Influence of the kinetics of atomic steps on the growth of multicomponent crystals at elevated supersaturation

A. V. Redkov, S. A. Kukushkin

Institute of Problems of Mechanical Engineering, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia

Abstract: The process of growth of a multicomponent crystal at elevated supersaturations, in cases where the classical approximation of the immobility of atomic steps becomes incorrect, has been studied. Analytical expressions are derived that describe the rate of advancement of an ensemble of steps on a crystalline surface. The crystal growth rate is determined via layer-by-layer and spiral mechanisms. It is shown that the rate can differ significantly from the predictions of the classical theory of crystal growth. The results can be used to optimize the growth processes of both bulk crystals and thick epitaxial films of various multicomponent compounds and, in particular, semiconductor compounds of groups A$_3$B$_5$ and A$_2$B$_6$.

Keywords: crystal growth theory, atomic steps, growth rate, multicomponent crystals, epitaxy, semiconductors.

Received: 28.03.2023
Revised: 03.05.2023
Accepted: 11.05.2023

DOI: 10.21883/PJTF.2023.13.55735.19570

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