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Pd/sub x/GaAs/GaAs: correlation between interface structure, morphology and electrical properties

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5283886
The structure, morphology, composition and electrical properties of ternary phase (Pd/sub x/GaAs) films on GaAs have been studied by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and current-voltage measurements. Annealing 15 nm of Pd on (100) GaAs at 250/sup 0/C yields a planar monocrystalline film of the first ternary phase (approx.Pd/sub 3.9/Ga/sub 1.1/As/sub 0.9/) which is a rectifying contact to n-GaAs with a barrier height of approx.0.76 eV. A subsequent annealing treatment at 350/sup 0/C converts the film to a second ternary phase (approx.Pd/sub 3.3/Ga/sub 1.2/As/sub 0.8/) that exhibits a rough interface with GaAs, severely degraded electrical properties and a lower barrier height. The reduction in the measured barrier height is attributed to thermionic-field emission at sharp corners and protrusions in the Pd/sub x/GaAs/GaAs interface. The implications of these results for the utilization of Pd in multielemental contacts to GaAs are also discussed.
Research Organization:
Bell Communications Research, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (USA); Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA). Center for Advanced Materials
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
5283886
Report Number(s):
LBL-21049; CONF-8605111-4; ON: DE86015198
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English