# Interfacial energy barrier height of Al$_2$O$_3$/H-terminated (111) diamond heterointerface investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

## TL;DR

This study investigates the interfacial energy barriers of Al₂O₃ on hydrogen-terminated (111) diamond using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, revealing band offsets and configurations relevant for diamond-based MOSFET development.

## Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of band offsets and interfacial band diagram configurations for Al₂O₃ on doped (111) diamond, advancing understanding of diamond heterointerfaces.

## Key findings

- Valence band offsets are 1.8 eV and 2.7 eV for p- and n-type diamond.
- Al₂O₃ bandgap energy is 7.1 eV.
- Interfacial band diagram is of type II with specific conduction band offsets.

## Abstract

The interfacial band configuration of the high-k dielectric Al$_2$O$_3$ deposited at 120{\deg}C by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on boron- and phosphorus-doped hydrogen-terminated (111) diamond was investigated. Performing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of core level binding energies and valence band maxima values, the valence band offsets of both heterojunctions are concluded to be {\Delta}E$_V$ = 1.8 eV and {\Delta}E$_V$ = 2.7 eV for the Al$_2$O$_3$/H(111)p and the Al$_2$O$_3$/H(111)n respectively. The ALD Al$_2$O$_3$ bandgap energy was measured from the O 1s photoelectron energy loss spectra to be $E_G^{ Al_2O_3}$ = 7.1 eV. The interfacial band diagram configuration is concluded to be of type II for both Al$_2$O$_3$/H(111)p and Al$_2$O$_3$/H(111)n heterostructures having conduction band offsets of {\Delta}E$_C$ = 0.2 eV and {\Delta}E$_C$ = 1.1 eV respectively. The use of doped (111) hydrogen-terminated diamond for developing future diamond MOSFET is discussed.