the quaternary layer. In these embodiments the substrate preferably is Si (111), Si (0001) or a-SiC (0001). A preferred buffer layer is a Group III nitride, most preferably A1N.

In an important aspect of the invention, a crystalline Si-O-Al-N interface is formed on the silicon substrate. In this aspect, a crystalline Si-O-Al-N interface on the silicon substrate is prepared by depositing two or more monolayers of aluminum on the Si02 surface of the silicon substrate and the substrate with aluminum monolayers is annealed at a temperature of about 900°C for a period of about 30 minutes prior to the deposition of XCZN. In this method, the Si02 surface may be a native oxide layer having a thickness of about 1 nm or a thermally produced oxide layer having a thickness of about 4 nm.

Crystalline Si-O-Al-N interfaces on silicon substrates as substrates for growth of epitaxial film having the formula XCZN wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is a Group III element are presented. A preferred embodiment is SiAICN epitaxial film grown on a silicon substrate having a Si-O-Al-N interface.

In an important aspect of the invention, epitaxial thin films made by the method of the present invention wherein the semiconductor has the quaternary formula XCZN wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is aluminum, gallium or indium, preferably SiCAIN or GeCAIN are presented. These epitaxial thin film semiconductors may be incorporated into optoelectronic and microelectronic devices. Multi-quantum-well structures comprising epitaxial film semiconductor of the present invention, light-emitting diodes and laser diodes comprising multi-quantum well structures are likewise presented. In another preferred embodiment, Z is boron and the film thus-formed is a superhard coating.

In another important aspect of the present invention, a precursor for the synthesis of epitaxial semiconductors having the formula XCZN wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is selected from the group comprising aluminum, gallium and indium, said precursor having the formula H3XCN wherein H is hydrogen or deuterium is presented. Again, Z may be boron for production of superhard coatings. In preferred embidoments the precursor is H3SiCN or H3GeCN.

In yet another important aspect of the present invention, methods are given for depositing epitaxial thin film having the formula (XC) (o. s-a) (ZN) (o. 5+ a) wherein a is chosen to be a value 0<a> 0.5, and Z is the same or different in each occurrence, comprising in addition the step of introducing into said chamber a flux of nitrogen atoms and maintaining the flux of said precursor, said nitrogen atoms and said Z atoms at a ratio selected to produce quaternary semiconductors having said chosen value of x.

In preferred instances of this method, a quaternary XCZN semiconductor having a desired bandgap, XC and ZN having different bandgaps and X and Z being the same or different in each occurrence, wherein the flux of precursor, Z atoms and N atoms is maintained at a ratio known to produce a film having the desired bandgap is prepared.

In an important aspect of the invention, epitaxial thin film made by this method and optoelectronic, light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, field emission flat-panel displays and ultraviolet detectors and sensors for example, multi-quantum well structures and microelectronic devices comprising the epitaxial thin film are given.

In yet another important aspect of the present invention, superhard coating made by the method of the present invention are given. Most preferably the coating comprises boron.

The epitaxial thin films made by the method of the present invention that have the formula XCZN wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is a Group III element may be used as substrate for the growth of Group III nitride films, most preferably AIN The substrate is preferably large-area substrate of SiCAIN grown on large diameter Si (111) wafers by the present method.

In an important aspect of the present invention, layered semiconductor structure made by the present methods and microelectronic or optoelectronic devices comprising a layered semiconductor structure are given.

Brief Description of the Figures Fig. 1 is a high-resolution cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) image of an epitaxial SiCAIN film grown on a-Si (0001) by the method of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an X-ray rocking curve of an on-axis SiCAIN (0002) peak of the SiCAIN film illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an XTEM image showing columnar growth of SiCAIN film grown on Si (111).

Fig. 4 is two XTEM images of a SiCAIN film grown on Si (111). Fig. 4a illustrates the columnar grains, and Fig. 4b illustrates the characteristic.. ABAB.. stacking of the 2H- wurtzite structure of the film.

Fig. 5 illustrates a proposed model of the SiCAIN wurtzite structure. Fig. 5a is a side view of SiCAIN atomic structure and Fig. 5b is a top view of the same structure.

Fig. 6 is an XTEM image of GeCAIN film grown on 6H-SiC (0001) substrate showing epitaxial interface and Ge precipitate.

Fig. 7 is two XTEM images of GeCAIN film grown on Si (111) substrate. Fig. 7a shows a crystalline film with Ge precipitate, and Fig. 7b shows the transition from cubic Si (111) to hexagonal structure of the film at the interface.

Fig. 8 is a Rutherford backscattering (RBS) spectrum of SiCAIN film grown according to the method of the present invention at 725°C. The inset shows the C resonance peak. The RBS simulations giving the atomic compositions of Si, Al, C and N are shown in dashed curves.

Fig. 9 is the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum of a SiCAIN film made by the method of the present invention.

Fig. 10a is an electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) elemental profile scan of Si, Al, C and N sampled across 35 nm over a SiCAIN film. The region where the 35 nm scan took place on the film is shown as a white line in the lower XTEM image of Fig. l Ob.

Fig. 11 illustrates an EELS spectrum showing the K-shell ionization edges of C and N characteristic of sp3 hybridization of these elements in the SiCAIN film.

Fig. 12 illustrates atomic force microscopy (AFM) images showing the surface morphology of a SiCAIN film grown on SiC (0001). Fig. 12a illustrates an image at Rms: 13.39 nm Ra: 2.84 nm. Fig. 12b is a higher magnification image of the same surface.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of a semiconductor structure comprising the quaternary film semiconductor and a buffer layer on a silicon substrate.

