Quantitative modeling of point defects in β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> combining hybrid functional energetics with semiconductor and processes thermodynamics

β-Gallium oxide (β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) is of high interest for power electronics because of its unique combination of melt growth, epitaxial growth, n-type dopability, ultrawide bandgap, and high critical field. Optimization of crystal growth processes to promote beneficial defects and suppress harmful ones requires accurate quantitative modelling of both native and impurity defects. Herein we quantitatively model defect concentrations as a function of bulk crystal growth conditions and demonstrate the necessity of including effects such as bandgap temperature dependence, chemical potentials from thermochemistry, and defect vibrational entropy in modelling based on defect formation energies computed by density functional theory (DFT) with hybrid functionals. Without these contributions, grossly-erroneous and misleading predictions arise, <i>e.g.</i> that n-type doping attempts would be fully compensated by Ga vacancies. Including these effects reproduces the experimental facts that melt-grown Sn-doped β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> crystals are conductive with small compensation while annealing the same crystals in O<sub>2</sub> at intermediate temperatures renders them insulating. To accomplish this modeling, we developed a comprehensive modelling framework (KROGER) based on calculated defect formation energies and flexible thermodynamic conditions. These capabilities allow KROGER to capture full and partial defect equilibria amongst native defects and impurities occurring during specific semiconductor growth or fabrication processes. We use KROGER to model 873 charge-states of 259 defects involving 19 elements in conditions representing bulk crystal growth by edge-fed growth (EFG) and annealing in oxygen. Our methodology is transferrable to a wide range of materials beyond β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The integration of thermodynamic and first-principles modelling of point defects provides insight into optimization of point defect populations in growth and processing.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/d4cp04817b
Citations
8
Primary Topic
Ga2O3 and related materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.42

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Quantitative modeling of point defects in β-Ga2O3 combining hybrid functional energetics with semiconductor and processes thermodynamics

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article

Quantitative modeling of point defects in β-Ga2O3 combining hybrid functional energetics with semiconductor and processes thermodynamics

Ymir Kalmann Frodason, Michael A. Scarpulla, Elif Ertekin, Channyung Lee, Joel B. Varley, Michael A. Stephens, Khandakar Aaditta Arnab, Isaac Maxfield
article en
8 citations

Abstract

β-Gallium oxide (β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) is of high interest for power electronics because of its unique combination of melt growth, epitaxial growth, n-type dopability, ultrawide bandgap, and high critical field. Optimization of crystal growth processes to promote beneficial defects and suppress harmful ones requires accurate quantitative modelling of both native and impurity defects. Herein we quantitatively model defect concentrations as a function of bulk crystal growth conditions and demonstrate the necessity of including effects such as bandgap temperature dependence, chemical potentials from thermochemistry, and defect vibrational entropy in modelling based on defect formation energies computed by density functional theory (DFT) with hybrid functionals. Without these contributions, grossly-erroneous and misleading predictions arise, <i>e.g.</i> that n-type doping attempts would be fully compensated by Ga vacancies. Including these effects reproduces the experimental facts that melt-grown Sn-doped β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> crystals are conductive with small compensation while annealing the same crystals in O<sub>2</sub> at intermediate temperatures renders them insulating. To accomplish this modeling, we developed a comprehensive modelling framework (KROGER) based on calculated defect formation energies and flexible thermodynamic conditions. These capabilities allow KROGER to capture full and partial defect equilibria amongst native defects and impurities occurring during specific semiconductor growth or fabrication processes. We use KROGER to model 873 charge-states of 259 defects involving 19 elements in conditions representing bulk crystal growth by edge-fed growth (EFG) and annealing in oxygen. Our methodology is transferrable to a wide range of materials beyond β-Ga<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The integration of thermodynamic and first-principles modelling of point defects provides insight into optimization of point defect populations in growth and processing.

Physical Chemistry Chemical PhysicsVol. 27(21)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US), University of Oslo (NO), University of Utah (US)
U.S. Department of Energy, Norges Forskningsråd, Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, Laboratory Directed Research and Development, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Ga2O3 and related materials
3.42
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