The role of arsine in the self-assembled growth of InAs/GaAs quantum dots by metal organic chemical vapor deposition

The influence of various growth parameters such as coverage, the AsH3 flow (V/III ratio), and growth interrupts on the self-assembled growth of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) by metal organic chemical vapor deposition is reported. Of the various growth parameters, the AsH3 flow has a particularly strong influence. Higher AsH3 flows during deposition led to a faster nucleation process and larger islands, while the presence of AsH3 after nucleation led to continued island ripening. We suggest that this is the result of increased indium redistribution from the highly strained wetting layer to the islands, and possibly between the islands, at higher AsH3 flows. A large defect density was observed by plan-view transmission electron microscopy, whenever the growth parameters led to larger islands. Using our optimized growth conditions we are able to avoid such defect generation and still achieve a high QD density (3x10(10) cm(-2)). (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.