Amphoteric behavior ofH0in GaAs

Abstract
We present the results of pseudopotential density-functional supercell calculations of the properties of neutral hydrogen in bulk GaAs. The equilibrium sites are determined, and the electronic properties for the equilibrium positions are studied. We find that the equilibrium site for unrelaxed GaAs:H is in the low-valence-charge-density region, whereas if the relaxation of the whole lattice is allowed, a shallow equilibrium minimum occurs at an antibonding site near an As ion. The diffusion path is in the high-valence-charge-density region around the As ions with a barrier as low as 0.1 eV. From our results, we suggest that H behaves as a deep acceptor in n-type GaAs and as a deep donor in p-type GaAs, and occupies different positions. Hence passivation of dopants occurs by neutralization.