Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3) films are grown epitaxially on high mobility Ge(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy system. Reflection high energy electron diffraction patterns and X-ray diffraction spectra show that single crystalline cubic Dy2O3 films are formed on Ge(100) substrates. The epitaxial-relationship is identified as Dy2O3 (110)║Ge(100) and Dy2O3 [001]║Ge[011]. Atomic force microscopy results show that the surface of the Dy2O3 film is uniform, flat and smooth with root mean square surface roughness of about 4.6Å. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy including depth profiles confirms the composition of the films being close to Dy2O3. TEM measurements reveal a sharp, crystalline interface between the oxide and Ge.