Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 July 2004
Heteroepitaxial GaN layers grown on sapphire by metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) have been characterised by conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on planar and cross-sectional samples, Large Angle Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction (LACBED) and by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Hollow tubes termed nanopipes were resolved on planar view and cross-sections of heteroepitaxial GaN. For advanced studies of the nature of nanopipes the LACBED method was employed. The recognition between perfect structure and screw distortion around nanopipes was performed with high accuracy using Zone Axis LACBED images.