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Chemistry and Electronics of the Ge(111) Surface

Citation

Knapp, David (2011) Chemistry and Electronics of the Ge(111) Surface. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/CGA1-QJ35. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12152010-142322737

Abstract

The halogenation/alkylation procedure that has been proven to chemically and electrically passivate the Si(111) surface has been adapted for application to Ge(111). Removal of the Ge(111) surface oxide with 6–9 M HF(aq), followed by exposure to Br2 vapor, then alkylmagnesium or alkyllithium reagents yields air stable surfaces with surface recombination velocities (SRVs) as low as 40 cm/sec−1 at flat-band conditions. Surface charges with a density on the order of 1012 cm−2 cause a negative surface potential of almost 300 mV in n-type CH3 -Ge(111) samples prepared with this method. The oxidized surface shows a strongly positive surface potential in atmospheric conditions. A negative surface potential is also present in CH3 -Si(111), but the wider bandgap prevents this from causing inversion conditions in extrinsic samples. Ge(111) surfaces alkylated with a larger organic group, such as ethyl or decyl, displayed a weaker surface potential and higher surface recombination velocity as the surface was brought near flat-band. Mercury contacts to alkylated n-type substrates form rectifying junctions with barrier heights of 0.6 ± 0.1 eV. Contacts to p-type substrates or to oxidized n-type substrates show no measurable rectification. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms that the area concentration of surface-bound carbon on CH3 -Ge(111) surfaces is equal to that of CH3 -Si(111) surfaces. Other passivation methods were less successful.

Every atop Ge atom of an ideal CH3-Ge(111) should be capped and the Ge-C bonds should be directed normal to the surface plane. Infrared absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) of methyl-terminated surfaces prepared from HF-etched precursors did not display distinguishable absorption peaks, but if the Ge substrate is first treated with an anisotropic etch before the HF etch, IRAS confirms the methyl group orientation with the polarization-dependent “umbrella” mode absorption at 1232 cm−1 and a polarization-independent rocking mode at 755 cm−1. Well-ordered CH3-Ge(111) surfaces displayed less surface charging while maintaining the low SRVs, indicating that such surfaces are successfully passivated.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Germanium, Silicon, surface passivation, alkane monolayers
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Major Option:Chemistry
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Lewis, Nathan Saul
Thesis Committee:
  • Barton, Jacqueline K. (chair)
  • Okumura, Mitchio
  • Atwater, Harry Albert
  • Lewis, Nathan Saul
Defense Date:1 December 2010
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NSFCHE-0604894
Defense Advanced Research Projects AgencyBAA-08-48
NSFCHE-0911682
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:12152010-142322737
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12152010-142322737
DOI:10.7907/CGA1-QJ35
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:6205
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: David Knapp
Deposited On:23 Dec 2010 19:28
Last Modified:09 Oct 2019 17:07

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