Atomic-layer doping of SiGe heterostructures for atomic-precision donor devices


Abstract in English

As a first step to porting scanning tunneling microscopy methods of atomic-precision fabrication to a strained-Si/SiGe platform, we demonstrate post-growth P atomic-layer doping of SiGe heterostructures. To preserve the substrate structure and elastic state, we use a T $leq 800^circ$C process to prepare clean Si$_{0.86}$Ge$_{0.14}$ surfaces suitable for atomic-precision fabrication. P-saturated atomic-layer doping is incorporated and capped with epitaxial Si under a thermal budget compatible with atomic-precision fabrication. Hall measurements at T$=0.3$ K show that the doped heterostructure has R$_{square}=570pm30$ $Omega$, yielding an electron density $n_{e}=2.1pm0.1times10^{14}$cm$^{-2}$ and mobility $mu_e=52pm3$ cm$^{2}$ V$^{-1}$ s$^{-1}$, similar to saturated atomic-layer doping in pure Si and Ge. The magnitude of $mu_e$ and the complete absence of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in magnetotransport measurements indicate that electrons are overwhelmingly localized in the donor layer, and not within a nearby buried Si well. This conclusion is supported by self-consistent Schrodinger-Poisson calculations that predict electron occupation primarily in the donor layer.

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