Epitaxial gallium nitride is grown on a silicon substrate while reducing or suppressing the formation of a buffer layer. The gallium nitride may be grown directly on the silicon substrate, for example using domain epitaxy. Alternatively, less than one complete monolayer of silicon nitride may be formed between the silicon and the gallium nitride. Subsequent to formation of the gallium nitride, an interfacial layer of silicon nitride may be formed between the silicon and the gallium nitride.