Self-organized superlattice formation in II–IV and III–V semiconductors

There is extensive recent experimental evidence of spontaneous superlattice (SL) formation in various II–VI and III–V semiconductors. Here we propose an atomistic mechanism responsible for SL formation, and derive a relation predicting the temperature, flux, and miscut dependence of the SL layer thickness. Moreover, the model explains the existence of a critical miscut angle below which no SL is formed, in agreement with results on ZnSeTe, and predicts the formation of a platelet structure for deposition onto high symmetry surfaces, similar to that observed in InAsSb.