Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
High quality crystalline γ -Al2O3 films were epitaxially grown on Si(111) substrates at growth temperatures from 750 to 900°C by molecular beam epitaxy using an Al solid source and N2O gas. Very thin γ -Al2O3 films grown at a growth temperature of 850°C showed streaky reflection high-energy electron diffraction patterns. By in situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, carbon contamination, as is seen in the films grown with a Al(CH3)3 source, was not detected within the measurement sensitivity. The stoichiometry of the grown film was found to be similar to that of Al2O3. Growth rates of epitaxial γ -Al2O3 layers decreased with increasing growth temperatures. The predominant growth of the γ -Al2O3(111) crystal orientation was confirmed on Si(110) and Si(100) substrates.