Fig. 14 is a low-resolution XTEM image of the silicon oxynitride interface showing the oxide buffer layer as a thin band of dark contrast adjacent to the interface, as well as the SiCAIN grown above the oxide layer. The arrow indicates the location of the EELS line scan.

Fig. 15 is a EELS compositional profile showing the elemental distribution at the siliconoxynitride interface.

Fig. 16 is a structural model illustrating the transition of the silicon oxynitride interface structure from silica to SiCAIN through an intermediate Si3AI6Ol2N2 framework of a sheet-like structure.

Fig. 17 is a high resolution XTEM of the siliconoxynitride interface showing the converted crystalline oxide buffer layer at the interface. The 2H structure of the SiCAIN is also clearly visible in the upper portion of the film.

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic illustration of a semiconductor structure having an upper layer of Group III nitride grown on a substrate of SiCAIN or like material.

Detailed Description While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the examples and accompanying drawings, in which aspects of the preferred manner of practicing the present invention are shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention herein described while still achieving the favorable results of this invention.

Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching

disclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present invention.

This invention provides a low temperature method for growing epitaxial quaternary thin films having the general formulae XCZN wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is a Group III element in a gas source molecular beam epitaxial chamber utilizing gaseous precursors having a structure comprising X-C-N bonds.

An"epitaxial"film generally refers to a film with the highest order of perfection in crystallinity, i. e. as in a single crystal. Because of their low defect density, epitaxial films are especially suitable for microelectronic and, more particularly, optoelectronic applications. The epitaxial growth of unimolecular films is generally achieved in a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) apparatus. In molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), molecular beams are directed at a heated substrate where reaction and epitaxial film growth occurs. The <BR> <BR> technology is fully described in E. H. C. Parker (Ed. )"The Technology and Physics of<BR> Molecular Beam Epitaxy, "Plenum Press (1985) (7). By selecting the appropriate flux<BR> species in MBE, and by exercising precise control of the kinetic factors, i. e. , flux rate, flux ratio, and substrate temperature, during growth, the morphology, composition and microstructure of films can be tailored on an atomic level.

In the present method, deposition of epitaxial film conforms to a variation of gas- source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) which comprises a flux of a gaseous precursor and a vapor flux of metal atoms directed onto a substrate where the precursor reacts with the metal atoms to commence growth of epitaxial thin film on the substrate. Typically, the gaseous precursor is connected via a high vacuum valve to the GSMBE chamber (which will be known henceforth as a MBE reaction chamber) containing a heated substrate. Also installed in the MBE reaction chamber is a gas effusion Knudsen cell containing metal atoms. Sources of other vapor flux atoms may also be installed in the chamber. The gaseous precursor is allowed to flow into the reaction chamber which is typically maintained at a base pressure of about 10-1° Torr by a ultrahigh vacuum pumping system In the present method, the film growth process is conducted in the MBE chamber with the substrate held at temperatures between ambient temperature and 1000°C, preferably in the range of 550°C to 750°C, with flux species consisting of a unimolecular gas-source precursor and elemental atoms from one or more effusion cells. The precursor provides the"backbone" or chemical structure upon which the quaternary compound builds. The substrates are preferably silicon or silicon carbide wafers. In the method, the substrate, growth temperature,

flux species and flux rate may be chosen to determine various features of the quaternary film undergoing growth.

The present method is based on thermally activated reactions between the unimolecular precursor and metal atoms, Z. The molecular structure of the precursor consists of a linear X-C-N skeleton with the target stoichiometry and direct X-C bonds that favor low- temperature synthesis of the quaternary thin film. Any remaining H-X terminal bonds are relatively weak and are eliminated as gaseous H2 byproducts at low temperatures, making a contamination-free product. The unsaturated and highly electron-rich N site of the C-N moiety has the required reactivity to spontaneously combine with the electron-deficient metal atoms (Z) to form the necessary Z-N bonding arrangements without any additional activation steps.

In the present method, gaseous flux of unimolecular precursor having the formula H3XCN in vapor form wherein X is a Group IV element, preferably silicon or germanium and H is hydrogen or deuterium is introduced into a GSMBE chamber. A vapor flux of Z atoms, wherein Z is a Group III metal, is also introduced into the chamber from an effusion cell.

Pressure and other conditions in the chamber are maintained to allow the precursor and the Z atoms to combine and form epitaxial XCZN on the substrate. Temperature of the substrate during the reaction maintained at a value above ambient and less than 1000°C, considerably below the temperature of the miscibility gap of SiC and AIN phases at 1900°C (6). Most preferably the temperature is maintained between about 550°C to 750°C.

In an important aspect of the method of the present invention, a precursor compound having the formula H3XCN wherein X is a Group IV element, preferably silicon (Si) or germanium (Ge) and wherein H is hydrogen or deuterium, is provided. The precursor H3SiCN may be synthesized in a single-step process by a direct combination reaction of SiH3Br and AgCN. Other suitable methods for preparation of H3SiCN are known in the art.

See, e. g. , the method reported by A. G McDiarmid in"Pseudohalogen derivatives of monosilane"Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 1956,2, 88-94) (12) which involves the reactions of SiH3I and AgCN. H3SiCN is a stable and highly volatile solid with a vapor pressure of 300 Torr at 22°C, well suited for the MBE film-growth process. For preparation of quaternary XCZN wherein X is germanium, the precursor D3GeCN is provided. In these instances, deuterium replaces hydrogen in the precursor to achieve better kinetic stability.

The unimolecular precursor GeD3CN may be synthesized using a direct reaction of GeD3CI with AgCN. Other methods for preparation of GeD3CN utilize GeD3I as the source of GeD3

as disclosed in"Infrared spectra and structure of germyl cyanide"T. D. Goldfarb, The Journal of Chemical Physics 1962,37, 642-646. (13).

