Growth of Surface Micro- and Nanostructures During Depth Profiling of PbTe Crystals by Ar Plasma

Abstract

Peculiarities of depth profiling of PbTe crystals by Ar plasma with energy of 350 eV at the conditions of Secondary Neutral Mass Spectrometry originated from the crystal growth environment are presented. The crystals grown from vapor phase and from melt by the Bridgman method were studied. The natural faceted surface corresponding to the crystallographic plane of high symmetry (100), the natural lateral surfaces of crystal ingots, and the surfaces processed mechanically during cutting of the crystals were profiled. Nucleation, growth, and re-sputtering of the arrays of micro-and nanoscopic surface structures on the sputtered surfaces as a result of re-deposition of sputtered Pb and Te atoms were observed. It was determined that the growth environment of the PbTe crystal surfaces has a strong effect on nucleation and growth of the surface micro-and nanostructures in the conditions of continuous surface bombardment by Ar ions during depth profiling. This does not prevent the correct determination of the composition of the studied objects via the analysis of the composition of sputtered phase, if sputtering continues for at least 5-10 minutes.