Band offsets and electronic properties of the Ga₂O₃/FTO heterojunction via transfer of free-standing Ga₂O₃ onto FTO/glass

The determination of band offsets is crucial in the optimization of Ga₂O₃-based devices, since the band alignment types could determine the operations of devices due to the restriction of carrier transport across the heterogeneous interfaces. In this work, the band offsets of the Ga₂O₃/FTO heterojunction are studied using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) based on Kraut's method, which suggests a staggered type-Ⅱ alignment with a conduction band offset (ΔE_C) of 1.66 eV and a valence band offset (ΔE_V) of -2.41 eV. Furthermore, the electronic properties of the Ga₂O₃/FTO heterostructure are also measured, both in the dark and under ultraviolet (UV) illuminated conditions (254 nm UV light). Overall, this work can provide meaningful guidance for the design and construction of oxide hetero-structured devices based on wide-bandgap semiconducting Ga₂O₃.