Surface transfer doping of diamond by MoO3: A combined spectroscopic and Hall measurement study

Surface transfer doping of diamond has been demonstrated using MoO3 as a surface electron acceptor material. Synchrotron-based high resolution photoemission spectroscopy reveals that electrons are transferred from the diamond surface to MoO3, leading to the formation of a sub-surface quasi 2-dimensional hole gas within the diamond. Ex-situ electrical characterization demonstrated an increase in hole carrier concentration from 1.00 x 10(13)/cm(2) for the air-exposed hydrogen-terminated diamond surface to 2.16 x 10(13)/cm(2) following MoO3 deposition. This demonstrates the potential to improve the stability and performance of hydrogen-terminated diamond electronic devices through the incorporation of high electron affinity transition metal oxides. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.