III-V semiconductor films nucleate by the Stranski-Krastanov (SK) mechanism on Si substrates. Many of the extended defects present in the films are believed to result from the island formation and coalescence stage of SK growth. We have recently shown that low (-30 eV) energy, high flux (4 ions per deposited atom), Ar ion irradiation during nucleation of III-V semiconductors on Si substrates prolongs the 1ayer-by-layer stage of SK nucleation, leading to a decrease in extended defect densities. Furthermore, the epitaxial temperature was reduced by >100°C due to ion irradiation. The effect of ion bombardment on the nucleation mechanism was explained as being due to ion-induced dissociation of three-dimensional islands and ion-enhanced surface diffusion.For the case of InAs grown at 380°C on Si(100) (11% lattice mismatch), where island formation is expected after ≤ 1 monolayer (ML) during molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) showed that 28 eV Ar ion irradiation prolonged the layer-by-layer stage of SK nucleation up to 10 ML. Otherion energies maintained layer-by-layer growth to lesser thicknesses. The ion-induced change in nucleation mechanism resulted in smoother surfaces and improved the crystalline perfection of thicker films as shown by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray rocking curve studies.