In certain instances of the method, the flux rate of metal atom (Z) and precursor are maintained at a rate that provides an essentially equimolar amount of precursor and metal atom to the surface of the substrate i. e. , the number of precursor molecules arriving at the substrate surface is the same as the number of metal atoms from the Knudsen effusion cell.

In these instances, the quaternary semiconductor that is formed is essentially stoichiometric XCZN and will have the formula (XC) (o. 5-a) (ZN) (o. 5 +a) wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is a Group III element and a is essentially zero.

In certain other instances of the method, the stoichiometry of the quaternary compound may be changed by increasing the amount of ZN component. In these instances, extra N-atoms which may be generated by methods known in the art, preferably from a radio frequency (RF) plasma source (also mounted in the MBE chamber) are supplied and the metal (Z) atom flux is increased slightly. The ZN content of the quaternary compound is thus increased to more than 50%, i. e., a>0, as metal atoms Z combine with N in the X-C-N precursor and also with the gaseous N-atoms to form additional ZN. Correspondingly, the XC content will become less than 50%, i. e. drop to 0.5-a, because XC + ZN = 100%. In these instances, the resultant semiconductor will have the formula (XC) (0. 5-a) (ZN) (o. 5 +a) wherein X is a Group IV element and Z is a Group III element and a is between 0 and 0.5.

In an important aspect of the invention, the bandgap of the semiconductors may be adjusted by varying the deposition parameters to create a series of (XC) o. 5-a (ZN) (o. 5 +a) films with different values of a. The bandgap of the quaternary film will reflect the relative concentrations, or stoichiometry of the two components. The composition of the film, i. e. the value of a, can be adjusted by supplying excess C as from CH4 gas or N as N-atoms from a radio-frequency plasma source. In certain instances, for example when the XC component of the quaternary compound has a different band gap from the ZN component, the flux ratio of precursor, metal atoms and nitrogen atoms may be controlled to increase the amount of ZN in the film and to provide a quaternary film having the desired bandgap.

The bandgap can also be adjusted by changing the constituents, for example, from SiC to GeC or SnC (with calculated bandgaps of 1.6 eV and 0.75 eV respectively). In these instances, the formula of the quaternary compounds will be (XC) (05 5-a) (ZN) (05+a) wherein X and Z are independently the same or different in each occurrence. Thus a complete series of solid solutions between Group IV carbides and Group III nitrides can be synthesized via the

present method to provide semiconductors with bandgaps ranging from 2 eV to 6 eV, covering a spectral range from infrared to ultraviolet, ideal for a variety of optoelectronic applications. Examples of related novel systems include SiCGaN, SiCInN, GeCGaN, SnCInN and GeCInN.

In preferred methods of the present invention, the XCZN quaternary films are grown on semiconductor substrates, preferably Si (111) or a-SiC (0001). Si (100) and Si wafers of other orientations or other material structures may also be used as substrates. The wafers may be cleaned prior to deposition or may comprise buffer layers of oxide or other buffer layers such as Group II nitride, preferably aluminum nitride.

In an important aspect of the invention, the deposited XCZN thin film is a substrate for growth of other compounds by methods generally employed in the industry for semiconductor fabrication. Group III nitrides, preferably aluminum nitride, for example, may be grown on SiCAIN thin films prepared by the present method. XCZN films formed on large area wafers comprising Si or SiC are especially suitable for substrates for growth of the Group III nitride layers. This is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 18, where 110 is the Si wafer on which the XCZN film 112 is formed and 114 represents a growth of Group III nitride.

Semiconductor quaternary XCZN grown in accordance with the method of the present invention may be doped in order to achieve p-type or n-type material by methods known in the art. The as-deposited SiCAIN films, e. g. , are generally of n-type intrinsically.

To render the film p-type, dopants known in the art, Mg, for example, may be used.

The hardness of the films prepared by the present method, defined as the applied load divided by the indented surface area, was measured using a nano-indentor (Hysitron Triboscope) attached to an atomic force microscope (AFM). Using the hardness value of 9 GPa measured for fused silica as a standard, the nano-indentation experiments yielded an average hardness of 25 GPa for the SiCAIN films, close to that measured for sapphire under the same conditions. The films deposited on silicon substrates are characterized to be true solid solutions of SiC and AIN with a 2H wurtzite structure. The hardness of these films is comparable to that of sapphire. The boron analogues, XCBN are anticipated to be especially suitable as superhard (e. g. , 20 GPa or higher) coatings because of the hardness values of the individual binary components.

The present method refers generally to epitaxial growth of nanostructures of quaternary semiconductors on substrate surfaces. Different features of the film surface can

be enhanced, e. g. , topography, chemical differences, or work function variations. Thus, in addition to films, quantum wells and quantum dots are provided by the present method.

Superlattice or quantum well structures comprising epitaxial XCZN films of the present invention define a class of semiconductor devices useful in a wide variety of optoelectronic and microelectronic applications. Such devices are useful in high-frequency, high-power, and high-temperature applications including applications for radiation-resistant use. Exemplary of the devices incorporating the wide bandgap semiconductors of the present invention are light-emitting diodes (LED) and laser diodes (LD). Generally, a LED comprises a substrate, a-SiC (0001), Si (111) or Si (111) with AIN buffer layer, and a multi- layer quantum well structure formed on the substrate with an active layer for light emission.

In the present instance, the active layer comprises an (XC) (o. 5 a) (ZN) (0. 5+ a) (where 0<a<0. 5) layer that is lattice-matched with the substrate and prepared by the method of the present invention. Single-phase epitaxial films of a stoichiometric SiCAIN grown at 750°C on 6H- SiC (001) and Si (111) substrates is wide bandgap semiconductor exhibiting luminescence at 390 nm (3.2eV) consistent with the theoretical predicted fundamental bandgap of 3. 2eV (15, 22).

