Classification of Ge hut clusters in the arrays formed by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperatures on the Si(001) surface

TL;DR

This study classifies and analyzes the atomic structures of Ge hut clusters on Si(001) surfaces during molecular beam epitaxy, revealing different cluster types, their formation probabilities, and factors affecting array uniformity at various temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed classification of Ge hut clusters, including new types like obelisks, and investigates their formation mechanisms and array uniformity control.

Findings

Pyramidal and wedge-shaped clusters have different atomic structures.

Shape transitions between pyramids and wedges are impossible.

Wedges dominate as Ge coverage increases.

Abstract

Morphological investigations and classification of Ge hut clusters forming the arrays of quantum dots on the Si(001) surface at low temperatures in the process of the ultrahigh vacuum molecular beam epitaxy have been carried out using in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy. Two main species of Ge hut clusters composing the arrays - pyramidal and wedge-shaped ones - have been found to have different atomic structures. The inference is made that shape transitions between pyramids and wedges are impossible. The nucleation probabilities of pyramids and wedges equal 1/2 at the initial stage of the array formation. The wedges become the dominating species as the amount of the deposited germanium is increased. A fraction and a density of the pyramids in the arrays are rapidly decreased with the growth of Ge coverage. The derivative types of the clusters - obelisks (or truncated wedges) and accreted wedges - have been revealed and investigated for the first time, they have been found to start dominating at high Ge coverages. The obelisks originate from the wedges as a result of their height limitation and further growth of trapezoid facets. The apexes of the obelisks are formed by sets of the parallel (001) ridges. The uniformity of the cluster arrays have been evidenced to be controlled by the length of the wedge-like clusters. At low growth temperatures (360C) nucleation of new clusters is observed during the array growth at all values of Ge coverage except for a particular point at which the arrays are more uniform than at higher or lower coverages. At higher (530C) temperatures cluster nucleation has not been observed after the initial stage of the array formation.