Photo-assisted nitrogen doping of II-VI semiconductor compounds during epitaxial growth using an amine

Abstract

The concentration of N acceptors in an as-grown epitaxial layer of a II-VI semiconductor compound is enhanced by the use of tertiary butyl amine as the dopant carrier, and is further enhanced by the use of photo-assisted growth using illumination whose wavelength is within the range of 200-250 nm.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the growth of epitaxial layers of II-VI semiconductor compounds, such as ZnSe, and more particularly relates to a method of incorporating N acceptors into the II-VI lattice of such compounds.

Co-pending parent application Ser. No. 894,308, describes a method of N-doping epitaxial layers of II-VI semiconductor compounds during growth by flow modulation epitaxy (FME) using NH.sub.3 as the dopant carrier.

One problem encountered when using NH.sub.3 as the carrier, is the tendency toward passivation of N acceptors due to the presence of H. This is due to the inability of NH.sub.3 to completely dissociate into N at the growth surface. This problem persists even if photolysis of the carrier is performed above the growth surface, probably due to the short free mean path between the dissociated species, giving rise to recombination of these species.

Another problem that arises when using NH.sub.3 as the carrier is that it tends to react with the carriers of the cation and anion species, due to its highly basic chemical nature. This results in degradation of the II-VI compound crystal lattice, such degradation increasing with increasing flow rate of the dopant carrier gas.

Tertiary Butyl Amine (TBNH.sub.2) has been used as the N dopant source in the epitaxial growth of ZnSe by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). However, the TBNH.sub.2 was dissociated into (CH.sub.3)C--and --NH.sub.2 by thermal cracking at temperatures in the range of about 550 to 850 degrees C prior to being introduced into the growth chamber. S. Zhang and N. Kobayashi, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 31, L666 (June 1992). Thus, the above-described problems of passivation and reactivity encountered when using NH.sub.3 would be expected to be encountered in this technique as well.

When epi layers of ZnSe are grown by the technique of MOVPE (metal organic vapor phase epitaxy), photo-assisted growth using above bandgap illumination (illumination whose energy is above the bandgap energy of the semiconductor compound at the growth temperature) has been found to enhance the growth rate of the layer, permitting lower growth temperatures, at which the sticking coefficient of the N species is increased. Sg. Fujita et al, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 26, L2000 (1987). In addition, the use of below-bandgap illumination has been observed to enhance doping efficiency on the Se sublattice. Sz. Fujita et al, J. Cryst. Grow., 101, 48 (1990).

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for N-doping epitaxial layers of II-VI semiconductor compounds (such as ZnSe and its alloys) which overcomes the above disadvantages encountered when using NH.sub.3 or dissociated TBNH.sub.2 as the carrier species.

In accordance with the invention, it has been discovered that when an amine is employed as the carrier for doping N into II-VI semiconductor compound lattices during epitaxial growth, and is introduced into the epitaxial growth chamber in an undissociated state, the N acceptor concentration is increased.

This result is believed to be due to the fact that the C--NH.sub.2 bond strength in amines is weaker than the H--NH.sub.2 bond strength in amines and ammonia. As a result, a larger concentration of NH.sub.2 at the growth surface is expected to be available for further dissociation into N and NH. In addition, the carbon group radical is available to extract an H from the --NH.sub.2 radical as the C--NH.sub.2 bond dissociates. The remaining H could be extracted by a CH.sub.3 attached to a Zn on a neighboring lattice site.

Another advantage of amines is their larger molecular size relative to NH.sub.3, which is expected to result in less reactivity with the other growth species carriers, such as MO Zn and MO Se, resulting in less degradation of the crystal lattice and less compensating defects (donor-like complexes involving N and native point defects).

As used herein, the term "amine" means R--NH.sub.2, where R is a hydrocarbon group radical and includes the homologous series (C.sub.x H.sub.2x+1)--C.sub.y --NH.sub.2, where x is from 2y+1 to 18, and y is from 0 to 1. Typical examples are the primary alkyl amines, such as ethyl amine, methyl amine, iso propyl amine, tertiary butyl amine and pentyl amine.

The temperature at which growth is carried out must not exceed about 500 degrees C., above which thermal cracking of the amine before it reaches the growth surface becomes likely, and the sticking co-efficient of N on the growth surface becomes negligible. Accordingly, the growth temperature preferably should not exceed about 400 degrees C.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, growth is carried out by the technique of vapor deposition, referred to variously in the art as CVD (chemical vapor deposition), VPE (vapor phase epitaxy) and FME (flow modulation epitaxy). Where the growth species are carried as metal organic (MO) compounds such as dimethyl Zn or Se (Dm Zn or Dm Se), then CVD and VPE are referred to as MOCVD and MOVPE, respectively.

