Utilizing the interface adsorption of nitrogen for the growth of high-quality GaInAsN/GaAs quantum wells by metal organic chemical vapor deposition for near infrared applications

We have investigated the composition and optical properties of GaInAsN/GaAs single quantum wells grown using metal organic chemical vapor epitaxy at 500 °C. Using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and photoluminescence spectroscopy, we have shown the presence of a 1-2 nm thick nitrogen-rich interfacial layer at the first interface grown. The inhomogeneous asymmetric distribution of nitrogen atoms along the growth direction is attributed to the dominance of surface kinetics, nonlinear dependence of N incorporation on In content, and the strain gradient effect on the effective diffusion of N. We have utilized this finding to grow high quality quantum wells.