Synthesis and Phase Evolutions in Layered Structure of Ga2S3 Semiconductor Thin Films on Epiready GaAs (111) Substrates

We report on synthesis and properties of p-type Ga2S3 semiconductor thin films that were prepared by sulfurizing epiready n-type GaAs (111) surface at elevated temperatures. Comparisons of structural and optical properties among the thin films, peeling-off resulted microtubes, and the remains after peeling-off give a clear clue to the crystal growth and phase evolutions of Ga2S3. Three layers of Ga2S3 are clearly identified in the thin films. They are layer i, cubic Ga2S3 epitaxially grown on the GaAs (111) substrate; layer ii, polycrystalline cubic Ga2S3 on top of layer-i; and layer iii, monoclinic and/or hexagonal Ga2S3 on top of layer ii. The onset of peeling-off occurred in layer i and/or at the interface between layer i and ii. Both the phase evolutions and the location of peeling-off are associated with a Ga out diffusion growth mechanism. Absorption spectroscopy revealed a direct bandgap of 3.0 eV, whereas photoluminescence spectra showed defects (excited Ga vacancies) related red (1.62 eV) and green (2.24 eV) emissions of the Ga2S3 films; both are qualitatively consistent with those reported values obtained at lower sample temperatures from Ga2S3 single crystals. These results, together with a large on/off current ratio (i.e., similar to 44 at a bias of 4.0 V) of the resultant hetero p-Ga2S3/n-GaAs junction under a blue laser (405 nm, 3.0 mW) illumination, shed light on consequent integrations of Ga2S3- and GaAs-based optoelectronic devices, e.g., high-power laser radiation sensors.