Single phase aluminum nitride (0001) has been grown on atomically clean silicon (100) substrates (720 degrees C greater than or equal to T-s greater than or equal to 620 degrees C) with dual supersonic molecular beam gas sources. The precursors used were triethylaluminum [TEA; Al(C2H5)(3)] and ammonia (NH3). The maximum growth rate obtained was 0.1 mu m/h. The growth rate was found to depend strongly on the kinetic energy of the incident precursors. Single phase films were grown 200-400 nm thick. Structural x-ray studies reveal 2 theta full widths at half-maxima between 0.20 degrees and 0.35 degrees for the AlN (0002) peak. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.