Electron band alignment between (100)InP and atomic-layer deposited Al ₂O₃

Energy barriers at interfaces of (100)InP with atomic-layer deposited Al₂ O₃ are determined using internal photoemission of electrons. The barrier height between the top of the InP valence band and bottom of the alumina conduction band is found to be 4.05±0.10 eV corresponding to a conduction band offset of 2.7 eV. An interlayer associated with the oxidation of InP may result in a lower barrier for electron injection potentially leading to charge instability of the insulating stack. A wide-gap P-rich interlayer has a potential to reduce this degrading effect as compared to In-rich oxides.