Also exemplary of the optoelectronic devices incorporating the present semiconductors are negative electron affinity cathodes for field emission flat-panel displays, high-frequency, high-power, and high-temperature semiconductor devices, UV detectors and sensors.

A large variety of microelectronic and optoelectronic devices comprising semiconductor devices and layered semiconductor structures of the present invention are provided.

Experimental Section Epitaxial XCZN films grown on SiC Epitaxial SiCAIN films were grown in a MBE chamber according to the present method from the gaseous precursor H3SiCN and Al atoms from an Knudsen effusion cell supplied to the chamber directly on 6H-SiC (0001) wafer as substrate with the substrate temperature in the region of 550°C to 750°C.

In this instance, the a-SiC (0001) wafers were cleaned and surface scratches removed <BR> <BR> using a process described in U. S. Patent No. 6,306, 675 by I. S. T. Tsong et al. ,"Method for

forming a low-defect epitaxial layer in the fabrication of semiconductor devices,"herein incorporated by reference. The base pressure in the MBE chamber was about 2 x 10-1° Torr, rising to about 5 x10-7 Torr during deposition. The flux rate of each species was set at about 6 x oil erres'', giving a H3SiCN: AI flux ratio of-1 and a growth rate at 700-750°C of-4 nm min-'. Films with thickness 130-150 nm were deposited. The deposited films had a transparent appearance as expected for a wide bandgap material.

On the SiC substrates, the epitaxial film shows an ordered hexagonal structure comprising 2H/2H and 4H/2H polytypes2 (15). Fig. 12 illustrates atomic force microscopy (AFM) images showing the surface morphology of a SiCAIN film grown on SiC (0001). Fig.

12a illustrates an image at Rms: 13. 39nm Ra: 2.84 nm. Fig. 12b is a higher magnification image of the same surface.

Epitaxial XCZN films grown on clean Si (111 ! Growth on clean Si (111)- (7X7) substrates, in contrast to the SiC (001) wafers, resulted in inhomogeneous films with a rough surface morphology. TEM studies revealed a microstructure dominated by randomly oriented polycrystalline grains with no significant registry with the underlying Si substrate.

Because of the elimination of the native Si02 layer when a crystalline SiCAIN film is grown on a Si (111) substrate, the process of depositing SiCAIN on a large-diameter Si (111) wafer produces a large-area substrate lattice-matched for growth of Group III binary or ternary nitrides such as GaN, AIN, InN, AlGaN and InGaN. Large-diameter wafers is a term used in the art to designate wafers larger than about 2 inches.

Epitaxial SiCAIN films grown on Si 11) having a native oxide layer (-Inm) SiCAIN was deposited by the present method on Si (111) crystals having an intact native oxide layer. In this instance, epitaxial SiCAIN films were grown in a conventional MBE chamber according to the present method, as described hereinabove, directly on Si (111) wafer as substrate with the substrate temperature in the region of 550°C-750°C.

The microstructure of the films is revealed by a typical XTEM image of the SiCAIN film on Si (111) shown in Figs. 3,4a and 4b. Columnar grains 25-30 nm wide extending from the film/substrate interface through the entire layer are illustrated by the XTEM image shown in Fig. 3 and 4a. Fig. 3 shows columnar growth of SiCAIN film grown on Si (111), the columns being well-aligned with predominantly basal-plane growth. The randomness in

the orientation of the crystallographic planes in the columns are visible in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a pair of XTEM images of a SiCAIN film grown on Si (111). Fig. 4a also illustrates the columnar grains at higher magnification than Fig. 3. Fig. 4b illustrates the characteristic .. ABAB.. stacking. The 2H-wurtzite structure of the film is clearly visible in the high- resolution XTEM images of Fig. 4b. Fig. 5 illustrates a proposed model of the SiCAIN wurtzite structure. Fig. 5a is a side view of SiCAIN atomic structure and 5b is a top view of the same structure.

Growth of single-phase SiCAIN epitaxial films with the 2H-wurtzite structure is conducted directly on Si (Sil 11) despite the structural differences and large lattice mismatch (19%) between the two materials. Commensurate heteroepitaxy is facilitated by the conversion of native and thermally grown Si02 layers on Si (111) into crystalline oxides by in situ reactions of the layers with Al atoms and the H3SiCN precursor, forming coherent interfaces with the Si substrate and the film. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) illustrated in Fig. 17 and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) illustrated in Fig. 15 show that the amorphous Si02 films are entirely transformed into a crystalline Si-Al-O-N framework in registry with the Si (111) surface. This crystalline interface acts as a template for nucleation and growth of epitaxial SiCAIN. Integration of wide bandgap semiconductors with Si is readily achieved by this process.

The SiCAIN film was deposited directly on the Si (111) substrate surface with its native oxide layer intact. The EELS spectra of the SiCAIN film obtained with a nanometer beam scanned across the interface show the presence of oxygen. XTEM images of the film/substrate interface show that the amorphous oxide layer has disappeared, replaced by a crystalline interface. It appears that deposition of the SiCAIN film results in the spontaneous replacement of the amorphous Si02 layer with a crystalline aluminum oxide layer which in turn promotes epitaxial growth of SiCAIN. Fig. 4b is an XTEM image of SiCAIN grown in Si (111) with a native Si02 coating showing the amorphous Si02 layer replaced with a crystalline aluminum oxide layer and the epitaxial SiCAIN grown thereon.

Characterization of the deposited films by a variety of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques yielded a near-stoichiometric composition throughout the columnar wurtzite structure with lattice parameters very close to those of 2H-SiC and hexagonal A1N.

