Bismuth-induced surface structure and morphology in III-V semiconductors

Abstract

Bi is the largest group V element and has a number of advantages in III-V semiconductor properties, such as bandgap reduction, spin-orbit coupling, a preserved electron mobility over III-V-N materials, and nearly ideal surfactant properties resulting in a surface smoothing effect on GaAs. However, the mechanism for this behavior is not well understood. Insight on the mechanism is obtained through study of the Bi-terminated GaAs surface morphology and atomic reconstructions produced via molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Experimental scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) characterization of the Bi/GaAs surface reveal disordered (1x3), (2x3), and (4x3) reconstructions, often sharing the same reflective high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) patterns. Roughness on the micron length scale decreases as the step widen, attributed to the concurrent increase of opposite direction step edges on the nanometer length scale. Corresponding cluster expansion, density functional theory (DFT), and Monte Carlo simulations all point to the stability of the disordered (4x3) reconstruction at finite temperature as observed in experimental STM. The effects of incorporated Bi are determined through epitaxial GaSbBi growth on GaSb with various Ga:Sb:Bi flux ratios. Biphasic surface droplets are observed with sub-droplets, facets, and substrate etching. Despite the rough growth front, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rutherford backscatter (RBS) measurements show significant Bi incorporation of up to 12% into GaSb, along with a concurrent increase of background As concentration. This is attributed to a strain auto-compensation effect. Bi incorporation of up to 10% is observed for the highest Bi fluxes while maintaining low surface droplet density.