Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
The correlation between surface cross-hatched morphology and interfacial misfit dislocations in strained III-V semiconductor heteroepitaxy has been studied. The surface pattern is clearly seen on samples grown at high temperature (520°C) and with lattice mismatch f < 2%. A poorly defined cross-hatched morphology is found on layers grown at low temperature (400°C). For f > 2%, a rough textured surface morphology is observed in place of cross hatching. Few threading dislocations are observed in the strained layer when cross hatch develops. Cross hatch occurs after most interfacial misfit dislocations are generated. The results suggest that surface cross hatch is directly related to the generation and glide of interfacial misfit dislocations.