ABSTRACTUltra-thin SiO2/Si(111) interfaces have been studied by high resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The deconvolution of the Si 2p core-level peak reveals the presence of the suboxide states Si3+ and Si1+ and the nearly complete absence of Si2+. The energy shifts found in the Si 2p and O is core-level peaks arising from charging effects arc carefully corrected. The valence band density of states for ultra-thin (1.8 - 3.7 nm thick) SiO2 is obtained by subtracting the bulk Si contribution from the measured spcctrum and by taking into account the charging effect of SiO2 and bulk Si. Thus obtained valence band alignment of ultra-thin SiO2/Si(111) interfaces is found to be 4.36 ± 0.10 eV regardless of oxide thickness.
AbstractAlthough GaN has been extensively studied for applications in both light emitting and high power devices, the AlN/GaN valence band offset remains an area of contention. Values quoted in the literature range from 0.8eV (Martin)[1] to 1.36eV (Waldrop)[2]. This paper details an investigation of the AIN/AlxGa1-xN band offset as a function of alloy composition. We find an AlN/AlxGa1-xN valence band offset that is nearly linear with Al content and an end point offset for AlN/GaN of 1.36 ± 0.1 eV. Samples were grown using radio frequency plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy and characterized with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). Core-level and valence-band XPS data for AIN (0001) and AlxGa1-xN (0001) samples were analyzed to determine core-level to valence band maximum (VBM) energy differences. In addition, oxygen contamination effects were tracked in an effort to improve accuracy. Energy separations of core levels were obtained from AlN/AlxGa1-xN(0001) heterojunctions. From this and the core-level to valence band maximum separations of the bulk materials, valence band offsets were calculated.
ABSTRACTThe first spin-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SRXPS) study of the n = 2 core levels of ferromagnetic Fe are reported. The 2p3/2, 2p1/2 and 2s core levels all display interesting spin-dependent structures and splittings. The spectral complexity predicted by a purely atomic picture is not observed in the data. The results indicate that theories incorporating the delocalization of the 3d valence band are more applicable to the description of core-level photoemission in iron.
