Analysis of negative electron affinity InGaN photocathode by temperature-programed desorption method

Abstract

A III–V semiconductor with a few monolayers of alkali metals (e.g., Cs) forms a negative electron affinity (NEA) surface, for which the vacuum level lies below the conduction band minimum of the base semiconductor. The photocathodes that form an NEA surface (NEA photocathodes) have various advantages, such as low emittance, a large current, high spin polarization, and ultrashort pulsed operation. The NEA-InGaN photocathode, which is sensitive to blue light, has been studied as a material for the next-generation robust photocathode. However, the proper conditions for forming NEA surfaces remain unknown. The authors consider whether the suitable process for NEA surfaces can be understood by investigating the relationship between the electron emission and the adsorption state of alkali metals. In this study, the relationship between the electron emission and the adsorption state of Cs on the p-type InGaN (0001) was analyzed by the temperature-programed desorption (TPD) method using a quadrupole mass spectrometer. From the results of the TPD measurements, it was shown that there were several adsorption states of Cs on InGaN. The quantum efficiency (QE), which indicates the ratio of emitted electrons to incident photons, increased while Cs desorption occurred. The authors divided the formation process of an NEA surface into several sections to investigate the adsorption states of Cs related to the electron emission and to discuss the reasons why the QE increased despite the desorbed Cs. From the results of the NEA activation in each section, it was shown that there were sections where the QE increased by reacting with O2 after Cs supply stopped. There is a possibility that several layers reacting with O2 and those not reacting with O2 are formed by performing NEA activation until the QE saturates. From the results of the TPD measurements in each section, it was suggested that there was a Cs peak at above 700 °C when the TPD method was carried out immediately after confirming the electron emission. Therefore, the adsorption state of Cs that formed a peak at above 700 °C had a close relation to the electron emission. It is considered that the increase of the QE in the TPD was affected by adsorbed Cs compounds that reacted with O2. Although the mechanism is not understood, it is known that the QE was increased by the reaction of Cs adsorbed compounds and O2 in previous studies. It was suspected that layers that reacted with O2 appeared from TPD and then the QE increased by reacting with O2.

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“…Using III-V compound semiconductor substrates, such as GaAs, with a negative electron affinity (NEA) surface is useful to generate pulsed electrons with small energy dispersion with high emittance. However, it is difficult to handle because the usable vacuum environment is severe, and an extremely high vacuum is required to extend the lifetime [6][7][8][9][10][11].…”