Transmission electron diffraction (TED) patterns revealed a disordered wurtzite material with lattice constants a = 3. 06A and c = 4. 95A, very close to those of 2H-SiC and hexagonal AIN.

Analysis of the films with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) with nanometer beam size showed the uniformity of elemental distribution throughout the SiCAIN film. The EELS

results thus confirm that the film contains a solid solution of SiCAlN. All four constituent elements, Si, Al, C and N, appear together in every nanometer-scale region probed, without any indication of phase separation of SiC and AIN or any segregation of individual elements in the film. A model of the 2H hexagonal structure of SiCAlN is seen in the model in Fig. 5.

Growth on the Si (111) with an intact native oxide layer, surprisingly, resulted in transparent crystalline SiCAlN films with significant epitaxial character. High-resolution cross-sectional electron microscopy (XTEM) images of the interface show that the amorphous native oxide was completely converted into a crystalline interface, which acts as a suitable template for nucleation and growth of SiCAlN. However, the limited thickness of the native oxide layer, i. e.-1 nm, made determination of the composition and structure of the interface difficult.

In experiments involving the native oxide, the as-received Si (111) wafer is used as substrate without prior chemical etching or any other surface preparation or treatment. The crystalline Si-Al-O-N layer can be obtained in situ during film growth at 750oC by a side reaction between the native Si02 with the Al flux and N atoms furnished by the H3SiCN precursor.

The best results are, however, obtained using a process which involves the deposition of two monolayers of Al on the Si02 surface followed by growth of a thin SiCAIN capping layer. Its purpose is to encapsulate the reaction zone thus isolating the Al/SiO2 assembly to avoid loss of Al and SiO by evaporation during the course of the reaction. The system is annealed at 900oC for 30 minutes. The bulk SiCAIN layer is then grown by reaction of Al and H3SiCN at 750oC. The flux of each species was-6 X 10-13 cm-2 s-1 giving a Al/H3SiCN flux ratio of 1: 1. The base pressure of the MBE chamber was 2 X 10-10 Torr rising to 5 X 10-7 Torr during deposition. The growth rate of the SiCAlN was-4nm per minute. Transparent films with nominal thickness of 150-300nm were deposited under these conditions.

The morphology, microstructure and elemental concentration of the films were studied by XTEM and EELS. High resolution XTEM images illustrated in Fig. 17 showed heteroepitaxial growth of 2H-SiCAIN on a coherent and crystalline interface layer. This layer replaces the corresponding amorphous native Si02 and acts as compliant template, which presumably accommodates the enormous strain associated with the highly mismatched Si and SiCAIN structures. The EELS elemental profiles shown in Fig. 15 across the interface layer revealed predominately oxygen, aluminum and silicon as well as minor quantities of nitrogen, indicating the presence of a Si-Al-O-N layer grown directly adjacent to the Si

substrate. The oxygen signal decreased rapidly across the thin (-1 nm) interface to background levels in the SiCAIN film. The constituent elements in the SiCAIN layer appeared in every nanoscale region probed at concentrations close to stoichiometric values, consistent with the presence of a SiCAIN film grown on a thin oxynitride interface. The elemental content at the interface was difficult to determine quantitatively since the width of the interface layer, i. e. 1 nm, is comparable to the probe size. Nevertheless EELS provided useful qualitative information with regard to elemental content and showed that the interface layer did not segregate into A1203 and Si02. The near edge fine structure of the Si, Al and O ionization edges indicated a bonding arrangement consistent with a complex Si-Al-O-N phase.

Epitaxial SiCAIN films grown on Si 1) having a thermal oxide layer (-4nm) SiCAIN film was grown by the methods of the present invention on a Si (111) substrate with a 4-nm thick thermal oxide. The SiCAIN epitaxial thin film were grown using these oxides as buffer layers and compliant templates. The composition and structure of these systems are based on the Si-Al-O-N family of silicon oxynitrides.

To determine the elemental concentrations quantitatively and to investigate the bonding properties of the interface layer, SiCAIN film was grown on Si (111) with a 4-nm thick thermally grown oxide as template. This 4-nm layer thickness is within the resolution of the EELS nanoprobe and is thus more suitable for precise analysis. A pre-oxidized Si (111) substrate with a 4-nm Si02 layer is heated at 700oC in UHV to remove any hydrocarbon or other volatile impurities from the surface. The conversion of the amorphous Si02 to a crystalline Si-Al-O-N layer follows the procedure described for the native oxide preparation.

Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) was used to characterize the Si-C-Al- N composition of the films and to detect oxygen and other low level impurities. The 2 MeV spectra indicated that the Si and Al concentrations were 27 and 23 atomic % respectively.

Resonant nuclear reactions at 4.27 and 3.72 MeV indicated that the C and N concentrations were 23-24 atomic % and 24-26 aomic % respectively. Oxygen depth profiles using a resonance reaction at 3.0 MeV did not show any oxygen impurities throughout the bulk SiCAIN layer. However, the data suggested the presence of a thin oxide layer at the Si interface. This indicates the presence of a two-layer heterostructure which consists of a thick SiCAIN film grown on a thin oxide interface. The FTIR spectra showed strong Si-C and Al- N peaks at 740 and 660 cm~', respectively, corresponding to the SiCAIN bulk film. The

spectra also showed a weak peak at 1100 cm''which is attributed to Si-O-A1 type lattice modes consistent with the presence of the thin oxide layer in the film heterostructure.

