分子束外延生长过程中GaAs(001)表面铝液滴的扩散成核过程

量子点的性质主要由其密度及尺寸参数控制,而原子在衬底上的成核运动又决定了量子点的密度、直径、高度等参数,因此研究原子的扩散成核过程对自组装制备量子点具有重要意义。本文通过分子束外延生长技术研究了GaAs(001)表面金属铝液滴的成核过程,发现衬底温度和金属铝沉积速率的变化直接影响了液滴的尺寸、密度以及形状等特征。根据经典成核理论分析GaAs(001)表面金属铝液滴空间分布与几何结构的演化规律,推导得出表面金属铝液滴密度与衬底温度、金属铝沉积速率的关系方程。在此基础上,进一步计算得出液滴形成过程中未成核态、临界成核态、成核态三种亚稳态所包含的最小原子数分别为1个、2个、5个。     

GaAs衬底温度对液滴外延法生长In液滴的影响

采用液滴外延法在GaAs(001)衬底上生长In液滴,利用原子力显微镜(AFM)对不同衬底温度下生长的样品进行表征,观察其表面形貌。研究表明In液滴的生长对衬底温度十分敏感,随着衬底温度的升高,液滴密度逐渐减小,液滴尺寸逐渐增大。分析了In液滴在不同衬底温度形成过程的物理机制,解释了该实验现象的原因。根据成核理论中最大团簇密度与衬底温度之间的关系,拟合计算出In液滴密度与衬底温度满足的函数关系为n_x=5.17 exp(0.69 eV/kT)。     

基于液滴外延法的Al(In)纳米结构在GaAs(001)的形成机制

采用液滴外延法在GaAs(001)衬底上同时沉积In、Al液滴形成纳米结构,利用原子力显微镜(AFM)对实验样品进行形貌表征,并通过X射线光电子能谱(XPS)与扫描电子显微镜分析In、Al组分比样品表面元素分布。实验结果显示,混合沉积后的表面InAlAs纳米结构密度随着In组分的降低而降低,而单个纳米结构的尺寸变大。SEM与XPS测试结果证明表面的In并没有因为衬底温度过高而全部偏析。根据实验结果推测,In&Al液滴同时沉积到表面形成InAl混合液滴。当液滴完全晶化后纳米结构中心出现孔洞,而产生这一现象的主要原因是液滴向下刻蚀。     

Al液滴在GaAs表面的熟化行为研究

为探究Al液滴在GaAs表面的熟化行为,利用液滴外延法在GaAs衬底表面制备Al液滴.在零As压环境下,通过控制退火时间有效控制Al液滴的生长、成核.结合热力学原理和晶体生长理论对样品形貌变化现象进行物理解释,构建出液滴形貌变化过程中熟化、刻蚀和扩散行为的基本模型.理论计算表明,液滴在熟化行为达到退火239 s的平衡点后,被向下刻蚀和向外扩散两个行为同时消耗.     

半导体所在纳米线量子结构材料研究方面取得新进展

<正>中国科学院半导体研究所超晶格国家重点实验室研究员牛智川课题组近年来深入系统地研究了In(Ga)As量子点、量子环、纳米线中量子点、纳米线中量子环的自组织外延生长、液滴外延生长方法。最近,课题组查国伟、喻颖等在研究中发现:通过优化GaAs纳米线侧壁淀积Ga液滴成核温度与晶化条件等参数,可以生长出密度与形貌可控量子点、量子环等新奇量子结构,首次发现单根纳米线侧壁形成单个"方形"量子环且具有高品质发光特性。(Nanoscale,10.1039(2013))。他们进一步生长了GaAs/AlGaAs纳米线中的GaAs量子点,以及置于AlGaAs量子环中心并覆盖AlGaAs     

生长温度对InAs/GaAs量子点太阳电池的影响研究

InAs/GaAs量子点的生长形貌和特性受不同生长环境和生长条件影响.本文借助光致发光光谱(PL)特性表征方法,通过实验生长,对比研究不同生长温度下获得的量子点性能,结合当前三结叠层GaInP/GaAs/C-e(2-terminal)电池存在的问题,以及该电池的设计、制作要求,分析了InAs量子点的不同生长温度对于具有量子点结构的中电池吸收的影响.     

