Abstract
We report a novel dry process to remove the surface contaminants C, Si, and O from GaAs substrates. This method utilizes an electron cyclotron resonance hydrogen plasma to remove the native oxides, followed by a very brief Cl 2 chemical etching of GaAs to further reduce C and Si residues, and a final vacuum anneal. Characterization by secondary ion-mass spectrometry (SIMS) typically reveals the removal of C, Si, and O at the overgrown/processed interface to the levels below the SIMS detection limit. The as-processed GaAs surface, a Ga-stabilized reconstructed (4×6), is atomically smooth, and is as clean as a surface of freshly grown GaAs epilayers.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2658-2660 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 62 |
Issue number | 21 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1993 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)