Abstract
Based on the first principles study, this paper investigates the control of the optical properties of GaN(0001) surface by metal atoms. The work was conducted with different kinds of metals (Ni, Ru, and Au) that are commonly used in experiments. The results show that charge transfer occurs from adatoms to GaN(0001) surface,and the work function of GaN(0001) surface is reduced by Ni and Ru adsorption. The impurity energy levels are introduced to the band gap of GaN(0001) surface, resulting in the reduction of barrier height of carrier transition, the optical properties are then modulated. The red shift of main peaks in the low photon energy region for all the optical parameters and the shrinkage phenomenon of all the optical curves in the high photon energy region are observed, the numbers and positions of characteristic peaks in all the optical curves change significantly. Furthermore, the absorption of GaN(0001) surface to visible light and even infrared light is enhanced after the adsorption of metal atoms, which is suitable for the longer wave light detection instead of UV detection.
GaN material occupies an important position in modern electronic and optoelectronic devices due to its advantages such as wide bandgap, excellent transmission characteristics, and the wavelength range from near infrared band to near ultraviolet band. GaN has low electron affinity, which can be used as field emission electron source. GaN based blue and green LED (light-emitting diode) and laser diode can be realized due to its wide direct bandga
Substitutional doping has been widely used to modulate the properties of GaN. For example, GaN exhibits p-type semiconductor characteristics by Be or Mg doping, and GaN exhibits n-type semiconductor characteristics by Si dopin
In this study, different metals (Ni, Ru, and Au) that are commonly used in experiments are selected to adsorb on the GaN(0001) surface to tune its photoelectric properties through the first principles calculation. The optical properties have been investigated through the hybridization of electronic states and the electron transition theory. Collectively, the results may well provide an especially useful framework for the application of GaN(0001) surface in optoelectronic field.
In this paper, the Cambridge Sequential Total Energy Package (CASTEP) module is adopted to calculate the electronic structure, work function, and optical properties of metal atom adsorbed GaN(0001). Simulations are performed under generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange and correlation. In the process of structure optimization, 450eV mesh cutoff energy is set for the expansion of plane wave basis sets and the convergence criteria is set to 5×1
A 4×4×3 supercell of the GaN(0001) surface structure is constructed as shown in

Fig.1 The 4×4×3 structures of (a) pristine GaN(0001) surface, and (b) GaN(0001) surface adsorbed with metal atom. (Adatoms occupy the center of the hexagon)
图1 4×4×3 GaN(0001) 表面的(a)本征结构和(b)吸附金属原子的结构(吸附原子占据六角的中心)
For the GaN(0001) surface adsorbed with metal atom, the vertical distance between the adatom and the GaN(0001) surface is an important parameter. When the vertical distance between the adatom and the GaN(0001) surface is much longer than the bond length between N and Ga, there is no interaction between the adatom and the GaN(0001) surface. The vertical distance between the atoms and the GaN(0001) surface is less than the bond length between N and Ga, the bond length between N and Ga below the adatom increases as the adsorption distance decreases, the interaction between adatom and GaN(0001) surface is enhanced so that more charges transfer between them, the strength of orbital hybridization at the Fermi level of the GaN(0001) surface is enhanced at the same time. When the vertical distance between the adatom and the GaN(0001) surface is much smaller than the bond length between the N and Ga, the adatom will be transferred to the GaN(0001) surface, thus the GaN(0001) surface structure is destroyed. Taking the above results into consideration, the vertical distance between adatoms and the GaN(0001) surface is set to 2 nm.
The binding energy of atoms adsorbed on the GaN(0001) surface can be defined as:
, | (1) |
where EGaN-nM is the total energy of the GaN(0001) surface adsorbed with metal atoms, EGaN is the total energy of the GaN(0001) surface, EM is the total energy of the free metal adatom, and n corresponds to the number of metal adatoms. The calculated binding energies of atoms adsorbed on the GaN(0001) surface are shown in
Charge transfer is another important feature in the adsorption process. The number of transferred charges is presented in

Fig. 2 Energy band structures of (a) pristine GaN(0001) surface, and(b-d) GaN(0001) surface absorbed with different metal atoms. The blue solid lines represent G point of the Brillouin zone, the blue dashed line at 0 eV represents the Fermi level
图2 (a)本征GaN(0001)表面以及(b-d)GaN(0001)表面吸附不同金属原子的能带结构。蓝色的实线代表布里渊区的G点,0 eV处的蓝色虚线代表费米能级

Fig. 3 PDOS of (a)pristine GaN(0001) surface, and (b-d) GaN(0001) surface absorbed with different metal atoms. The dashed line at 0 eV represents the Fermi level
图3 (a)本征GaN(0001)表面以及(b-d)GaN(0001)表面吸附不同金属原子的分波态密度。0 eV处的虚线代表费米能级
The work function (Φ) is an important parameter to determine the photoelectric properties of materials. Lower work function can improve the photoelectric properties of materials to some extent. The work function of any material can be defined as the energy required to remove an electron from the highest filled level in the Fermi distribution of a solid to vacuum at absolute zero. The calculated Φ of the pristine GaN(0001) surface is 4.483eV, which is in good agreement with the experimental value of (4.0 ± 0.2) eV
The optical constants, relating the microscopic model of physical process with the microelectronic structure of the solid that can better characterize the physical properties of the material, are mainly determined by the electronic structures and the carrier concentration near the Fermi level. The changes of the electronic structures of GaN(0001) surface caused by the adsorption of different metal atoms would influence its optical properties.

