Interface Formation and the Heteroepitaxy of ZnSe on Si.

Abstract

ABSTRACTZinc selenide films have been grown heteroepitaxially on Si(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The growth has been carried out for raised substrate temperatures and also at room temperature followed by solid-phase epitaxial (SPE) regrowth. The ZnSe films have been characterized by a number of surface-sensitive techniques and both the interface and the bulk material have been examined with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). We find that an interlayer, which is most likely SiSex, is present between the ZnSe film and the Si substrate for growths made at 300 °C and causes loss of epitaxy. In the case of room temperature deposition and SPE, it is absent, leading to good epitaxy. In the latter situation, the films are very uniform and there is a 4° rotation of the ZnSe crystal axes relative to those of the Si substrate.