InP facet growth near SiO2 mask edges during metalorganic molecular be
am epitaxy is studied for various V/III ratios on (100) substrates wit
h 2-degrees misorientation towards (110). While ideal vertical layer g
rowth occurs at high V/III ratio even up to 2 mum growth thickness, ob
lique (111) planes are kinetically favoured near mask edges at lower V
/III ratio. The V/III ratio is a key parameter since it determines the
facets with the lowest kinetically limited growth rate at the border
of the growing layer. Also the diffusion length of mobile adsorbed spe
cies, by which additional features near mask edges and corners are exp
lained, decreases with V/III ratio. Besides interfacet diffusion drive
n by concentration gradients between facets of different growth rate,
there is evidence also for anisotropic diffusion along [011BAR] on (10
0) InP. We speculate that this is the origin of the fine surface rippl
es on InP surfaces observed on one side near the SiO2 masks.