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Main Authors: Gogova, D., Tran, D., Stanishev, V., Shafizadeh, D., Hsiao, C. -L., Kim, M., Pécz, B., Kovács, A., Frey, K., Sulyok, A., Singh, N. K., Febvrier, A. Le, Eklund, P., Darakchieva, V.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.04508
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author Gogova, D.
Tran, D.
Stanishev, V.
Shafizadeh, D.
Hsiao, C. -L.
Kim, M.
Pécz, B.
Kovács, A.
Frey, K.
Sulyok, A.
Singh, N. K.
Febvrier, A. Le
Eklund, P.
Darakchieva, V.
author_facet Gogova, D.
Tran, D.
Stanishev, V.
Shafizadeh, D.
Hsiao, C. -L.
Kim, M.
Pécz, B.
Kovács, A.
Frey, K.
Sulyok, A.
Singh, N. K.
Febvrier, A. Le
Eklund, P.
Darakchieva, V.
contents Group II-IV nitrides have recently emerged as a novel class of semiconductors composed of earth-abundant elements. Owing to their tunable bandgaps, comparable to those of III-nitrides, these materials are attractive candidates for replacing expensive Ga-based alloys in photovoltaics and green-gap optoelectronics. In this work, epitaxial growth of MgSnN2 layers on 4H-SiC(0001) substrates by direct current magnetron sputtering is demonstrated. Mg and Sn metal targets have been co-sputtered in nitrogen-containing atmosphere at growth temperatures up to 500 °C. X-ray diffraction and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy confirm the MgSnN2 layers grow epitaxially in a wurtzite crystal structure, exhibiting the epitaxial relationships with the substrate: MgSnN2 [0001]//4H-SiC [0001] and MgSnN2 [10-10]//4H-SiC[10-10]. Improved crystalline quality is observed for higher deposition temperatures and near-stoichiometric composition, as evidenced by the narrowing of rocking curve linewidths. Optical characterization reveals high absorption coefficients (1e5 cm-1) in the visible spectrum, comparable to that of GaAs, highlighting the suitability of MgSnN2 for photovoltaic applications. A photoluminescence emission band at ~2.4 eV is detected, highly desirable for optoelectronic devices operating in the challenging green spectral region. These results establish MgSnN2 as an earth-abundant, environmentally friendly material, structurally compatible with III-nitrides, with potential for cost-efficient components in sustainable optoelectronics and photovoltaics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_04508
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Epitaxial MgSnN2 on 4H-SiC (0001): An Earth-Abundant Nitride for Green Optoelectronics and Photovoltaics
Gogova, D.
Tran, D.
Stanishev, V.
Shafizadeh, D.
Hsiao, C. -L.
Kim, M.
Pécz, B.
Kovács, A.
Frey, K.
Sulyok, A.
Singh, N. K.
Febvrier, A. Le
Eklund, P.
Darakchieva, V.
Materials Science
Group II-IV nitrides have recently emerged as a novel class of semiconductors composed of earth-abundant elements. Owing to their tunable bandgaps, comparable to those of III-nitrides, these materials are attractive candidates for replacing expensive Ga-based alloys in photovoltaics and green-gap optoelectronics. In this work, epitaxial growth of MgSnN2 layers on 4H-SiC(0001) substrates by direct current magnetron sputtering is demonstrated. Mg and Sn metal targets have been co-sputtered in nitrogen-containing atmosphere at growth temperatures up to 500 °C. X-ray diffraction and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy confirm the MgSnN2 layers grow epitaxially in a wurtzite crystal structure, exhibiting the epitaxial relationships with the substrate: MgSnN2 [0001]//4H-SiC [0001] and MgSnN2 [10-10]//4H-SiC[10-10]. Improved crystalline quality is observed for higher deposition temperatures and near-stoichiometric composition, as evidenced by the narrowing of rocking curve linewidths. Optical characterization reveals high absorption coefficients (1e5 cm-1) in the visible spectrum, comparable to that of GaAs, highlighting the suitability of MgSnN2 for photovoltaic applications. A photoluminescence emission band at ~2.4 eV is detected, highly desirable for optoelectronic devices operating in the challenging green spectral region. These results establish MgSnN2 as an earth-abundant, environmentally friendly material, structurally compatible with III-nitrides, with potential for cost-efficient components in sustainable optoelectronics and photovoltaics.
title Epitaxial MgSnN2 on 4H-SiC (0001): An Earth-Abundant Nitride for Green Optoelectronics and Photovoltaics
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.04508