Growth-mode modification of Bi on CdTe(111)A using Te monolayer deposition

Bi deposited on the CdTe(lll)A (Cd-terminated) surface grows by three-dimensional (3D) islanding, while Bi deposited on the CdTe(lll)B (Te-terminated) grows layer-by-layer. However, introducing a Te monolayer (ML) on the CdTe(lll)A surface reduces the interfacial energy, thereby changing the growth mode of Bi from 3D islandlike to layer-by-layer growth. The Te ML remains where it is deposited, which differs from the growth mode in which the surface-active agent floats on the growing surface. By incorporating appropriate Te ML's, Bi/CdTe superlattices with sharper interfaces were observed. These superlattices were characterized by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.