Electron microscopy in cross section (XTEM) was used to characterize the microstructure and morphology of the film. Fig. 14 is a typical annular dark-field image showing the SiCAIN film and the underlying oxide layer, visible as a band of darker contrast next to the Si interface. The band is coherent, continuous and fairly uniform with a thickness measured to be about 4 nm, a value close to that of the original Si02 layer. Spatially resolved (EELS) with a nanometer size probe was sued to examine the elemental concentration across the entire film thickness. The nanospectroscopy showed a homogeneous distribution of Si, C, Al and N throughout the SiCAIN layer, which is consistent with the formation of single- phase alloy material. Analysis across the dark band revealed significant concentrations of oxygen, aluminum and silicon at each nanometer step probed. A typical compositional profile derived from energy-loss line scans (Fig. 15) shows an enhancement of O and Al with a corresponding decrease in Si with respect to SiCAIN. A small concentration of N was also found, as shown in Fig. 15, indicating diffusion of N from the SiCAIN into the interface region presumably during the annealing step. The Carbon content is effectively zero in this region indicating that the interface consists only of Si, Al, O and N. In order to determine quantitatively the composition of the interface region, it is necessary to convolve the effective electron probe distribution with model elemental distributions. This composition profile was modeled as simple step functions at the interface region. The best fit elemental step distributions and corresponding convolved profiles for Si, A1, O and N indicate the presence of a distinct aluminosilicate oxynitride layer with a graded composition yielding an average stoichiometry of Sio. l4Alo 28Oo. soNo. os over the 4.0 nm thickness. This composition is consistent with known X-silicon phases with stoichiometries ranging from Si3A16Oz2N2 (Sio. 13A10. 26Oo. 52No09) to the more silica-rich Sii2Ali8039N8 (Sio. AloOoNo. io) (16). X- silicon condenses in a triclinic structure which can be viewed as a distorted hexagonal lattice containing alternating chains of octahedra and tetrahedra linked to form sheets reminiscent of the mullite (SiZA16013) structure as shown in Fig. 16. In the"low"-X phase of this "nitrogen"-mullite, the edge shared polyhedral sheets in the (100) plane are linked together by tetrahedral AIN4 and Si04 units. A silica-rich"high"-X phase is similar, but possesses a faulted structure.

A typical high-resolution XTEM image of the siliconoxynitride interface heterostructure is shown in Fig. 17, revealing the epitaxial growth of a crystalline interface (buffer layer) which displays a microstructure indicative of a two-dimensional oxide system.

There is a smooth transition between the Si (111) substrate, the interfacial layer and the SiCAIN overlayer. The SiCAIN is highly oriented and exhibits the expected 2H-wurtzite structure, as is clearly visible in the upper portion of the film. The microstructural and nanoanalytical data indicate that the thermal Si02 layer has been completely reacted to form a crystalline Si-A1-O-N interface serving as a suitable template for nucleation and growth of SiCAIN.

Growth of crystalline oxide layers directly on Si is a potentially important area of research that remains virtually unexplored. These crystalline oxides possess a wide range of novel properties uniquely suitable for a number of applications such as high-K gate dielectrics.

Development of epitaxial dielectrics on Si has been focused on simple silicates (Sr2Si04) and perovskites (SrTi03) (17-19). Silicates in the SixAlyOz system have been previously investigated in reactions of A1 with bulk Si02 between 550-850°C (20,21). Although no structural and compositional data were provided, these systems were described as homogeneous ternary oxides that exhibit electronic properties similar to those of bulk glasses and zeolites. The inventors'work in this area is believed to represent the first example of a crystalline Si-Al-N material, which serves as a buffer layer between Si (111) and tetrahedral semiconductor alloys. These oxynitrides are, in general, high-compressibility (softer) solids compared to either SiCAIN or Si, thereby acting as a soft compliant spacer which can conform structurally and readily absorb the differential strain imposed by the more rigid SiCAIN and Si materials. This elastic behavior may be due to the structure and bonding arrangement consisting of sheet-like edge-shared octahedra and corner-shared tetrahedra which provide a low-energy deformation mechanism involving bond bending forces rather than bond compression forces.

The results of the inventors'work in this area suggest that a complex oxide material is the crucial interface component that promotes epitaxial growth of SiCAIN heterostructures on Si (111). This crystalline oxide is formed by in situ reactions using native and thermal Si02 as templates at the Si interface. Integration of wide bandgap nitride semiconductors with Si is readily achieved with the SiCAlN/Si-A1-O-N/Si (111) system serving as an ideal buffer layer. The structural model of Fig. 16 illustrates the transition of the interface structure from silica to SiCAIN through an intermediate Si3Al6Ol2N2 framework of a sheet-like structure.

Epitaxial XCZN films grown on SMOOCH Deposition on a-SiC (0001) substrates is virtually homoepitaxy which leads to a low density of misfit and threading dislocations desirable in semiconductors. In those instances wherein silicon is the substrate, a native Si02 layer is generally present, and the quaternary film is deposited on the Si02 layer. It has been observed that in the present method, the amorphous oxide layer is largely replaced with a crystalline aluminum oxide layer which in turn promotes epitaxial growth of the quaternary film. Fig. 1 illustrates this phenomenon.

Fig. 1 is a high-resolution the cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) image of an epitaxial SiCAIN film grown on a-Si (0001) by the method of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an X-ray rocking curve of an on-axis SiCAIN (0002) peak of the SiCAIN film illustrated in Fig. 1.