Fig. 4 Optical properties of GaN(0001) surface absorbed with different metal atoms (a) real part of dielectric function, (b) imaginary part of dielectric function, (c) absorption, (d) loss function, (e) reflectivity, and (f) real part of refractive index
图4 GaN(0001)表面吸附不同金属原子的光学性能 (a)介电函数的实部,(b)介电函数的虚部,(c)吸收率,(d)损失函数,(e)反射率,(f)折射率的实部
The electron energy loss spectrum (EELS) is defined as the amount of energy that an electron loses when it passes through a single medium.EELS describe the energy loss of electrons in a homogeneous medium.The peak value of EELS represents plasma turbulence, and the corresponding oscillation frequency is known as the plasma frequency.A single sharp peak of height 5.2 in the EELS is observed at 15.9 eV for the pristine GaN(0001) surface, corresponding to the transitions of carriers from N 2s state orbit within the valence band to orbit at CBM. The position of this peak represents the edge energy of plasma and indicates the transition point of the GaN(0001) surface from metallic properties to dielectric properties. For the GaN(0001) surface adsorbed with different metal atoms, a broaden main peak of EELS is observed, indicating the existence of other transition peaks of carriers near the edge peak of plasma. The height of the main peak is significantly reduced, indicating the reduction of plasma oscillations intensity; the position corresponding to the main peak of EELS shifts towards the direction of low photon energy region, indicating the reduction in transition height of carriers due to the existence of the impurity energy level in the band gap of the GaN(0001) surface. Furthermore, a new smaller plasma excitation peak in the photon energy region below the visible light region is observed, which corresponds to the transitions of carriers from impurity energy level (Ni 3d state orbit, Ru 4d state orbit, and Au 6s state orbit) to CBM or VBM.
There is a correlation between EELS and reflectivity R(ω), the peak of EELS corresponds to the sharp drop in the reflectivity curve. For the pristine GaN(0001) surface, the maximum reflectivity is 0.36 at the photon energy of 15.4 eV. A lot of reflection peaks in the photon energy range from 0 eV to 15.4 eV are observed, the reflectivity curve drops sharply over the photon energy range of 15.4 eV until 0 eV. For the GaN(0001) surface adsorbed with different metal atoms, the shrinkage phenomenon of the reflectivity curve in the high photon energy region is observed. The maximum reflectivity decreases dramatically, the position corresponding to maximum reflectivity peak shifts toward the direction of low photon energy region, and the number of reflectivity peaks decreases greatly. A slightly larger reflectivity peak at the 0 eV is observed, corresponding to the reflection of hybridization energy level due to the orbital hybridization between the GaN(0001) surface and adatoms at the Fermi level.
The optical parameter corresponding to the reflectivity is the refractive index.
The maximum n(ω) decreased to some extent, the position corresponding to maximum refraction peak shifts toward the direction of low photon energy region, and the number of refraction peaks in the curve decreases significantly. Furthermore, the refraction peak corresponding to the maximum refractive index appears at 0 eV, which is closely related to orbital hybridization between the GaN(0001) surface and adatoms at the Fermi level.
