Doping and Characterization of Wide-Gap II-VI Epilayers

In this paper we review the properties of n-type doped ZnSe and CdTe epilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on (100) GaAs substrates. Recent results of photoluminescence, transport measurements, secondary ion mass spectroscopy and deep-level transient spectroscopy are discussed. A major emphasis is placed on the effect of different dopant species and the role of the deviation from stoichiometry on the doped epitaxial layers. Since deep defect states play an important role in determining the properties of the doped materials, considerable attention is directed towards characterization and identification of deep-lying defect states, both native and introduced by dopants. In particular, in the case of ZnSe the deep-level transient spectroscopy results clarify why Cl is superior to Ga as an effective n-type dopant. They provide strong evidence that chlorine - unlike Ga - does not introduce by itself any detectable deep defects into the ZnSe lattice. In the case of CdTe, we focus on the influence of the deviation from stoichiometric growth conditions in the molecular beam epitaxy process and on the properties of In doped layers. We discuss resistivity, Mn diffusivity and the presence of various deep defects in layers grown at different Cd/Te flux ratios.