• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.79-84
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• 1996

A $1\;{\mu}m$ thick n-type GaAs layer with Si doping density of $1{\times}10^{17}/cm^{3}$ and a $500{\AA}$ thick undoped single crystalline AlAs layer were subsequently grown by molecular beam epitaxy on the $n^{+}$ GaAs substrate. The AlAs/GaAs layer was oxidized in $N_{2}$ bubbled $H_{2}O$ vapor($95^{\circ}C$) ambient at $400^{\circ}C$ for 2 and 3 hours. From the result of XPS analysis, small amounts of $As_{2}O_{3}$, AlAs, and elemental As were found in the samples oxidized up to 2 hours. After 3 hours oxidation, however, various oxides related to As were dissolved and As atoms were diffused out toward the oxide surface. The as-grown AlAs/GaAs layer was selectively converted to $Al_{2}O_{3}/GaAs$ at the oxidation temperature $400^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours. The oxidation temperature and time is very critical to stop the oxidation at the AlAs/GaAs interface and to form a defect-free surface layer.