Development of the physicochemical properties of the GaSb(100) surface in ammonium sulfide solutions

Various conditions of passivation of the GaSb(100) surface by ammonium sulfide ((NH$_4$)$_2$S) solutions depending on the solution concentration, solvent, and treatment time are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic-force microscopy. It is shown that treatment of the GaSb(100) surface by any (NH$_4$)$_2$S solution leads to removal of the native oxide layer from the semiconductor surface and the formation of a passivating layer consisting of various gallium and antimony sulfides and oxides. The surface with the lowest roughness (RMS = 0.85 nm) is formed after semiconductor treatment with 4% aqueous ammonium sulfide solution for 30 min. Herewith, the atomic concentration ratio Ga/Sb at the surface is $\sim$2. It is also found that aqueous ammonium sulfide solutions do not react with elemental antimony incorporated into the native-oxide layer. The latter causes a leakage current and Fermi-level pinning at the GaSb(100) surface. However, a 4% (NH$_4$)$_2$S solution in isopropanol removes elemental antimony almost completely; herewith, the semiconductor surface remains stoichiometric if a treatment duration is up to 13 min.