Subsurface damage pattern and formation mechanism of monocrystalline β-Ga₂O₃ in grinding process

Abstract

Monocrystalline beta-phase gallium oxide (β-Ga₂O₃) is a promising ultrawide bandgap semiconductor material. However, the deformation mechanism in ultraprecision machining has not yet been revealed. The aim of this study is to investigate the damage pattern and formation mechanism of monocrystalline β-Ga₂O₃ in different grinding processes. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the subsurface damage in rough, fine, and ultrafine grinding processes. Nanocrystals and stacking faults existed in all three processes, dislocations and twins were observed in the rough and fine grinding processes, cracks were also observed in the rough grinding process, and amorphous phase were only present in the ultrafine grinding process. The subsurface damage thickness of the samples decreased with the reduction in the grit radius and the grit depth of cut. Subsurface damage models for grinding process were established on the basis of the grinding principle, revealing the mechanism of the mechanical effect of grits on the damage pattern. The formation of nanocrystals and amorphous phase was related to the grinding conditions and material characteristics. It is important to investigate the ultraprecision grinding process of monocrystalline β-Ga₂O₃. The results in this work are supposed to provide guidance for the damage control of monocrystalline β-Ga₂O₃ grinding process.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

monocrystalline beta-phase gallium oxide / grinding process / subsurface damage / nanocrystals / amorphous phase

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51975091, 51991372, and 51735004), the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFB1201804-1), the Lab of Space Optoelectronic Measurement & Perception (LabSOMP-2019-05), and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Precision and Micro-Manufacturing Technology.

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2022 Higher Education Press 2022