Model of formation and propagation of nanoporous structures in indium phosphide during anodisation in aqueous KOH

Michael G.M. Keyes, Nathan Quill, Andrea Bourke, Colm O'Dwyer, Clifford Nolan, Ian Clancy, D. Noel Buckley, Robert P. Lynch

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Porous layers are formed in highly doped (1018 cm-3) n-type InP anodised in concentrated aqueous KOH solutions. The pores have a characteristic diameter and propagate along <111>A directions. This preferential etching leads to porous regions with a characteristic tetrahedral shape. We have previously proposed a three-step mechanism of electrochemical pore formation: (1) hole generation at pore tips, (2) hole diffusion and (3) electrochemical oxidation of the semiconductor to form etch products. Step 1 determines the overall etch rate. However, if the kinetics of Step 3 are slow relative to Step 2, then etching can occur at preferred crystallographic sites leading to pore propagation in preferential directions. We have implemented the fundamental rules of this mechanism in a numerical simulation of this mechanism and we show that the simulation reproduces many of the features of pore growth in InP.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationECS Transactions
PublisherIOP Publishing Ltd
Pages1335-1348
Number of pages14
Edition13
ISBN (Electronic)9781510866171, 9781510866171, 9781510866171, 9781607688280, 9781607688303, 9781607688310, 9781607688327, 9781607688334, 9781607688341, 9781607688358, 9781607688365, 9781607688372, 9781607688389, 9781607688396, 9781607688402, 9781607688419
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Event233rd Meeting of the Electrochemical Society - Seattle, United States
Duration: 13 May 201817 May 2018

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
Number13
Volume85
ISSN (Print)1938-6737
ISSN (Electronic)1938-5862

Conference

Conference233rd Meeting of the Electrochemical Society
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySeattle
Period13/05/1817/05/18

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