Quantification of segregation and mass transport in InxGa1-xAs/GaAs Stranski-Krastanow layers

Rosenauer, A; Gerthsen, D; Van Dyck, D; Arzberger, M; Bohm, G; Abstreiter, G

doi:10.1103/PHYSREVB.64.245334

Title

Quantification of segregation and mass transport in InxGa1-xAs/GaAs Stranski-Krastanow layers

Author

Rosenauer, A

Gerthsen, D

Van Dyck, D

Arzberger, M

Bohm, G

Abstreiter, G

Abstract

We report on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy measurement of mass transport and segregation in InAs Stranski-Krastanow layers grown on GaAs(00 1) by molecular beam epitaxy at growth temperatures of 480 and 530 degreesC. Plan-view TEM reveals regularly shaped islands with a density of 7.8 x 10(10) cm(-2) (480 degreesC) and 1.5 x 10(10) cm(-2) (530 degreesC), respectively. Uncapped islands were investigated by strain state analysis of electron wave functions reconstructed from high-resolution TEM images. In-concentration profiles of the islands were obtained by the measurement of lattice-parameter profiles of the islands and the application of finite-element calculations. We find that the islands contain Ga-atoms with a percentage of 50% (480 degreesC) and 67% (530 degreesC). The capped InAs-layers were investigated with PL and TEM. In agreement with TEM, PL indicates a smaller and deeper potential well of the islands grown at 480 degreesC. Concentration profiles of the wetting layers were measured with TEM using the composition evaluation of lattice fringe images method, clearly revealing segregation profiles. The obtained segregation efficiency of In-atoms is 0.77 +/- 0.02 (480 degreesC) and 0.82 +/- 0.02 (530 degreesC). As an explanation for the strong mass transport of Ga from the substrate to the islands we show that the segregation of In atoms during the growth of the binary InAs can lead to the generation of vacancies in the metal sublattice. The vacancies are filled by Ga-atoms migrating along the surface or by a diffusion of the vacancies from the wetting layer and the islands into the GaAs buffer, leading to a unidirectional diffusion of Ga atoms from the buffer into the Stranski-Krastanow layer.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics. - Lancaster, Pa, 1998 - 2015

Publication

Lancaster, Pa : 2001

ISSN

1098-0121 [print]

1550-235X [online]

DOI

10.1103/PHYSREVB.64.245334

Volume/pages