Influence of InAs deposition. thickness on the structural and optical properties of InAs quantum wires

The influence of InAs deposition thickness on the structural and optical properties of InAs/InAlAs quantum wires (QWR) superlattices (SLS) was studied. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that with increasing the InAs deposited thickness, the size uniformity and spatial ordering of InAs QWR SLS was greatly improved, but threading dislocations initiated from InAs nanowires for the sample with 6 monolayers (MLs) InAs deposition. In addition, the zig-zag features along the extending direction and lateral interlink of InAs nanowires were also observed. The InAs nanowires, especially for the first period, were laterally compact. These structural features may result in easy tunneling and coupling of charge carriers between InAs nanowires and will hamper their device applications to some extent. Some suggestions are put forward for further improving the uniformity of the stacked InAs QWRs, and for suppressing the formation of the threading dislocations in InAs QWR SLS.

Enhanced infrared absorption of spatially ordered quantum dot arrays

We have investigated the intersubband absorption for spatially ordered and non-ordered quantum dots (QDs). It is found that the intersubband absorption of spatially ordered QDs is much stronger than that of non-ordered QDs. The enhanced absorption is attributed to the improved size uniformity concurrent with the spatial ordering for the growth condition employed. For the FTIR measurement under normal incidence geometry, using a undoped sample as reference can remove the interference effect due to multiple reflections. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enhancement of photoluminescence intensity of GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells by two-step rapid thermal annealing

We investigate the effect of rapid thermal annealing on InGaNAs/GaAs quantum wells. At optimized annealing temperatures and times, the greatest enhancement of the photoluminescence intensity is obtained by a special two-step annealing process. To identify the mechanism affecting the material quality during the rapid thermal annealing, differential temperature analysis is applied, and temperature- and power-dependent photoluminescence is carried out on the samples annealed under different conditions. Our experiment reveals that some composition redistribution or other related ordering process may occur in the quantum-well layer during annealing. Annealing at a lower temperature for a long time primarily can remove defects and dislocations while annealing at a higher temperature for a short time primarily homogenizes the composition in the quantum wells.

Influence of dislocation stress field on distribution of quantum dots

InAs quantum dots (QDs) were grown on In0.15Ga0.85As strained layers by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs (0 0 1) substrates. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy study have indicated that In0.15Ga0.85As ridges and InAs QDs formed at the inclined upside of interface misfit dislocations (MDs). By testifying the MDs are mixed 60 degrees dislocations and calculating the surface stress over them when they are 12-180 nm below the surface, we found the QDs prefer nucleating on the side with tensile stress of the MDs and this explained why the ordering of QDs is weak when the InGaAs layer is relatively thick. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enhanced photoresponse from the ordered microstructure of naphthalocyanine-carbon nanotube composite film

Naphthalocyanine-sensitized multi-walled carbon nanotube (NaPc-MWNT) composites have been synthesized through the pi-stacking between naphthalocyanine (NaPc) and carbon nanotubes. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and by UV - vis absorption and photocurrent spectra. The long-range ordering was observed in the NaPc - MWNT composites by using a TEM. The enhancement in the absorption intensity and the broadening of the absorption wavelength observed in the composite films, which were due to the attachment of NaPc on the MWNT surface, is discussed based on the measured UV - vis absorption spectra. Furthermore, the photoconductivity of the poly( 3-hexylthiophene)(PAT6) - NaPc - MWNT composite film was found to increase remarkably in the visible region and broaden towards the red regions. These new phenomena were ascribed to the larger donor/acceptor (D/A) interface and the formation of a biconsecutive D/A network structure, as discussed in consideration of the photoinduced charge transfer between PAT6 and NaPc - MWNT.

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of spatially ordered growth of quantum dots on patterned substrate

We report the growth of well-ordered InAs QD chains by molecular beam epitaxy system. In order to analyze and extend the results of our experiment, a detailed kinetic Monte Carlo simulation is developed to investigate the effects of different growth conditions to the selective growth of InAs quantum dots (QDs). We find that growth temperature plays a more important role than growth rate in the spatial ordering of the QDs. We also investigate the effect of periodic stress on the shape of QDs in simulation. The simulation results are in good qualitative agreement with our experiment. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magnetism and luminescence evolution due to nitrogen doping in manganese-gallium oxide nanowires

We report a new method for large-scale production of GaMnN nanowires, by annealing manganese-gallium oxide nanowires in flowing ammonia at high temperature. Microstructure analysis indicates that the GaMnN nanowires have wurtzite GaN structure without Mn precipitates or Mn-related second phases. Magnetism evolution due to nitrogen doping in manganese-gallium oxide nanowires was evaluated by magnetic measurements. Magnetic measurement reveals that the magnetization increases with the increase of nitrogen concentration. Ferromagnetic ordering exists in the GaMnN nanowires, whose Curie temperature is above room temperature. Luminescence evolution was investigated by the cathodoluminesence measurement for a single nanowire and photoluminescence measurement in a temperature range between 10 and 300 K. Experimental results indicate that optical properties can be modulated by nitrogen doping in manganese-gallium oxide nanowires. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electronic structures of wurtzite ZnO and ZnO/MgZnO quantum well

The band structures of wurtzite ZnO are calculated using the empirical pseudopotential method (EPM). The 8 parameters of the Zn and O atom pesudopotential form factors with Schluter's formula are obtained. The effective mass parameters are extracted by using k.p Hamiltonian to fit the EPM results. The calculated band edge energies (E-g, E-A, E-B, and E-C) at Gamma point are in good agreement with experimental results. The ordering of ZnO at the top of valence band is found to be A(Gamma(7))-B(Gamma(9))-C(Gamma(7)) due to a negative spin-orbit (SO) splitting. Based on the band parameters obtained, the valence hole subbands of wurzite ZnO/MgxZn1-xO tensile-strained quantum wells (QWs) with different well widths and Mg compositions are calculated using 6-band k.p method. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Controllable growth of semiconductor nanometer structures

