Abstract
GaAs(111)B are commercially available substrates widely used for the growth of van der Waals chalcogenide films. Wafer-scale, high-quality crystalline films can be deposited on GaAs(111)B substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. However, two obstacles persist in the use of GaAs(111)B: first, the surface dangling bonds make it challenging for the growth of van der Waals materials; second, the As-terminated surface is prone to aging in air. This study investigated a thermal treatment method for deoxidizing GaAs(111)B substrates while simultaneously passivating the surface dangling bonds with Se. By optimizing the treatment parameters, we obtained a flat and completely deoxidized platform for subsequent film growth, with highly reproducible operations. Furthermore, through first-principle calculations, we find that the most energetically favorable surface of GaAs(111)B after Se passivation consists of 25% As atoms and 75% Se atoms. Finally, we discovered that the common storage method using food-grade vacuum packaging cannot completely prevent substrate aging, and even after thermal treatment, aging still affects subsequent growth. Therefore, we recommend using N2-purged containers for better preservation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 033201 |
Journal | Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs |
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State | Published - May 1 2024 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Instrumentation
- Process Chemistry and Technology
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Materials Chemistry