Diffusion of a Ga adatom on the GaAs(001)‐c(4 × 4)‐heterodimer surface: A first principles study

The adsorption and diffusion behavior of a Ga adatom on the GaAs (001)‐c(4 × 4)-heterodimer surface were studied by employing ab initio density functional theory (DFT) computations in the local density approximation. Structural and bonding features of the c(4 × 4)-heterodimer reconstruction surface were examined. A comparison with the c(4 × 4)-ss reconstruction was performed. Minimum energy sites (MES) on the c(4 × 4)-heterodimer surface were located by mapping the potential energy surface for a Ga adatom. Barriers for diffusion of a Ga adatom between the neighboring MES were calculated by using top hopping- and exchange-diffusion mechanisms. We proposed two unique diffusion pathways for a Ga adatom diffusing between the global minimums of two neighboring unit cells. Signature differences between electronic structures of top hopping- and exchange‐diffusion mechanisms were studied for relevant atoms. We observed a higher diffusion barrier for exchange mechanism compared to top hopping.

► GaAs (001)-c(4 × 4)-heterodimer surface reconstruction ► Structural and bonding features ► Computed diffusion barriers ► Higher diffusion barrier for exchange compared to top hopping