Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of As and Ga out-diffusion in In0.53Ga0.47As/Al2O3 film systems

Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) was performed on In0.53Ga0.47As/Al2O3 gate stacks as deposited and annealed at 400 °C, 500 °C, and 700 °C to test for out-diffusion of substrate elements. Ga and As core-level intensities increase with increasing anneal temperature, while the In intensity decreases. HAXPES was performed at two different beam energies to vary the surface sensitivity; results demonstrate Ga and As out-diffuse into the Al2O3 film. Analysis suggests the presence of an interlayer containing Ga and As oxides, which thickens with increasing anneal temperature. Further diffusion, especially of Ga, into the Al2O3 film is also observed with increasing anneal temperature.