Raman mapping of hexagonal hillocks in N-polar GaN grown on c-plane sapphire

A large amount of huge hexagonal hillocks were observed on the surface of N-polar GaN film grown on c-plane sapphire substrate by MOCVD. The distribution of residual stress and dislocation density in a typical hexagonal hillock was investigated by the mapping measurement of Micro-Raman and Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy. It is found that the residual stress at the top region of the hillock is much smaller than that of the sidewall region and the region around the hillock. Meanwhile, the CL images confirmed that the dislocation density around the hexagonal hillock is higher than the top region of the hillock. The bending and annihilation of the dislocations during the growth of the hexagonal hillock result in the relaxation of residual stress which should be responsible for the spatial variation of dislocation density and residual stress.