Epitaxial XCZN films grown on Group III nitride buffer layer In other preferred embodiments of the invention, quaternary epitaxial films were grown on a buffer layer on the silicon substrate. In contrast to growth of SiCAIN on a- SiC (0001) substrates, there may be a large lattice mismatch between the SiCAIN film and the Si (111) substrate. In order to improve epitaxial growth of SiCAIN on Si (111), a buffer layer on Si (111) may be deposited on the Si (111) substrate prior to growth of SiCAIN. The preferred buffer layer is aluminum nitride (AIN). An AIN buffer layer may be deposited by methods known in the art, as, for example, the method disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 6, 306, 675 by I. S. T. Tsong et al. ,"Method for forming a low-defect epitaxial layer in the fabrication of<BR> semiconductor devices, "herein incorporated by reference. Generally, the AIN buffer layer may be deposited through a precursor containing the AIN species or in other instances Al may be provided by evaporation from an effusion cell and combined with N-atoms from a radio-frequency plasma source. Both types of deposition take place in a conventional MBE chamber.

In certain instances, the epitaxial film is deposited on a buffer layer on the silicon substrate. In these instances, the buffer layer provides improved lattice matching for epitaxial growth of the film. Deposition on AlN/Si (111) substrates, for example, is virtually homoepitaxy which leads to a low density of misfit and threading dislocations desirable in semiconductors useful in a variety of optoelectronic and microelectronic applications.

Preferred buffer layers are the Group III nitrides, aluminum nitride (AIN), germanium nitride

(GeN), indium nitride (InN), aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) and indium gallium nitride (InGaN), most preferably AIN.

Layered semiconductor structures comprising a buffer layer and a quaternary epitaxial film having the formula XCZN deposited on the layer are provided. Fig. 13 illustrates a model of a layered semiconductor structure 10 comprising semiconductor quaternary film XCZN 106, buffer layer 104 and substrate silicon or silicon carbide 102.

GeCAIN Thin Films Other preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a method for preparing epitaxial quaternary films of the formula GeCZN wherein Z is a Group III element. Epitaxial quaternary films of the formula GeCZN wherein Z is aluminum, gallium or indium or, in certain instances, transition metals, are also wide bandgap semiconductors and are an alternative optoelectronic material to SiCAIN because of the theoretical bandgap of 1.6 eV for GeC (14).

Quaternary GeCAIN compounds are prepared by the present method by providing the precursor D3GeCN. A flux of gaseous precursor, unimolecular D3GeCN molecules, and vapor flux of Al atoms are introduced into the GSMBE chamber maintained at a pressure whereby the precursor and Al atoms combine to form epitaxial GeCAIN thin film the substrate. Temperature during the reaction is less than 1000°C, most preferably between about 550°C to 750°C. Substrate is silicon, preferably Si (111) or a-SiC (0001). In certain other instances, a transition metal, Ti, or Zr, e. g. , may be supplied from an effusion cell to form a series of quaternary compounds of different metal atoms.

The microstructures of GeCAIN films deposited at 650°C on Si and SiC substrates are shown in XTEM images in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is an XTEM image of GeCAIN film grown on 6H- SiC (0001) substrate showing epitaxial interface and Ge precipitate. Fig. 7a shows a crystalline film with Ge precipitate, and Fig. 7b shows the transition from cubic Si (111) to hexagonal structure of the film at the interface. The diffraction data indicate that this material consists of cubic Ge particles and disordered hexagonal crystals containing all the constituent elements, Ge, Al, C and N, according to EELS analyses. RBS analyses revealed that while the Al, C and N contents are nearly equal, the Ge concentration is substantially higher than the ideal 25 % value. Similar to the growth of SiCAIN on Si (111) substrates with intact native oxide layers, the XTEM images of GeCAIN/Si interfaces are as depicted in Fig. 7.

This shows a clear transition from cubic structure of the substrate to hexagonal structure of the film without the amorphous oxide layer.

Analysis and Characterization of epitaxial quaternary films grown by the method of the present invention.

A detailed characterization of the present quaternary XCZN films was provided by a thorough analysis utilizing a variety of techniques. The films may be more thoroughly understood in accordance with the Figs. and with the results given in the following subsections entitled: (1) Composition determined by Rutherford backscattering analysis; (2) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); (3) Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM); (4) Transmission electron diffraction (TED); (5) Energy loss spectroscopy (EELS); (6) Bandgap measurements; (7) Surface Morphology; and (8) Hardness measurements.

(1) Composition of SiCAIN films determined by Rutherford backscattering (RBS) Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) was used to determine the elemental composition, detect H and O impurities, and estimate the film thickness. The Si and Al elemental concentrations of each film were measured at 2 MeV, and resonant nuclear reactions at 4.27 MeV and 3.72 MeV were used to determine the C and N contents- respectively. Results of this analysis are illustrated in Fig. 8.

The C and N concentrations in most films were nearly equal, at 23-24 at. % and 24-26 at. % respectively, suggesting that the entire C-N unit of the precursor was incorporated into the film. The Al concentration in all films was 21-23 at. %, consistent with the high affinity of Al for the N ligand, but always slightly lower than that of C and N. The Si content for all films was measured at 27-29 at. %, consistently higher than the ideal 25 at. %. Typical compositions of the SiCAIN films determined by RBS lie in the following range: Si 27-29 atomic %, Al 21-23 atomic %, C 23-24 atomic %, and N 24-26 atomic %. The Si content is consistently higher than the stoichiometric 25 atomic %. This anomaly can be attributed to a minor loss of C-N during deposition of the precursor. Alternatively, the replacement of weaker Al-C bonding (which is present in an ideally stoichiometric SiCAIN solid solution) by stronger Si-C bonding at some lattice sites may account for the excess Si over Al. Oxygen resonance at 3.05 MeV confirmed the absence of any measurable O impurities in the bulk.

Forward recoil experiments showed only background traces of H, indicating the complete elimination of H ligands from the precursor during growth. Depth profiling by secondary ion

mass spectrometry (SIMS) showed homogeneous elemental distribution throughout and confirmed the absence of O and other impurities.

