Honeycomb-like gallium nitride prepared via dual-ion synergistic etching mechanism using amino acid as etchant

• Published in: Chemical physics letters Vol. 773; p. 138588
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zi'ang, Zhang, Shaohui, Zhang, Long, Liu, Zeng, Zhang, Haifeng, Chen, Jiafan, Zhou, Quan, Nie, Lifan, Dong, Zhaobo, Pan, Gebo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 16.06.2021
• Subjects: Amino acid; Dual-ion; GaN; Photo-electrochemical etching; Synergistic effect; Dual-ion; Amino acid; Synergistic effect; GaN; Photo-electrochemical etching
• ISSN: 0009-2614; 1873-4448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2021.138588

Gly was used for the first time as etchant to assemble honeycomb-like structure on gallium nitride by photo-electrochemical etching technique, with uniform pore size, high pore density and superior reusability, a novel dual-ion dissolution etching mechanism model was proposed. [Display omitted] •Amino acids as photoelectrochemical etching (PECE) etchant for the first time.•Dual-ion synergistic etching mechanism was promoted as a universal mechanism for amino acid used as etchant.•The excellent porous structure was successfully prepared under controlled conditions. Amino acid, taking the glycine (Gly) for example, was used for the first time as etchant to assemble honeycomb-like structure on gallium nitride (GaN) by photo-electrochemical etching (PECE) technique. Conspicuously, a novel dual-ion dissolution etching mechanism model was proposed, of which could extensively promote to almost all amino acids and their derivatives as well. Importantly, double ions of amino acids are of a synergistic effect with amino and carboxyl groups, which facilitate the generation and stabilization of the honeycomb-like structure with uniform pore size (~26.5 nm), high pore density and superior reusability, and the intermolecular hydrogen bonding can maintain the honeycomb-like structure without being destroyed. From the point of view of costs, scale-up production, biocompatibility and environmental friendliness, Gly has obvious advantages over the traditional strong acid and alkali etchant.