Chemically Stable Semiconductor Surface Layers Using Low-Temperature Grown GaAs

The chemical stability of a GaAs layer structure consisting of a thin (10 nm) layer of low-temperature-grown GaAs (LTG:GaAs) on a heavily n-doped GaAs layer, both grown by molecular beam epitaxy, is described. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy performed after atmospheric exposure indicate that the LTG:GaAs surface layer oxidizes much less rapidly than comparable layers of stoichiometric GaAs. There is also evidence that the terminal oxide thickness is smaller than that of stoichiometric GaAs. The spectroscopy results are used to confirm a model for conduction in low resistance, nonalloyed contacts employing comparable layer structures. The inhibited surface oxidation rate is attributed to the bulk Fermi level pinning and the low minority carrier lifetime in unannealed LTG:GaAs. Device applications including low-resistance cap layers for field-effect transistors are described.