{"title":"Barrier heights and strong fermi-level pinning at epitaxially grown ferromagnet/ZnO/metal Schottky Interfaces for opto-spintronics applications","authors":"Mohamed Belmoubarik","doi":"10.1016/j.surfin.2024.105091","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Schottky contacts at the ferromagnet/ZnO interface are good candidates for the realization and control of several semiconductor emerging magnetic phenomena such spin injection and spin-controlled photonics. In this work, we demonstrate the epitaxial growth of single-phase and wurtzite-ZnO thin films on fcc Pt/Co<sub>0.30</sub>Pt<sub>0.70</sub> (111) electrodes by molecular beam epitaxy technique. While the magnetic properties of the Pt/Co<sub>0.30</sub>Pt<sub>0.70</sub> buffer remain unchanged after the ZnO growth, the electric measurements of back-to-back Schottky diodes reveal Schottky barrier heights at the metal/ZnO interfaces in the range of 590–690 meV using Cu, Pt and Co<sub>0.30</sub>Pt<sub>0.70</sub> contacts. A pinning factor <em>S</em> and a charge neutrality level (CNL) Φ<sub><em>CNL</em></sub> of 0.08 and 4.94 eV, respectively, are obtained indicating a strong Fermi-level pining with a CNL level that lies 0.64 eV bellow the conductance band of ZnO semiconductor. These experimental findings indicate that Co<sub>0.30</sub>Pt<sub>0.70</sub>/ZnO interface follows the metal-induced gap states model and can open a pathway for the realization of opto-spintronics applications such spin-LEDs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":22081,"journal":{"name":"Surfaces and Interfaces","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 105091"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468023024012471/pdfft?md5=66f9e41a171f57cd141e101e2f0106f3&pid=1-s2.0-S2468023024012471-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Surfaces and Interfaces","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468023024012471","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Schottky contacts at the ferromagnet/ZnO interface are good candidates for the realization and control of several semiconductor emerging magnetic phenomena such spin injection and spin-controlled photonics. In this work, we demonstrate the epitaxial growth of single-phase and wurtzite-ZnO thin films on fcc Pt/Co0.30Pt0.70 (111) electrodes by molecular beam epitaxy technique. While the magnetic properties of the Pt/Co0.30Pt0.70 buffer remain unchanged after the ZnO growth, the electric measurements of back-to-back Schottky diodes reveal Schottky barrier heights at the metal/ZnO interfaces in the range of 590–690 meV using Cu, Pt and Co0.30Pt0.70 contacts. A pinning factor S and a charge neutrality level (CNL) ΦCNL of 0.08 and 4.94 eV, respectively, are obtained indicating a strong Fermi-level pining with a CNL level that lies 0.64 eV bellow the conductance band of ZnO semiconductor. These experimental findings indicate that Co0.30Pt0.70/ZnO interface follows the metal-induced gap states model and can open a pathway for the realization of opto-spintronics applications such spin-LEDs.
期刊介绍:
The aim of the journal is to provide a respectful outlet for ''sound science'' papers in all research areas on surfaces and interfaces. We define sound science papers as papers that describe new and well-executed research, but that do not necessarily provide brand new insights or are merely a description of research results.
Surfaces and Interfaces publishes research papers in all fields of surface science which may not always find the right home on first submission to our Elsevier sister journals (Applied Surface, Surface and Coatings Technology, Thin Solid Films)