Semiconductor surfaces were divided into charge categories, i.e. surface acceptor, donor and neutral ones that are suitable for simulations of their properties within a slab model. The potential profiles, close to the charged surface states, accounting for explicit dependence of the point defects energy, were obtained. A termination charge slab model was formulated and analyzed proving that two control parameters of slab simulations exist: the slope and curvature of electric potential profiles which can be translated into a surface and volumetric charge density. The procedures of slab model parameter control 2 are described and presented using examples of the DFT simulations of GaN and SiC surfaces showing the potential profiles, linear or curved, depending on the band charge within the slab. It was also demonstrated that the field at the surface may affect some surface properties in a considerable degree proving that verification of this dependence is obligatory for a precise simulation of the properties of semiconductor surfaces.
Chemical adsorption of the species at semiconductor surfaces is analyzed showing the existence of the two contributions to adsorption energy: bond creation and charge transfer. It is shown that the energy of quantum surface states is affected by the electric field at the surface, nevertheless, the potential contribution of electron and nuclei cancels out. The charge transfer contribution is Fermi level independent for pinned surfaces. Thus for Fermi level pinned at the surface, the adsorption energy is independent on the Fermi energy, i.e., the doping in the bulk. The DFT simulations of adsorption of hydrogen at clean GaN(0001) and silicon at SiC(0001) surfaces confirmed independence of adsorption energy on the doping in the bulk. For the Fermi level nonpinned surfaces, the charge contribution depends on the position of Fermi level in the bulk. Thus adsorption energy is sensitive to change of the Fermi energy in the bulk, i.e., the doping. The DFT simulations of adsorption of atomic hydrogen at 0.75 ML hydrogen covered GaN(0001) surface confirmed that the adsorption energy may be changed by about 2 eV by the doping change from n- to p-type.
Results of the first ab initio simulations of InN/GaN multiquantum well (MQW) system are presented. The DFT results confirm the presence of the polarization charge at InN/GaN interfaces, i.e. at polar InN/GaN heterostructures. These results show the potential jumps which is related to the presence of dipole layer at these interfaces. An electrostatic polarization analysis shows that the energy minimum condition can be used to obtain the field in InN/GaN system, employing standard polarization parameters. DFT results are in good agreement with polarization data confirming the existence of electric field leading to separation of electron and holes in QWs and emergence of Quantum Confined Stark Effect (QCSE).
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