(2) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of SiCAIN films (FTIR) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the transmission mode was used to examine the bonding properties of the constituent elements in all films. Results are illustrated in Fig. 9. The FTIR spectrum shows two broad peaks at wavenumbers 740 cm~ and 660 cm-1 corresponding to Si-C and Al-N lattice vibrations respectively. These wavenumbers are significantly lower than those of pure Si-C (800 cm'') and pure Al-N (690 cm~'), consistent with the formation of an extended alloy between the two binary systems. A lower intensity peak is also observed at 600 cm-1 and is assigned to Al-C type lattice vibrations. Bands between 800-900 cm~ are assigned to Al-C type lattice vibrations.

Bands between 800-900 cm''which would correspond to Si-N stretching absorptions are not clearly resolved in the spectrum in Fig. 9. However, their presence cannot be ruled out because it is likely that they overlap with the broad onset of the Si-C absorption. The spectrum in Fig. 9 does not show any additional peaks attributable to Si-H vibrations between 2200-2100 crri 1, confirming the elimination of the H ligand from the precursor.

Absorption spectra taken from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) show major peaks due to Si-C and Al-N lattice vibrations and minor peaks due to Al-C and Si-N vibrations, in agreement with the wurtzite structure and chemical bonding of the SiCAIN film.

(3) Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy The microstructure of the films was studied by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). A typical high-resolution XTEM image of the epitaxial growth of SiCAIN on an a-SiC (0001) substrate is shown in Fig. 1. The characteristic.. ABAB.. stacking of the 2H wurtzite structure is clearly visible in the grains of the film shown in Fig.

1. A model atomic structure proposed for the SiCAIN epitaxial film is shown in Fig. 5. A typical XTEM image of a SiCAIN film grown on a Si (111) substrate is shown in Figs. 3 and 4a revealing columnar grains-25 nm wide extending from the film/substrate interface through the entire layer. The XTEM images of the SiCAIN film grown on Si (111) include some columnar grains with a-lattice planes oriented normal instead of parallel to the interface (Fig. 3).

(4) Transmission electron diffraction Transmission electron diffraction (TED) patterns ofSiCAIN films give lattice constants of a = 3. 06A and c = 4. 95A, very close to those of 2H-SiC and hexagonal AIN. Transmission electron diffraction (TED) patterns indicate a disordered wurtzite material with lattice constants a = 3.06 A and c = 4.95 A, very close to those of 2H-SiC and hexagonal AIN A survey of digital diffractograms of the lattice fringes indicates that the lattice spacings are constant throughout the grains, and close to the values obtained from TED patterns.

(5) Energy loss spectroscopy ofSiCAIN films Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) with nanometer beam size was used to study the uniformity of elemental distribution throughout the film. Typical elemental profiles scanned across the columnar grains in the film are shown in Fig. 10 which is an EELS elemental profile scan of Si, Al, C and N sampled across 70 nm over a SiCAIN film showing the distribution of all four constituent elements. The corresponding RBS atomic concentrations for Si, Al, N, and C are 29,21, 26, and 24 at. % respectively. The lower C content detected by EELS is due to preferential depletion of C from the lattice sites by the electron beam. The region where the scan took place on the film is shown as a white line in the lower XTEM image All four constituent elements, Si, Al, C and N, appear together in every nanometer- scale region probed, without any indication of phase separation of SiC and A1N or any segregation of individual elements in the film.

The EELS results are accurate to within 10 at. % and thus confirm that the film contains a solid solution of SiCAIN. The minor elemental variations observed in Fig. 10 may be due to compositional inhomogeniety across grain boundaries. While the EELS elemental concentrations for N, Al, and Si in all samples are close to those obtained by RBS (certainly within the 10 % error associated with the technique) the EELS elemental concentration of C is consistently lower by a significant amount than the RBS value. This is due to the preferential depletion of C from the lattice sites by the finely focused intense electron beam.

An EELS spectrum featuring K-shell ionization edges representing the a* transition for both C and N is shown in Fig. 11. Peaks corresponding to 7r* transitions characteristic of sp2 hybridization are not observed at these edges, indicating the absence of sp2 hybridization are not observed at these edges, indicating the absence of sp2 hybridized carbon and related planar C-N networks generally associated with the decomposition of the unimolecular

precursor. The EELS spectrum thus confirms that both C and N are sp3 hybridized and tetrahedrally coordinated as in SiC and AIN.

(6) Bandgap measurements Optical absorption experiments suggest that the bandgap for the SiCAIN epitaxial film is no less than 3.8 eV, as would be expected from the bandgaps of the constituents SiC (3.3eV) and AIN (6.3 eV). The direct bandgap of the SiCAIN films may be observed by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) ellipsometry.

(7) Surface Morphology Atomic force microscope images illustrated in Fig. 12a and 12b show a relatively smooth as-grown surface of a SiCAIN thin film grown according to the method of the present invention. The complete lack of facets on the as-grown surface indicates that the predominant growth direction is basal-plane, i. e. (0001), oriented.

(8) Hardness measurements The SiCAIN solid solution films can also serve as superhard coatings for protection of surfaces against wear and erosion. The hardness of the films was measured using a Hysitron Triboscope attached to a Digital Instruments Nanoscope III atomic force microscope. The hardness in this case is defined as the applied load divided by the surface area of the impression when a pyramidal-shaped diamond indentor is pressed normally into the film surface. Using the hardness value of 9 GPa measured for fused silica as a standard, the indentation experiments yielded an average hardness of 25 GPa for the SiCAIN films, close to that measured for sapphire under the same experimental conditions. The reported Vickers hardness for SiC and AIN are 283 and 12 1 Gpa, respectively (1).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

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