Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 March 2011
GaN crystalline powders have been synthesized by the reaction of a Ga vapor with an ammonia gas at the reaction temperature T r = 900 - 1100°C in an atmospheric-pressure open-tube reactor. The size of GaN particles ranges from 0.2 to 2νm. It was found that the structural and luminescent properties depend strongly on T r. The mean size of the GaN particles increased as T r is raised. The GaN powders exhibited photoluminescence (PL) dominated by the band edge emissions. Thermal quenching is relatively significant for the powders synthesized at lower T r. This is presumably due to enhanced non-radiative recombination at the surface because of their smaller particle size.