A study of the process of decomposition of supersaturated GaAs:Fe solid solution by scanning probe microscopy

摘要

Using an atomic-force microscope, the decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution of iron-doped GaAs (GaAs:Fe) is studied. GaAs:Fe samples were obtained in the course of high-temperature diffusion of Fe into GaAs and subsequent annealing at a temperature by 200°C below the doping temperature. The measurements are performed for transverse cleavages along the cleavage planes of the GaAs:Fe wafers. It is shown that, during annealing of the GaAs:Fe samples, the supersaturated alloy decomposes with the formation of particles of the second phase from ~50 nm to ~1 μm in size. The particles of the second phase possess ferromagnetic properties at room temperature.