Vapor deposition is typically carried out at a pressure of from about 1 to 716 Torr, as compared to about 10.sup.-10 to 10.sup.-11 Torr as the background pressure for molecular beam epitaxy, and generally results in higher growth rates, and can result in more even distribution of the growth species along the growth surface, due to the ability to control the flow pattern of the carrier gas.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the growth is photo-assisted by above-band gap or a combination of above-and below-bandgap illumination. Unexpectedly, such photo-assisted growth using above-bandgap illumination (meaning illumination whose energy is above the bandgap energy of the II-VI compound at the growth temperature) in the wavelength region of 200 nm to 250 nm results in enhanced N acceptor concentration in the epi layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will now be described in terms of the growth and evaluation of a series of epitaxial layers, with reference to the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a photo-luminescence (PL) spectrum of an undoped epitaxial layer of ZnSe grown by MOVPE at 350 degrees C. and photo-assisted using a Hg lamp, in which intensity in arbitrary units is plotted versus wavelength in Angstroms of the PL excitation source;

FIG. 2 is a PL spectrum similar to that of FIG. 1 for a ZnSe epi layer doped with N and using TBNH.sub.2 as the dopant carrier gas at a flow rate of about 10 sccm;

FIG. 3 is a PL spectrum similar to that of FIG. 2, in which growth is photo-assisted with a gas laser;

FIG. 4 is a PL spectrum similar to that of FIG. 3, in which the flow rate of TBNH.sub.2 is about 25 sccm;

FIG. 5 is a PL spectrum similar to that of FIG. 2, in which the flow rate is about 5 sccm, the growth temperature is about 375.degree. C. and growth was photo-assisted with a Hg lamp;

FIG. 6 is a PL spectrum similar to that of FIG. 5, in which the growth temperature is 350.degree. C.;

FIG. 7 is a PL spectrum similar to that of FIG. 6, in which the flow rate is about 2 sccm, and growth is photo-assisted with a Xe lamp; and

FIG. 8 is a PL spectrum similar to that of FIG. 7, in which the 200-250 nm portion of the spectrum of the Xe lamp is filtered out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

PL measurements were carried out while maintaining the sample at a temperature of about 7 K. to 8 K. Excitation was achieved by aiming the beam of an argon-ion laser at the sample surface, using the UV line at 3500 .ANG. with an intensity of 0.2 mw and a spot size of about 100 microns diameter, resulting in an energy density of about 2w/cm.sup.2.

FIG. 1 shows the PL spectrum of an undoped epi layer of ZnSe grown at 350.degree. C., photo-assisted by a mercury lamp with optical filters resulting in illumination wavelengths in the range between about 3300 and 5800 .ANG., corresponding to an energy range of about 3.75 to 2.14 eV, encompassing energies above and below the bandgap energy of about 2.45 eV (.about.5000 .ANG.). At the growth temperature, DMZn (dimethyl Zn) and DMSe (dimethyl Se) vapor flows were set at 0.32 sccm and 1.6 sccm, respectively. Since this layer is undoped, only the Free (FX) and Donor bound (D.degree.X) excitonic emission is observed in the PL spectrum. The Acceptor bound (A.degree.X) excitonic emission is not observed and neither is the Donor-Acceptor (D-A) pair spectrum.

FIG. 2 shows the PL spectrum of an epi layer of ZnSe doped with N using a flow of 10 sccm of TBNH.sub.2 (tertiary buthyl amine). All other growth parameters were similar to those used to obtain the PL spectrum of FIG. 1. In addition to the FX and D.degree.X peaks, the A.degree.X peak and the D-A pair spectrum are also seen. These A.degree.X and D-A peaks indicate the incorporation of N acceptors into the II-VI lattice.

FIG. 3 shows the PL spectrum of an epi layer of ZnSe grown under similar conditions to those for the layer of FIG. 2, except that a 193 nm excimer laser beam having an above bandgap energy of about 6.42 eV (.about.1930 .ANG.) was positioned parallel to the sample surface. The A.degree.X peak is slightly enhanced relative to the FX peak, as compared to FIG. 2. This indicates an increase in the N acceptors due to the presence of the excimer laser beam.

FIG. 4 shows the PL spectrum of an epi layer of ZnSe grown under conditions similar to those for FIG. 3, except that the flow of TBNH.sub.2 was increased to 25 sccm. The A.degree.X peak is further enhanced relative to the FX peak, as compared to FIG. 3. The D-A pair spectrum intensity is also enhanced compared to FIG. 3. This indicates that the increased flow of the dopant results in a higher N acceptor concentration. As will be appreciated, even higher flow rates should result in p-type ZnSe. As is known, such p-type ZnSe can be used in the fabrication of blue and blue green LEDs and lasers.

In FIG. 4, the ratio A.degree.X/FX is .about.20, which is two to four times larger than the ratio obtained using a similar flow of NH.sub.3 (A.degree.X/FX.about.5-10). This indicates a higher doping efficiency of N acceptors into the as-grown layer for TBNH.sub.2 as compared to NH.sub.3.

We have demonstrated the incorporation of N acceptors in to ZnSe epi layers using an amine as the N carrier and using illumination with above- and below-bandgap wavelengths, and N acceptor concentration (measured optically by PL) in the as-grown ZnSe epi layer with TBNH.sub.2 as the dopant carrier higher than in the case of NH.sub.3, for identical flow rates, indicating a higher N acceptor incorporation efficiency.

