Method to electrochemically deposit compound semiconductors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for producing epitaxial single-crystalline compound semiconductors by depositing semiconductor material onto a substrate using underpotential deposition, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing said substrate;
(b) providing a first reactant in a first solution;
(c) providing a second reactant in a second solution;
(d) providing a means for controlling the electrochemical potential of said substrate relative to a reference electrode;
(e) sequentially electrodepositing an atomic layer of said first reactant and said second reactant on said substrate by sequentially contacting said first solution containing said first reactant with said substrate and said second solution containing said second reactant with said substrate and by sequentially adjusting the electrochemical potential of said substrate relative to said reference electrode, said first reactant being deposited on said substrate at a first electrochemical potential and said second reactant being deposited on said substrate at a second electrochemical potential lower than the potential necessary to deposit a layer of said second reactant onto itself, said reference electrode being in contact with said first solution when said first solution is in contact with said substrate and in contact with said second solution when said second solution is in contact with said substrate; and
(f) repeating step (e) until and epitaxial single-crystalline compound semiconductor of a desired thickness is obtained.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method to electrochemically deposit semiconductors and for the electrochemical formation of epitaxial thin-film, single-crystalline compound semiconductors comprising alternating electrodeposition of atomic layers of selected pairs of elements using underpotential deposition.
36 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for producing epitaxial single-crystalline compound semiconductors by depositing semiconductor material onto a substrate using underpotential deposition, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing said substrate; (b) providing a first reactant in a first solution; (c) providing a second reactant in a second solution; (d) providing a means for controlling the electrochemical potential of said substrate relative to a reference electrode; (e) sequentially electrodepositing an atomic layer of said first reactant and said second reactant on said substrate by sequentially contacting said first solution containing said first reactant with said substrate and said second solution containing said second reactant with said substrate and by sequentially adjusting the electrochemical potential of said substrate relative to said reference electrode, said first reactant being deposited on said substrate at a first electrochemical potential and said second reactant being deposited on said substrate at a second electrochemical potential lower than the potential necessary to deposit a layer of said second reactant onto itself, said reference electrode being in contact with said first solution when said first solution is in contact with said substrate and in contact with said second solution when said second solution is in contact with said substrate; and (f) repeating step (e) until and epitaxial single-crystalline compound semiconductor of a desired thickness is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for producing epitaxial single-crystalline compound semiconductors using underpotential electrochemical deposition, comprising the steps of
(a) providing a substrate; -
(b) providing a first reactant selected from the group consisting of Group IB, Group IIB, Group IIIA, Group IVA, Group VA, Group VIA, and Group VIIA elements; (c) providing a second reactant selected from the group consisting of Group IVA, Group VA and Group VIA elements; (d) providing means for controlling the electrochemical potential of said substrate; (e) delivering said first reactant to said substrate in a first solution, selecting and applying a first electrochemical potential to said substrate relative to a reference electrode, both said substrate and said reference electrode being in contact with said first solution containing said first reactant, and electrodepositing an atomic layer of said first reactant on said substrate; (f) delivering said second reactant to said substrate in a second solution, selecting and applying a second electrochemical potential to said substrate relative to said reference electrode, both said substrate and said reference electrode being in contact with said second solution containing said second reactant, and electrodepositing an atomic layer of said second reactant on said substrate using underpotential electrochemical deposition wherein said second electrochemical potential is lower than the potential necessary to deposit a layer of said second reactant onto itself; and (g) sequentially repeating steps (e) and (f) until an epitaxial single-crystalline compound semiconductor of a desired thickness is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification