World Journal of Condensed Matter Physics, 2016, 6, 68-74
Published Online May 2016 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/wjcmp
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wjcmp.2016.62010
How to cite this paper: Saleh, A.S. (2016) Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces Investigated by Positron Annihilation Spectros-
copy. World Journal of Condensed Matter Physics, 6, 68-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wjcmp.2016.62010
Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces
Investigated by Positron Annihilation
Spectroscopy
Abdulnasser S. Saleh
Department of Physics, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya
Received 12 February 2016; accepted 2 May 2016; published 5 May 2016
Copyright © 2016 by author and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract
Variable-energy positron annihilation spectroscopy has been applied to study interfaces in Al/Si,
Au/Si and Au/GaAs structures. Computational fittings of ROYPROF program were used to analyze
Doppler broadening results in order to determine kinds of regions that positrons were likely to
sample. The interfaces were found acting as a capturing thin layer with negligible positrons
stopped in them and their characteristics came only from positrons diffusing to these interfaces,
the positron work function of these materials were taken into consideration. In all fittings, the in-
terfaces are found to have 1 nm thickness and act as an absorbing sink for all thermal positrons
diffusing towards them, and this indicates either the existence of open volume defects or a weak-
ness of known theoretical models for positron affinities. The result is supported by measurements
obtained by applying external electric fields on Al/Si sample. Theoretical fittings have clearly
demonstrated the sensitivity of interfaces in these attempts and their importance in data analyz-
ing and in developing of fitting cods.
Keywords
Positron Annihilation, Interface, Metal-Semiconductor, Defects
1. Introduction
The importance of metal semiconductor interfaces comes from the fact that most electronic devices are inter-
connected using metallic wiring that forms metal-semiconductor contacts. The properties of these contacts can
vary considerably depending on the nature of the interface with the semiconductor.
The emergence of variable low-energy positron beams enabled depth resolved studies at near-surface and in-