The Strong Correlation between Interface Microstructure and Barrier Height in Pt/n-InP Schottky Contacts Formed by an In Situ Electrochemical Process

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Abstract
In order to investigate the correlation between the microstructure of a metal/semiconductor (M/S) interface and the Schottky barrier height (SBH), Pt Schottky contacts were formed on n-type InP by an in situ electrochemical process under various electrochemical conditions; they were then investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. Electrodeposition resulted in the formation of arrays of nanometer-sized Pt particles whose distribution strongly depended on electrochemical conditions. The SBH values exhibited a strong correlation with the particle distribution, leading to a high SBH value of 0.86 eV under the condition of the most uniform distribution of the smallest particles. The result is discussed from the viewpoint of the disorder-induced gap state (DIGS) model.