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Title: Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs

Abstract

In this study, changes in surface Fermi-level of Si and GaAs, caused by doping and cleaning, are investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy. Based on the Auger voltage contrast, we compared the Auger transition peak energy but with higher accuracy by using a more accurate analyzer and an improved peak position determination method. For silicon, a peak shift as large as 0.46 eV was detected when comparing a cleaned p-type and n-type wafer, which corresponds rather well with the theoretical difference in Fermi-levels. If no cleaning was applied, the peak position did not differ significantly for both wafer types, indicating Fermi-level pinning in the band gap. For GaAs, peak shifts were detected after cleaning with HF and (NH4)2S-solutions in an inert atmosphere (N2-gas). Although the (NH4)2S-cleaning in N2 is very efficient in removing the oxygen from the surface, the observed Ga- and As-peak shifts are smaller than those obtained after the HF-cleaning. It is shown that the magnitude of the shift is related to the surface composition. After Si-deposition on the (NH4)2S-cleaned surface, the Fermi-level shifts back to a similar position as observed for an as-received wafer, indicating that this combination is not successful in unpinning the Fermi-level of GaAs.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1];  [1]
  1. KU Leuven, Heverlee (Belgium)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  3. IBM Research Zurich, Ruschlikon (Switzerland)
  4. KU Leuven, Heverlee (Belgium); IMEC vzw, Heverlee (Belgium)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1418021
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-130366
Journal ID: ISSN 0169-4332; PII: S0169433218300801
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Surface Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 440; Journal ID: ISSN 0169-4332
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Auger electron spectroscopy; semiconductor surface; Fermi level shifts; surface cleaning

Citation Formats

Debehets, J., Homm, P., Menghini, M., Chambers, S. A., Marchiori, C., Heyns, M., Locquet, J. P., and Seo, J. W. Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/J.APSUSC.2018.01.079.
Debehets, J., Homm, P., Menghini, M., Chambers, S. A., Marchiori, C., Heyns, M., Locquet, J. P., & Seo, J. W. Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APSUSC.2018.01.079
Debehets, J., Homm, P., Menghini, M., Chambers, S. A., Marchiori, C., Heyns, M., Locquet, J. P., and Seo, J. W. 2018. "Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APSUSC.2018.01.079. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1418021.
@article{osti_1418021,
title = {Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs},
author = {Debehets, J. and Homm, P. and Menghini, M. and Chambers, S. A. and Marchiori, C. and Heyns, M. and Locquet, J. P. and Seo, J. W.},
abstractNote = {In this study, changes in surface Fermi-level of Si and GaAs, caused by doping and cleaning, are investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy. Based on the Auger voltage contrast, we compared the Auger transition peak energy but with higher accuracy by using a more accurate analyzer and an improved peak position determination method. For silicon, a peak shift as large as 0.46 eV was detected when comparing a cleaned p-type and n-type wafer, which corresponds rather well with the theoretical difference in Fermi-levels. If no cleaning was applied, the peak position did not differ significantly for both wafer types, indicating Fermi-level pinning in the band gap. For GaAs, peak shifts were detected after cleaning with HF and (NH4)2S-solutions in an inert atmosphere (N2-gas). Although the (NH4)2S-cleaning in N2 is very efficient in removing the oxygen from the surface, the observed Ga- and As-peak shifts are smaller than those obtained after the HF-cleaning. It is shown that the magnitude of the shift is related to the surface composition. After Si-deposition on the (NH4)2S-cleaned surface, the Fermi-level shifts back to a similar position as observed for an as-received wafer, indicating that this combination is not successful in unpinning the Fermi-level of GaAs.},
doi = {10.1016/J.APSUSC.2018.01.079},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1418021}, journal = {Applied Surface Science},
issn = {0169-4332},
number = ,
volume = 440,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 12 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Fri Jan 12 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: The energy level diagram shows that the energy of all electrons involved in the Auger transition (EA, EB, EC) are referenced to the Fermi-level (EF). Consequently, the difference in Fermi-level ΔEF between a p-type and a n-type wafer will be observed as a peak shift when the samemore » Auger peak is measured for both p-type and n-type. Ei is the intrinsic energy level.« less

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