Abstract
La-alloyed β-Ga(2)O(3) nanofibers with varying La concentrations (0, 1, 5, and 10 at. %) are successfully synthesized using the electrospinning method to investigate the effects of incorporating La on phase formations. At La 1 at. % alloying, the polycrystalline β-Ga(2)O(3) phase remains stable, indicating that this concentration is within its solubility limit. However, higher La alloying levels (5 and 10 at. %) lead to the formation of additional phases, including La(2)O(3), Ga(3)La(5), La(4)Ga(2)O(5), cubic La(2)O(5), and orthorhombic LaGaO(3). Notably, when increasing the La concentration, the nonoxide metallic compound La(3)Ga(5) is observed, likely due to enhanced Ga-La interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations confirm that La(3)Ga(5) has metallic properties, which could potentially improve the electrical performance of Ga(2)O(3)-based devices. Furthermore, DFT simulations predict the formation, phase stability, and structure of La-based precipitates, offering valuable insights into the alloying behavior and material properties of Ga(2)O(3). These findings suggest possibilities for enhancing the functionality of Ga(2)O(3) semiconductors in electronic applications.