This work reports the first successful results of the growth of GaN on a po
rous silicon (PS) substrate. GaN layers have been grown on PS substrates by
metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) at atmospheric pressure. The gro
wth rate (measured by laser reflectometry) was found to be dependent on the
growth temperature. The surface morphology and crystallinity of the GaN fi
lms were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffract
ion (XRD). I- V and C- V characteristics of the GaN/PS structure measured a
t room temperature are reported. We found that the GaN/PS/Si heterojunction
forms a diode-like structure with a rather good rectification behaviour. (
C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.