Conditions for the growth of single-crystalline GaAs, AlGaAs, and InGaAs layers by metalorganic VPE were established and the corresponding semiconductor films were obtained on porous GaAs substrates. Comparative data on the morphology, structure, and electrical homogeneity of the epitaxial layers grown on the porous and monolithic substrates are presented. It was found that passage to the porous substrates leads to changes in the film growth rate and morphology, the concentration of electrically active defects, and their distribution in depth of the epitaxial structures. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".