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Effects of uniaxial strain on electron effective mass and tunneling capability of direct gap Ge{sub 1−x}Sn{sub x} alloys

Journal Article · · AIP Advances
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4939816· OSTI ID:22492396
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information Science and Technology, Institute of Microelectronics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China)

Direct gap Ge{sub 1−x}Sn{sub x} alloys under [100] and [110] uniaxial strain are comprehensively investigated by theoretical calculations using the nonlocal empirical pseudopotential method (EPM). It is shown that [100] uniaxial tensile strain aids indirect-to-direct gap transition in Ge{sub 1−x}Sn{sub x} alloys. The Γ electron effective mass along the optimal direction under [110] uniaxial strain is smaller than those under [100] uniaxial strain and (001) biaxial strain. Additionally, the direct tunneling gap is smallest along the strain-perpendicular direction under [110] uniaxial tensile strain, resulting in a maximum direct band-to-band tunneling generation rate. An optimal [110] uniaxial tensile strain is favorable for high-performance direct gap Ge{sub 1−x}Sn{sub x} electronic devices.

OSTI ID:
22492396
Journal Information:
AIP Advances, Journal Name: AIP Advances Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 6; ISSN AAIDBI; ISSN 2158-3226
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English