Room temperature epitaxy of Al(100) on Si(111)

There are a number of published reports on the epitaxial growth of Al(111) on Si(111) surface usually following a high temperature treatment of the Si surface in UHV. In contrast to these results, we have for the first time observed dominant epitaxial growth of Al(100) films on Si(111) surfaces that have been carefully cleaned and hydrogen terminated and not heated prior to effusion cell deposition of Al at room temperature in UHV. X-ray diffraction shows sharp and intense Al(200) diffraction, enhanced by post deposition annealing. Crystal quality and the dominance of Al(100) structure depend strongly on the substrate treatment and the off-cut angle, both of which control the steps on the Si(111) surface. The steps were found responsible for the epitaxial alignment of the film and the substrate lattices. Details of this alignment were observed in TEM cross-sectional images of the interface.