中国物理B ›› 2022, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (3): 36104-036104.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/ac16cb

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First-principles study of stability of point defects and their effects on electronic properties of GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice

Shan Feng(冯山)1,†, Ming Jiang(姜明)1,†, Qi-Hang Qiu(邱启航)1, Xiang-Hua Peng(彭祥花)1, Hai-Yan Xiao(肖海燕)1,‡, Zi-Jiang Liu(刘子江)2, Xiao-Tao Zu(祖小涛)1, and Liang Qiao(乔梁)1   

  1. 1 School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China;
    2 Department of Physics, Lanzhou City University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • 收稿日期:2021-04-26 修回日期:2021-07-10 接受日期:2021-07-22 出版日期:2022-02-22 发布日期:2022-02-24
  • 通讯作者: Hai-Yan Xiao E-mail:hyxiao@uestc.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    Project supported by the NSAF Joint Foundation of China (Grant No. U1930120), the Key Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province, China (Grant No. 20JR5RA211), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11774044).

First-principles study of stability of point defects and their effects on electronic properties of GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice

Shan Feng(冯山)1,†, Ming Jiang(姜明)1,†, Qi-Hang Qiu(邱启航)1, Xiang-Hua Peng(彭祥花)1, Hai-Yan Xiao(肖海燕)1,‡, Zi-Jiang Liu(刘子江)2, Xiao-Tao Zu(祖小涛)1, and Liang Qiao(乔梁)1   

  1. 1 School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China;
    2 Department of Physics, Lanzhou City University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • Received:2021-04-26 Revised:2021-07-10 Accepted:2021-07-22 Online:2022-02-22 Published:2022-02-24
  • Contact: Hai-Yan Xiao E-mail:hyxiao@uestc.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the NSAF Joint Foundation of China (Grant No. U1930120), the Key Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province, China (Grant No. 20JR5RA211), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11774044).

摘要: When the GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice-based devices are used under irradiation environments, point defects may be created and ultimately deteriorate their electronic and transport properties. Thus, understanding the properties of point defects like vacancies and interstitials is essential for the successful application of semiconductor materials. In the present study, first-principles calculations are carried out to explore the stability of point defects in GaAs/Al0.5Ga0.5As superlattice and their effects on electronic properties. The results show that the interstitial defects and Frenkel pair defects are relatively difficult to form, while the antisite defects are favorably created generally. Besides, the existence of point defects generally modifies the electronic structure of GaAs/Al0.5Ga0.5As superlattice significantly, and most of the defective SL structures possess metallic characteristics. Considering the stability of point defects and carrier mobility of defective states, we propose an effective strategy that AlAs, GaAs, and AlGa antisite defects are introduced to improve the hole or electron mobility of GaAs/Al0.5Ga0.5As superlattice. The obtained results will contribute to the understanding of the radiation damage effects of the GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice, and provide a guidance for designing highly stable and durable semiconductor superlattice-based electronics and optoelectronics for extreme environment applications.

关键词: first-principles calculations, GaAs/Al0.5Ga0.5As superlattice, point defects, electronic properties

Abstract: When the GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice-based devices are used under irradiation environments, point defects may be created and ultimately deteriorate their electronic and transport properties. Thus, understanding the properties of point defects like vacancies and interstitials is essential for the successful application of semiconductor materials. In the present study, first-principles calculations are carried out to explore the stability of point defects in GaAs/Al0.5Ga0.5As superlattice and their effects on electronic properties. The results show that the interstitial defects and Frenkel pair defects are relatively difficult to form, while the antisite defects are favorably created generally. Besides, the existence of point defects generally modifies the electronic structure of GaAs/Al0.5Ga0.5As superlattice significantly, and most of the defective SL structures possess metallic characteristics. Considering the stability of point defects and carrier mobility of defective states, we propose an effective strategy that AlAs, GaAs, and AlGa antisite defects are introduced to improve the hole or electron mobility of GaAs/Al0.5Ga0.5As superlattice. The obtained results will contribute to the understanding of the radiation damage effects of the GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice, and provide a guidance for designing highly stable and durable semiconductor superlattice-based electronics and optoelectronics for extreme environment applications.

Key words: first-principles calculations, GaAs/Al0.5Ga0.5As superlattice, point defects, electronic properties

中图分类号:  (Semiconductors)

  • 61.82.Fk
61.72.uj (III-V and II-VI semiconductors) 73.63.-b (Electronic transport in nanoscale materials and structures) 61.72.Bb (Theories and models of crystal defects)