INFLUENCE OF INTERMEDIATE ADSORBED LAYERS ON THE METAL CONTACTS FORMED TO INDIUM-PHOSPHIDE CRYSTALS

A whole range of surface sensitive techniques have been applied to probe the nature of the contact formed between indium phosphide (110) surfaces and a range of metals. Contacts to atomically clean cleaved surfaces, and to ones contaminated in a controlled way with oxygen, air or chlorine have been studied. High exposures to these gases, prior to the deposition of the metal, have a drastic influence on the nature of the contact and the electronic properties of the interface appear to be dominated by chemical effects. The results are considered in terms of various theoretical pictures leading to the conclusion that the interfacial defect model is the most relevant for the systems under consideration here. © 1979.