Increasing the growth temperature to 370.degree. C. from 350.degree. C. was found to decrease the incorporation of nitrogen acceptors, indicating the advantage of lower growth temperatures enabled by photo-assisted growth.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the concentration of donor-forming impurities such as chlorine in the carrier gas should be kept as low as possible, in order to minimize incorporation into the II-VI lattice where compensation of the N acceptors would occur.

As is known, a variety of Zn and Se growth precursors could be used, in any combination, for example, Diethyl Zinc, Diethyl Selenium, Dimethyl Zinc, Dimethyl Selenium and Hydrogen Selenide.

Bandgap energy of the II-VI compound would typically range from about 3.7 eV (.about.3300 .ANG.) to 2.0 eV (.about.6200 .ANG.), for example, 2.45 eV (.about.5000.degree.A) for ZnSe at a growth temperature of about 350.degree. C. Suitable illumination sources for above-and below-bandgap photo-assisted growth include high pressure lamps, e.g., Hg and xenon lamps (energy range about 5 eV (.about.2500 .ANG.) to 1.55 eV (.about.8000 .ANG.)), while above bandgap illumination could be provided, for example, by lasers, such as exited dimer (excimer) gas lasers (energy range about 6.42 eV to 3.53 eV).

If the II-VI epi layer is grown directly on a GaAs substrate, then a buffer layer (e.g., .about.100A in thickness) of the II-VI compounds can be grown first to facilitate the growth of the doped layer. This buffer layer could be grown using a variety of techniques.

FIG. 5 shows the PL spectrum of an epi layer of ZnSe grown at 375.degree. C., photo-assisted by an unfiltered Hg lamp The layer was doped with N using TBNH.sub.2 at a flow of 5 sccm.

FIG. 6 shows the PL spectrum of an epi layer of ZnSe grown under the same conditions as the layer of FIG. 5, except that the growth temperature was 350.degree. C.

Comparison of the A.degree.X/FX ratios of FIGS. 5 and 6 indicate that acceptor incorporation does not increase despite the growth temperature being decreased from 370.degree. C. to 350.degree. C., which should have enhanced the sticking coefficient of the Nitrogen acceptors. However, the reduced dissociation of the Zn precursor at the lower temperature could have effectively lowered the Zn:Se ratio at the growth surface. This in turn would reduce the decomposition of TBNH2.

FIG. 7 shows the PL spectrum of a ZnSe epi layer grown at 350.degree. C., with photo-assist from a Xe lamp, and doped with N using TBNH.sub.2 at a flow of 2 sccm.

It should be noted that the Zn:Se ratio for the layers grown using the Hg lamp was twice as large as the value for the layer grown using the Xe lamp. Using a higher Zn:Se ratio should enhance the acceptor incorporation due to the increased availability of sites on the Se sublattice (as is well known) and perhaps additionally due to the enhanced decomposition of TBNH.sub.2 on a Zn rich growth surface. However, comparison of the A.degree.X/FX ratio of FIG. 6 (Hg lamp) with that of FIG. 7 (Xe lamp) indicates that the acceptor incorporation is larger in the case of the layer grown with the Xe lamp, although the layer was grown using a lower value of TBNH.sub.2 flow.

The layers grown using the Xe lamp have a smaller value of FWHM of the X-Ray rocking curve, compared to the layers grown using the Hg lamp, indicating a lower defect level, resulting in a higher crystalline quality.

The Xe lamp has a higher content of spectral emission in the 200 to 250 nm wavelength regime relative to the other wavelengths, compared to the Hg lamp. When the total intensity of the above bandgap illumination (<550 nm) is comparable for the two lamps, the Xe lamp contributes a larger intensity in the 200 to 250 nm wavelength regime.

FIG. 8 shows the PL spectrum of a ZnSe epi layer grown under the same conditions as the layer of FIG. 7, except that an optical filter was used to filter UV emission in the 200-250 nm range from the output of the Xe lamp. Comparison of the A.degree.X/FX ratio with that of FIG. 7 indicates a dramatic decrease in the level of acceptor incorporation.

These results indicate that TBNH.sub.2 has a higher acceptor incorporation efficiency when growth is photo-assisted using a source having spectral emission in the wavelength range of about 200-250 nm.

The invention has been described in terms of a limited number of embodiments. Other embodiments and variations of embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be encompassed with in the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of incorporating N acceptors into an epitaxial layer of a II-VI semiconductor compound, said method comprising introducing an amine in an undissociated state into a growth chamber during a photo-assisted growth of the epitaxial layer, the growth being photoassisted with illumination having an energy at least above a bandgap energy of the semiconductor compound at the growth temperature and having spectral emission content in a wavelength range of 200 nm to 250 nm.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the illumination is provided by a Xe lamp.

3. The method of claim 1 in which growth is photo-assisted with illumination having energy below the bandgap energy of the semiconductor compound in addition to the above-bandgap illumination.