MBE growth and structural and magnetic properties of (In1-gamma Al gamma)(1-x)MnxAs-diluted magnetic semiconductors

Abstract

A series of quaternary-diluted magnetic semiconductors, (In1-y,Al-y)(1-x)MnxAs, have been successfully grown on InP substrates by low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy. The (ln(0.52)Al(0.48))(1-x)MnxAs with x <= 0.11 were grown on a nearly lattice-matched In0.52Al0.48As buffer, while the (In1-y,Al-y)(1-x)MnxAs with a higher Mn content of 0.11 < x <= 0.18 were grown on a graded 3-layer In,-,,Al-y 'As buffer structure. The results of transmission electron microscopy and double-crystal X-ray diffraction reveal that all (In1-yAly)(1-x),Mn,As epilayers are single crystal with zincblende structure, and the lattice constant increases with increasing the Mn content. The magnetic measurements show that the (In1-y,Al-y)(1-x)MnxAs semiconductors exhibit a paramagnetic-like state for x <= 0.05 while a ferromagnetic state for x >= 0.05, and the Curie temperature of ferromagnetic (In1-yAly)(1-x) MnxAs increases with increasing Mn content. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.