Design and Characterization of a Sharp GaAs/Zn(Mn)Se Heterovalent Interface: A Sub-Nanometer Scale View

oleh: Davide F. Grossi, Sebastian Koelling, Pavel A. Yunin, Paul M. Koenraad, Grigory V. Klimko, Sergey V. Sorokin, Mikhail N. Drozdov, Sergey V. Ivanov, Alexey A. Toropov, Andrei Y. Silov

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-07-01

Deskripsi

The distribution of magnetic impurities (Mn) across a GaAs/Zn(Mn)Se heterovalent interface is investigated combining three experimental techniques: Cross-Section Scanning Tunnel Microscopy (X-STM), Atom Probe Tomography (APT), and Secondary Ions Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS). This unique combination allowed us to probe the Mn distribution with excellent sensitivity and sub-nanometer resolution. Our results show that the diffusion of Mn impurities in GaAs is strongly suppressed; conversely, Mn atoms are subject to a substantial redistribution in the ZnSe layer, which is affected by the growth conditions and the presence of an annealing step. These results show that it is possible to fabricate a sharp interface between a magnetic semiconductor (Zn(Mn)Se) and high quality GaAs, with low dopant concentration and good optical properties.