Abstract
The structure of (In,Ga,Al)As/GaAs stacks with one to three layers of self-assembled InAs quantum dots is studied by high-resolution x-ray diffractometry and x-ray reflectometry. It is shown that the quantum dots are almost pyramidal in shape. It is found that (i) a first InAs layer, 2.7 ML thick, is invariably produced with a faceted surface and (ii) vertical coupling of quantum dots and superlattice formation do occur (with three quantum-dot layers). It is demonstrated that combining the two methods provides researchers with more reliable structural data.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Ledentsov, N.N., Ustinov, V.M., Shchukin, V.A., et al., Heterostructures with Quantum Dots: Fabrication, Properties, and Lasers, Fiz. Tekh. Poluprovodn. (St. Petersburg), 1998, vol. 32, issue 4, pp. 385-410.
Grundmann, M., Stier, O., and Bimberg, D., InAs/GaAs Pyramidal Quantum Dots: Strain Distribution, Optical Phonons and Electronic Structure, Phys. Rev. B, 1995, vol. 52,no. 16, pp. 11969-11981.
Saito, T., Schulman, J.N., and Arakawa, Y., Strain-Energy Distribution and Electronic Structure of InAs Pyramidal Quantum Dots with Uncovered Surfaces: Tight-Binding Analysis, Phys. Rev. B, 1998, vol. 57,no. 20, pp. 13016-13019.
Bosacchi, A., Frigeri, P., Franchi, S., et al., InAs/GaAs Self-assembled Quantum Dots Grown by ALMBE and MBE, J. Cryst. Growth, 1997, vols. 175–176, pp. 771-776.
Metzger, T.H., Kegel, I., Paniago, R., et al., Grazing Incidence X-ray Scattering: An Ideal Tool to Study the Structure of Quantum Dots, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 1999, vol. 32, pp. A202-A207.
Pal, D., Pan, D., Towe, E., et al., Characterization of (In, Ga, Al)As/GaAs Quantum-Dot Superlattice by High-Resolution X-ray Diffraction, J. Cryst. Growth, 2001, vol. 233, pp. 34-39.
Holy, V., Stangl, J., Springholz, G., Pinczolits, M., Bauer, G., Kegel, I., and Metzger, T.H., Lateral and Vertical Ordering of Self-assembled PbSe Quantum Dots Studied by High-Resolution X-ray Diffraction, Physica B (Amsterdam), 2000, vol. 283, pp. 65-68.
Darhuber, A.A., Stangl, J., Holy, V., et al., Structural Characterization of Self-assembled Quantum Dot Structures by X-ray Diffraction Techniques, Thin Solid Films, 1997, vol. 306, pp. 198-204.
Pashaev, E.M., Yakunin, S.N., Zaitsev, A.A., et al., Characterization of Selectively Doped InAs-Quantum-Dot GaAs-Based Multilayer Heterostructures by High-Resolution X-ray Diffraction, Mikroelektronika, 2002, vol. 31,no. 5, pp. 367-375.
Mokerov, V.G., Fedorov, Y.V., Velikovski, L.E., et al., New Quantum Dot Transistor, Nanotechnology, 2001, vol. 12, pp. 552-555.
Afanas'ev, A.M., Chuev, M.A., Imamov, R.M., et al., Double-Crystal X-ray Diffractometry Used as a Substitute for the X-ray Standing-Wave Method, Pis'ma Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz., 2001, vol. 74, issue 10, pp. 560-564.
Bushuev, V.A., Lomov, A.A., and Sutyrin, A.G., Deriving a Density Profile from X-ray Reflection Data on a Near-Surface Layer, Kristallografiya, 2002, vol. 47,no. 4, pp. 1-9.
Afanas'ev, A.M., Chuev, M.A., Imamov, R.M., et al., Stacks of GaAs/In x Ga1-x As Bilayers Examined by Double-Crystal X-ray Diffractometry, Kristallografiya, 1997, vol. 42,no. 3, pp. 514-523.
Takagi, S., Dynamical Theory of Diffraction Applicable to Crystals with any Kind of Small Distortion, Acta Crystallogr., 1962, vol. 15, pp. 1311-1312.
Taupin, D., Theorie de la diffraction des rayons X par les cristaux deformes, Bull. Soc. Fr. Mineral. Crystallogr., 1964, vol. 7,no. 87, pp. 469-511.
Parratt, L.G., Surface Studies of Solids by Total Reflection of X-rays, Phys. Rev., 1954, vol. 95,no. 2, pp. 359-369.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zaitsev, A.A., Mokerov, V.G., Pashaev, E.M. et al. A Study of (In,Ga,Al)As/GaAs Quantum-Dot Heterostructures by X-ray Diffraction and Total Reflection. Russian Microelectronics 33, 27–32 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:RUMI.0000011097.47441.4e
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:RUMI.0000011097.47441.4e