Hydrogen passivation of germanium (100) surface using wet chemical preparation

A wet chemical preparation involving de-ionized water, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrofluoric acid is used to passivate germanium (Ge) (100) surfaces. Infrared absorption spectroscopy and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy studies show that oxide free and hydrogen-terminated Ge (100) surfaces can be obtained. As in the case for silicon (100) surfaces etched in hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen-terminated Ge (100) surfaces are atomically rough, with primarily mono- and dihydride terminations.