Structural Evolution During Formation and Filling of Self-patterned Nanoholes on GaAs (100) Surfaces

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Nanohole formation on an AlAs/GaAs superlattice gives insight to both the &#8220;drilling&#8221; effect of Ga droplets on AlAs as compared to GaAs and the hole-filling process. The shape and depth of the nanoholes formed on GaAs (100) substrates has been...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhou Lin, Smith David, Sablon KA, Wang Zh, Salamo GJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2008-01-01
Series:Nanoscale Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11671-008-9194-5
Description
Summary:<p>Abstract</p> <p>Nanohole formation on an AlAs/GaAs superlattice gives insight to both the &#8220;drilling&#8221; effect of Ga droplets on AlAs as compared to GaAs and the hole-filling process. The shape and depth of the nanoholes formed on GaAs (100) substrates has been studied by the cross-section transmission electron microscopy. The Ga droplets &#8220;drill&#8221; through the AlAs layer at a much slower rate than through GaAs due to differences in activation energy. Refill of the nanohole results in elongated GaAs mounds along the [01&#8722;1] direction. As a result of capillarity-induced diffusion, GaAs favors growth inside the nanoholes, which provides the possibility to fabricate GaAs and AlAs nanostructures.</p>
ISSN:1931-7573
1556-276X