The impact of interfacial chemistry on the band offset of GaAs/ G a 2 O 3 heterostructures

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Authors: Sofia Apergi, Alfredo Pasquarello, Charles Cornet, Laurent Pédesseau
Cited by: 1
References: 55

Abstract

$\text{G}{\text{a}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{3}$/GaAs heterojunctions are emerging as promising candidates for next-generation power electronics, photonics, and energy devices, leveraging the high breakdown voltage and thermal stability of $\text{G}{\text{a}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{3}$ alongside the mature technology, high hole mobility, and high refractive index of GaAs. The efficiency of these devices depends strongly on the band alignment between the two materials, however both type-I and type-II alignment have been reported in the literature for these heterostructures. To address this ambiguity, we use hybrid density functional theory to systematically investigate the band alignment at GaAs/$\text{G}{\text{a}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{3}$ interfaces, focusing on the role of interface chemistry. By considering Ga-O-, As-, and As-O-rich interfaces both in amorphous and crystalline $\text{G}{\text{a}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{3}$ phases, we demonstrate that interface stoichiometry determines the alignment type: Ga-O-rich interfaces exhibit type-II alignment with large valence band offsets (\ensuremath{\sim}3.1 eV), while As-rich and As-O-rich interfaces favor type-I alignment with reduced offsets (\ensuremath{\sim}2.3--2.6 eV). These trends are attributed to interface dipole formation driven by bonding configuration. Our findings provide insight into the relationship between chemistry and band alignment in GaAs/$\text{G}{\text{a}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{3}$ heterostructures, enabling targeted optimization for specific device applications.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Ga2O3 and related materials Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Devices Photocathodes and Microchannel Plates

Publication details

Journal / source
Physical Review Materials
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Volume
10
Issue
6
Publication date
30 June 2026
Language
EN