The Features of Phase Stability of GaN and AlN Films at Nanolevel

Recently, two-dimensional gallium and aluminum nitrides have triggered a vast interest in their tunable optical and electronic properties. Continuation of this research requires a detailed understanding of their atomic structure. Here, by using first-principles calculations we reported a systematic...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ilya V. Chepkasov, Sergey V. Erohin, Pavel B. Sorokin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/1/8
Description
Summary:Recently, two-dimensional gallium and aluminum nitrides have triggered a vast interest in their tunable optical and electronic properties. Continuation of this research requires a detailed understanding of their atomic structure. Here, by using first-principles calculations we reported a systematic study of phase stability of 2D-GaN and 2D-AlN. We showed that the films undergo a phase transition from a graphene-like to a wurtzite structure with a thickness increase, whereas the early reported body-centered-tetragonal phase requires specific conditions for stabilization. Additionally, we studied how the functionalization of the surface can modify the film structure as exemplified by hydrogenation.
ISSN:2079-4991