Abstract

In this study PbTe surfaces have been coated with thin elemental tellurium layers, in order to prevent surface oxidation. The coating layers have been prepared either by preferential Pb etching of the PbTe surface or sublimation of Te films onto sputter cleaned surfaces. Surface investigations (XPS and LEED) show that Te layers prepared by etching are porous. Sublimed Te films (∠300 Å thick), however, prevent oxidation and carbon absorption at the Te–PbTe interface for at least several hours of air exposure. The coating quality is attributed to the good crystalline growth of the Te epilayers. Since thin Te films are expected to act as surface passivation, the electrical characteristics of Te–PbTe junctions have been investigated. They show ohmic behavior on p-PbTe and rectification on n-PbTe, indicating band bending in the latter case.

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