Two-dimensional electron or hole gas at ZnO/6H-SiC interface

Abstract

Electronic structures of ZnO(0001)/6H-SiC(0001) interfaces are investigated using first-principles method. Two-dimensional charge carriers are found at the interfaces. Depending on the interface structure, the type of charge carriers can be n -type if oxygen terminated ZnO(0001) is grown on SiC and p -type when the interface is formed with Zn-terminated ZnO and C-terminated SiC. The interface formed with Zn-terminated ZnO and Si-terminated SiC is found to be half-metallic. Intrinsic charge carriers at the interface of the two wide gap semiconductors could be useful for future oxide-based electronics and spintronics. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.