Self-assembled quantum dots and wires were obtained in the InxGa1-xAs/GaAs and InAs/In0.52Al0.48As/InP systems, respectively, using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Uniformity in the distribution, density, and spatial ordering of the nanostructures can be controlled to some extent by adjusting and optimizing the MBE growth parameters. In addition, some interesting observation on the InAs wire alignment on InP(001) is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Self-assembled quantum dots, wires and quantum-dot lasers

Molecular beam epitaxy-grown self-assembled In(Ga)As/GaAs and InAs/InAlAs/InP quantum dots (QDs) and quantum wires (QWRs) have been studied. By adjusting growth conditions, surprising alignment. preferential elongation, and pronounced sequential coalescence of dots and wires under specific condition are realized. The lateral ordering of QDs and the vertical anti-correlation of QWRs are theoretically discussed. Room-temperature (RT) continuous-wave (CW) lasing at the wavelength of 960 nm with output power of 3.6 W from both uncoated facets is achieved fi-om vertical coupled InAs/GaAs QDs ensemble. The RT threshold current density is 218 A/cm(2). A RT CW output power of 0.6 W/facet ensures at least 3570 h lasing (only drops 0.83 dB). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.

Influence of indium composition on the surface morphology of self-organized InxGa1-xAs quantum dots on GaAs substrates

InxGa1-xAs self-organized quantum dots with x=1.0, 0.5, and 0.35 have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The areal density, distribution, and shapes have been found to be dependent on x. The dot shape changes from a round shape for x=1.0 to an elliptical shape for x less than or equal to 0.5. The major axis and minor axis of the elliptical InxGa1-xAs dots are along the [(1) over bar 10] and [110] directions, respectively. The ordering phenomenon is also discussed. It is suggested that the dot-dot interaction may play important roles in the self-organization process. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)10701-7].

Self-assembled InAs and In0.9Al0.1As quantum dots on (001)InP substrates grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)

InAs and In0.9Al0.1As self-assembled quantum dots have been grown by Stranski-Krastanow growth mode on In0.52Al0.48As lattice-matched on (0 0 1)InP substrates by MBE. The ternary In0.9Al0.1As dots on InP was demonstrated for the first time. The structural and optical properties were characterized using TEM and PL, respectively. Experimental results show that, a larger critical thickness is required for In0.9Al0.1As dots formation than for InAs dots, the In0.9Al0.1As dots show larger sizes and less homogeneity; some ordering in alignment can be observed in both InAs and In0.9Al0.1As dots, and In0.9Al0.1As dots give narrower luminescence than InAs dots. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural characterization of InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots superlattice infrared photodetector structures

InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) superlattice grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) at different substrate temperatures for fabricating 8-12 mu m infrared photodetector were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), double-crystal X-ray diffraction (DCXRD) and photoluminescence (PL). High-quality QDs superlattice can be achieved by higher growth temperature. Cross-sectional TEM shows the QDs in the successive layers are vertically aligned along growth direction. Interaction of partial vertically aligned columns leads to a perfect vertical ordering. With increasing number of bilayers, the average QDs size becomes larger in height and rapidly saturates at a certain value, while average lateral length nearly preserves initial size. This change leads to the formation of QDs homogeneous in size and of a particular shape. The observed self-organizations are attributed to the effect of strain distribution at QDs on the kinetic growth process. DCXRD measurement shows two sets of satellite peaks which corresponds to QDs superlattice and multi quantum wells formed by the wetting layers. Kinematical simulations of the wetting layers indicate that the formation of QDs is associated with a decrease of the effective indium content in the wetting layers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Substrate surface atomic structure influence on the growth of InAlAs quantum dots

We have examined the influence of substrate surface orientation on self-assembled InAlAs/AlGaAs quantum dots grown on (0 0 1) and (n 1 1) A/B (n = 3, 5) GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Preliminary characterizations have been performed using photoluminescence (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The PL emission energies of quantum dots on high Miller index surface are found to be strongly dependent on the atomic-terminated surface (A or B surface) of the substrate. We observed that there were planar ordering larger islands on (3 1 1)B surface compared to (0 0 1) surface, in contrast, a rough interface and smaller "grains" on (3 1 1)A surface, this result is identical with PL emission energy from these islands. We propose that the rapid strain-induced surface "roughening" impedes the formation of 3D islands on A surface, and indicating that this is a promising approach of the realization of ordering distribution on (3 1 1)B plane for devices such as red-emitting semiconductor quantum dots lasers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Lateral ordered InGaAs self-organized quantum dots grown on (311) GaAs by conventional molecular beam epitaxy

Self-assembled InxGa1-xAs quantum dots (QDs) on (311) and (100) GaAs surfaces have been grown by conventional solid source molecular beam epitaxy. Spontaneously ordering alignment of InxGa1-xAs QDs with lower In content around 0.3 has been observed on As-terminated (B type) surfaces. The direction of alignment orientation of the QDs formation differs from the direction of misorientation of the (311) B surface, and is strongly dependent upon the In content x. The ordering alignment becomes significantly deteriorated as the In content is increased to above 0.5 or as the QDs are formed on (100) and (311) Ga-terminated (A type) substrates.