DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Theory of multiple quantum dot formation in strained-layer heteroepitaxy

Abstract

For this, we develop a theory for the experimentally observed formation of multiple quantum dots (QDs) in strained-layer heteroepitaxy based on surface morphological stability analysis of a coherently strained epitaxial thin film on a crystalline substrate. Using a fully nonlinear model of surface morphological evolution that accounts for a wetting potential contribution to the epitaxial film's free energy as well as surface diffusional anisotropy, we demonstrate the formation of multiple QD patterns in self-consistent dynamical simulations of the evolution of the epitaxial film surface perturbed from its planar state. The simulation predictions are supported by weakly nonlinear analysis of the epitaxial film surface morphological stability. We find that, in addition to the Stranski-Krastanow instability, long-wavelength perturbations from the planar film surface morphology can trigger a nonlinear instability, resulting in the splitting of a single QD into multiple QDs of smaller sizes, and predict the critical wavelength of the film surface perturbation for the onset of the nonlinear tip-splitting instability. The theory provides a fundamental interpretation for the observations of “QD pairs” or “double QDs” and other multiple QDs reported in experimental studies of epitaxial growth of semiconductor strained layers and sets the stage for precise engineering of tunable-size nanoscale surfacemore » features in strained-layer heteroepitaxy by exploiting film surface nonlinear, pattern forming phenomena.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
OSTI Identifier:
1467833
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1261224
Grant/Contract Number:  
FG02-07ER46407
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Physics Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 109; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; diffusion; surface finishing; surface patterning; III-V semiconductors; quantum dots; surface morphology; epitaxy; surface strains; anisotropy; surface dynamics

Citation Formats

Du, Lin, and Maroudas, Dimitrios. Theory of multiple quantum dot formation in strained-layer heteroepitaxy. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4955409.
Du, Lin, & Maroudas, Dimitrios. Theory of multiple quantum dot formation in strained-layer heteroepitaxy. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4955409
Du, Lin, and Maroudas, Dimitrios. Mon . "Theory of multiple quantum dot formation in strained-layer heteroepitaxy". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4955409. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1467833.
@article{osti_1467833,
title = {Theory of multiple quantum dot formation in strained-layer heteroepitaxy},
author = {Du, Lin and Maroudas, Dimitrios},
abstractNote = {For this, we develop a theory for the experimentally observed formation of multiple quantum dots (QDs) in strained-layer heteroepitaxy based on surface morphological stability analysis of a coherently strained epitaxial thin film on a crystalline substrate. Using a fully nonlinear model of surface morphological evolution that accounts for a wetting potential contribution to the epitaxial film's free energy as well as surface diffusional anisotropy, we demonstrate the formation of multiple QD patterns in self-consistent dynamical simulations of the evolution of the epitaxial film surface perturbed from its planar state. The simulation predictions are supported by weakly nonlinear analysis of the epitaxial film surface morphological stability. We find that, in addition to the Stranski-Krastanow instability, long-wavelength perturbations from the planar film surface morphology can trigger a nonlinear instability, resulting in the splitting of a single QD into multiple QDs of smaller sizes, and predict the critical wavelength of the film surface perturbation for the onset of the nonlinear tip-splitting instability. The theory provides a fundamental interpretation for the observations of “QD pairs” or “double QDs” and other multiple QDs reported in experimental studies of epitaxial growth of semiconductor strained layers and sets the stage for precise engineering of tunable-size nanoscale surface features in strained-layer heteroepitaxy by exploiting film surface nonlinear, pattern forming phenomena.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4955409},
journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
number = 2,
volume = 109,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Mon Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 18 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share:

Works referenced in this record:

Surface morphological response of crystalline solids to mechanical stresses and electric fields
journal, August 2011


Multi-scale ordering of self-assembled InAs/GaAs(001) quantum dots
journal, July 2006


Weakly nonlinear theory of secondary rippling instability in surfaces of stressed solids
journal, July 2015

  • Du, Lin; Dasgupta, Dwaipayan; Maroudas, Dimitrios
  • Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 118, Issue 3
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.4926739

InSb and InSb:N multiple quantum dots
journal, September 2006

  • Hatami, Fariba; Kim, Seongsin M.; Yuen, Homan B.
  • Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 89, Issue 13
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.2357546

Electromigration-driven surface morphological stabilization of a coherently strained epitaxial thin film on a substrate
journal, June 2010

  • Sfyris, Georgios I.; Gungor, M. Rauf; Maroudas, Dimitrios
  • Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 96, Issue 23
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.3447371

MOVPE grown self-assembled and self-ordered InSb quantum dots in a GaSb matrix assessed by AFM, CTEM, HRTEM and PL
journal, March 2001


Rippling instability on surfaces of stressed crystalline conductors
journal, May 2009

  • Tomar, Vivek; Gungor, M. Rauf; Maroudas, Dimitrios
  • Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 94, Issue 18
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.3130742

Coarsening of Self-Assembled Ge Quantum Dots on Si(001)
journal, February 1998


Analysis of electromechanically induced long-wavelength rippling instability on surfaces of crystalline conductors
journal, March 2011

  • Tomar, Vivek; Gungor, M. Rauf; Maroudas, Dimitrios
  • Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 109, Issue 5
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.3551580

Dislocation-free Stranski-Krastanow growth of Ge on Si(100)
journal, April 1990


Semiconductor Clusters, Nanocrystals, and Quantum Dots
journal, February 1996


Advanced quantum dot configurations
journal, March 2009


Stabilization of the surface morphology of stressed solids using thermal gradients
journal, May 2014

  • Du, Lin; Dasgupta, Dwaipayan; Maroudas, Dimitrios
  • Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 18
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.4874879

Lateral quantum-dot replication in three-dimensional quantum-dot crystals
journal, June 2005

  • Kiravittaya, S.; Heidemeyer, H.; Schmidt, O. G.
  • Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 86, Issue 26
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.1954874

Additive Semi-Implicit Runge–Kutta Methods for Computing High-Speed Nonequilibrium Reactive Flows
journal, October 1996


Nonlinear effect of stress and wetting on surface evolution of epitaxial thin films
journal, August 2006


Works referencing / citing this record:

Optimization of electrical treatment strategy for surface roughness reduction in conducting thin films
journal, September 2018

  • Du, Lin; Maroudas, Dimitrios
  • Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 124, Issue 12
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.5047405

Design of semiconductor surface pits for fabrication of regular arrays of quantum dots and nanorings
journal, January 2019

  • Kumar, Ashish; Chen, Chao-Shou; Maroudas, Dimitrios
  • Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 125, Issue 4
  • DOI: 10.1063/1.5064807

On the origin of ‘fuzz’ formation in plasma-facing materials
journal, July 2019

  • Dasgupta, Dwaipayan; Kolasinski, Robert D.; Friddle, Raymond W.
  • Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 59, Issue 8
  • DOI: 10.1088/1741-4326/ab22cb

Modeling of quantum dot and nanoring pattern formation on pit-patterned semiconductor substrates
journal, July 2018


On the formation of multiple quantum dots inside elongated pits on semiconductor films deposited epitaxially on pit-patterned substrates
journal, June 2019

  • Chen, Chao-Shou; Kumar, Ashish; Maroudas, Dimitrios
  • Materials Research Express, Vol. 6, Issue 8
  • DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/ab268d