The role of zinc pre-exposure in low-defect ZnSe growth on As-stabilized GaAs (001)

Zinc coverage and the structures of Zn-exposed As-stabilized GaAs(001)-(2×4) and -c(4×4) surfaces have been studied using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy in order to clarify the role of the Zn pre-exposure process in ZnSe growth on GaAs(001). Since Zn atoms stick on the GaAs-(2×4) surface even though their interaction is very weak, Zn may act as a balancer to form a neutral ZnSe/GaAs interface. Zn can also remove excess As atoms and make a “pure” (2×4) structure that is the only possible starting surface for low-defect ZnSe heteroexpitaxy on a GaAs(001) surface.