GaSb薄膜生长的RHEED研究

采用分子束外延技术,在GaAs衬底上生长GaSb薄膜时,利用反射式高能电子衍射仪(RHEED)对衬底表面清洁状况、外延层厚度等进行在线监控.通过RHEED讨论低温缓冲层对GaSb薄膜表面结构和生长机制的作用,可以估算衬底温度,并能计算出薄膜的生长速率.实验测量GaSb的生长周期为1.96s,每秒沉积0.51单分子层.低温缓冲层提高了在GaAs衬底上外延GaSb薄膜的生长质量.     

1.3微米发光自组织InAs/GaAs量子点的电致发光研究

用优化的MBE参数生长了1.3μm发光的InAs/GaAs量子点材料,并制成发光二极管,对不同温度和有源区长度下样品的电致发光谱进行了细致的研究.观察到两个明显的电致发光峰,分别对应于量子点基态和激发态的辐射复合发光.实验表明,由于能态填充效应的影响,适当增大量子点发光器件有源区长度,更有利于获得基态的光发射.这个结果提供了一种控制和调节InAs/GaAs量子点发光二极管和激光器的工作波长的方法.     

二次退火制备Ⅲ-Ⅴ族半导体量子点

利用离子注入法在一块Si(001)衬底上注入了In+和As+,注入能量分别为210keV,150keV,注入剂量6.2×1016cm-2,8.6×1016cm-2,另一块Si(001)衬底上注入Ga+和Sb+,注入能量分别为140keV,220keV,注入剂量分别为8.2×1016cm-2,6.2×1016cm-2,然后对样品分别经过一次退火和二次退火处理制备出了Si基量子点材料。用透射电子显微镜(TEM)和高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)观察了退火后量子点截面像,用PL探测量子点的光致发光谱,发现经二次退火生长的量子点微晶格结构和Si衬底损伤的修复均明显优于一次退火。     

化学气相沉积金刚石薄膜成核机理研究

本文综述了在化学气相沉积（Ｃｈｅｍｉｃａｌ Ｖａｐｏｒ Ｄｅｐｏｓｉｔｉｏｎ,ＣＶＤ）金刚石薄膜过程中非金刚石衬底表面金刚石成核机理研究进展。主要讨论了衬底表面缺陷诱导金刚石成核模型,指出最大原子团的存在决定了金刚石成核是否能够在衬底表面发生;分析了金刚石在非金刚石衬底成核时的过渡层问题,提出了过渡层存在机理;对于在等离子体ＣＶＤ中的偏压增强金刚石成核效应,提出的负偏压离子流增强成核模型和正偏压电     

Critical thickness of the 2-dimensional to 3-dimensional transition in GaSb/GaAs(001) quantum dot growth

The phase transformation from planar to quantum dot growth is driven by strain energy reduction at the cost of surface energy. By calculating and comparing the strain energies of monolayer thick GaSb and InAs films on GaAs(001), a critical thickness for the 2-dimensional to 3-dimensional phase transformation of about 1.2 ML was derived for the GaSb/GaAs quantum dot system. This value is in agreement with the direct observation of the effectively deposited amount of material using cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy. Deviating experimental literature values can be traced back to the neglect of the Sb-for-As exchange process.     

X-ray analysis of Self-Organized InAs/InGaAs Quantum Dot Structure

We report on an X-ray study of an InAs/InGaAs/GaAs multi quantum dot stack grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using grazing incidence reflectometry, high-resolution X-ray diffraction, reciprocal space mapping and pole figure analysis. No direct signal from the quantum dots is found by the high-resolution techniques. All rocking curves on different symmetric and asymmetric Bragg reflections can be simulated within the framework of dynamical theory assuming a perfect tretragonally distorted InAs/InGaAs/GaAs multiquantum well system. A pole figure analysis in the vicinity of the (113) and (022) reflections, however, reveals a signal from the quantum dots. There is a considerable indium enrichment in the quantum dots as compared to the wetting layer indicating a strong In-diffusion during their formation. Moreover, a strongly anisotropic diffuse scattering distribution with respect to the [110] and [1-10] directions is found.     

Formation of Ge-diffusion-suppressed GaAs layers and InAs quantum dots on Ge/Si substrates

Crystal growth of GaAs layers and InAs quantum dots (QDs) on the GaAs layers was investigated on Ge/Si substrates using ultrahigh vacuum chemical vapor deposition. Ga-rich GaAs with anti-site Ga atoms grown at a low V/III ratio was found to suppress the diffusion of Ge into GaAs. S-K mode QD formation was observed on GaAs layers grown on Ge/Si substrates with Ga-rich GaAs initial layers, and improved photoluminescence from 1.3 μm-emitting InAs QDs was demonstrated.     

In-situ fabrication of three-dimensionally confined GaAs and InAs volumes via growth on non-planar patterned GaAs(001) substrates

Three-dimensionally confined GaAs/AlGaAs and InAs/GaAs structures on 100 oriented square mesas patterned onto GaAs(001) substrates are realized, in-situ, via size-reducing molecular beam epitaxy. Two stages of mesa top pinch-off involving {103} and subsequently {101} side facets are revealed. GaAs and InAs quantum boxes with lateral linear dimensions down to 40 nm and confined by AlGaAs and GaAs, respectively, are reported. For InAs, the strain relief in mesas is found to enhance the well known 2 ML thickness for three-dimensional island formation on unpatterned substrates to, remarkably, >5 ML for mesa size 75 nm. Cathodoluminescence emission from the InAs on the mesa top attests to its good optical quality.     

Controlling the formation of quantum dot pairs using nanohole templates

Modifying the shape of nanoholes formed by arsenic debt epitaxy by the overgrowth of a thin GaAs buffer is shown to provide a simple and robust method to grow low density lateral In(Ga)As quantum dot pairs (QDPs). We present here a systematic study of the effect of GaAs buffer thickness, InAs deposition amount, substrate temperature and arsenic overpressure on dot nucleation and QDP formation. A (10–30) nm GaAs buffer over nanoholes initially $～10.5\mathrm{nm}$ deep, (60–80) nm wide results in up to 80% of the nanoholes containing QDPs. The QD pairs are aligned along the [110] direction and have centre-to-centre separation of $～38\mathrm{nm}$. These QDPs form following InAs deposition between 1.3 ML and 1.6 ML at 490 °C under an arsenic arrival flux of 0.6 ML/s. From the infilling of the hole prior to QD formation, we estimate a net indium surface flux towards the hole of $～7$ times the incident flux. The substrate temperature does not significantly alter the dot distribution over the range (470–510) °C. However, the QDP formation is very sensitive to the arsenic overpressure over the range (0.6–1.2) ML/s because of a partial collapse of the nanohole, due to mass transport as the substrate passes through the (2×4) to c(4×4) surface reconstruction around 500 °C.     

Low-density InAs QDs with subcritical coverage obtained by conversion of In nanocrystals

We report growth of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) by molecular beam epitaxy with low density of 2 μm^?2 by conversion of In nanocrystals deposited at low temperatures. The total amount of InAs used is about one monolayer, which is less than the critical thickness for conventional Stranski–Krastanov QDs. We also demonstrate the importance of the starting surface reconstruction for obtaining uniform QDs. The QD emission wavelength is easily tunable upon post-growth annealing with no wetting layer signal visible for short anneals. Microphotoluminescence measurements reveal well separated and sharp emission lines of individual QDs.     

Optical investigation of the self-organized growth of InAs/GaAs quantum boxes

By studying the optical properties of highly strained InAs/GaAs multilayers as a function of the deposited quantity of InAs, a high resolution probing of the change from two-dimensional to three-dimensional morphology of the InAs layers has been performed. We show that the critical thickness for the onset of three-dimensional growth is very well defined for given growth conditions. The nucleation of the islands is, however, asynchronous, due to the spatial fluctuations of the deposited quantity of InAs. A fast initial growth of the InAs islands leads within a few seconds to a quasi-equilibrium morphology for InAs. Asynchronous nucleation and fast initial growth combined are shown to be the major origin of the size fluctuations of InAs quantum boxes in GaAs obtained by self-organized growth under standard molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth conditions.