In summary, some metals that are commonly used in experiments (Ni, Ru, and Au) are adopted to tune the work function and optical properties of GaN(0001) surface through the first principle calculations. Based on the analysis of orbital hybridization and carrier transitions in the energy band structures and PDOS, the modulation mechanisms of optical properties of GaN(0001) surface by metal atoms adsorption are well understood. Some key parameters of the pristine GaN(0001) surface and the GaN(0001) surface adsorbed with different metal atoms are shown in
References
Ng D K T, Hong M H, Tan L S, et al. Field emission enhancement from patterned gallium nitride nano- wires [J]. Nanotechnol. 2007, 18: 375707. [百度学术]
Li E, Cui Z, Dai Y, et al. Synthesis and field emission properties of GaN nanowires [J]. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2011, 257 (24), 10850. [百度学术]
Nabi G, Cao C B, Husain S, et al. Synthesis, photoluminescence and field emission properties of well aligned/well patterned conical shape GaN nanorods [J]. Cryst. Eng. Comm. 2012, 14: 8492. [百度学术]
Cui Z, Li E. L, Shi W,et al. Growth and field emission properties of GaN nanopencils [J]. Ceram. Int. 2015, 41: 6074. [百度学术]
Cui Z, Ke X, Li E, et al. Electronic and optical properties of titanium-doped GaN nanowires [J]. Mater. Des. 2016, 96: 409. [百度学术]
Li B, Chang B. K, Xu Y,et al. Research and development of GaN photocathode [J]. Acta Phys. Sin. 2011, 60: 088503. [百度学术]
Li Y H, Pan H H, Xu P S. First-principle study on GaN(1010) surface structure [J]. Acta Phys. Sin. 2005, 54: 317. [百度学术]
Du Y J, Chang B K, Fu X Q, et al. Electronic structure and optical properties of zinc-blende GaN [J]. Optik. 2012, 123(24): 2208-2212. [百度学术]
Wang Y. J, Lu W. AlGaN/GaN FET for DNA hybridization detection [J]. Phys. Status Solidi. 2011, 208(7): 1623-1625. [百度学术]
Pang L, Kim K. Bimodal gate-dielectric deposition for improved performance of AlGaN/GaN metal–oxide–semiconductor high-electron-mobility transistors [J]. J. Phys. D. 2012, 45(4): 045105. [百度学术]
Hsu C S, Chen H I, Chang C F, et al. On the hydrogen sensing characteristics of a Pd/AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistor (HFET) [J]. Sens. Actuators B. 2012, 165(1): 19-23. [百度学术]
Bar-Llan A H, Zamir S, Katz O, et al. GaN layer growth optimization for high power devices [J]. Mater. Sci. Eng. A. 2001, 302(1): 14-17. [百度学术]
Nguyen T Q, Shih H A, Kudo M, et al. AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor heterojunction field-effect transistor with sputtering-deposited BN gate dielectric [J]. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 2012, 51(2): 19-23. [百度学术]
Kim D S, Im K S, Kang H S, et al. normally-off algan/gan metal--oxide--semiconductor heterostructure field-effect transistor with recessed gate and p-GaN back-barrier [J]. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 2012, 51(3): 4101. [百度学术]
Wu C I, Kahn A J. Electronic states and effective negative electron affinity at cesiated p-GaN surfaces [J]. Appl. Phys. 1999, 86(6): 3209-3212. [百度学术]
Machuca F, Sun Y, Liu Z, et al. Role of oxygen in semiconductor negative electron affinity photocathodes [J]. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B. 2002, 20(20): 2721-2725. [百度学术]
Maruyama T, Brachmann A, Clendenin J E, et al. Nucl. Instrum. A very high charge, high polarization gradient-doped strained GaAs photocathode [J]. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A. 2002, 492(1-2): 199-211. [百度学术]
Siegmund O, Vallerga J, Mcphate J, et al. Development of GaN photocathodes for UV detectors [J]. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A. 2006, 567(1): 89-92. [百度学术]
Gao C X, Yu F C, Choi A R, et al. A comparative study on Be and Mg doping in GaN films grown using a single GaN precursor via molecular beam epitaxy [J]. J. Cryst. Growth. 2006, 291(1): 60-65. [百度学术]
Kawaharazuka A, Tanimoto T, Nagai K, et al. Be and Mg co-doping in GaN [J]. J. Cryst. Growth, 2007, 301-302(4): 414-416. [百度学术]
Li S, Mo C, Wang L, et al. The influence of Si-doping to the growth rate and yellow luminescence of GaN grown by MOCVD [J]. J. Funct. Mater. Devices, 2001, 93(4): 321-326. [百度学术]
Furuhashi Y, Yoshida S, Ozaki D, et al. Electrical properties of n-type layers formed in GaN by Si implantation [J]. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. B. 2006, 242(1-2): 633-636. [百度学术]
Li D, Ma B, Miyagawa R, et al. Photoluminescence study of Si-doped a-plane GaN grown by MOVPE [J]. J. Cryst. Growth. 2009, 311(10): 2906-2909. [百度学术]
Ji Y J, Du Y J, Wang M H. First-principles studies of electronic structure and optical properties of GaN surface doped with Si [J]. Optik, 2014, 125(10): 2234-2238. [百度学术]
Svane A, Christensen N E, Petit L, et al. Electronic structure of rare-earth impurities in GaAs and GaN [J]. Phys. Rev. B. 2006, 74: 165204. [百度学术]
Sanna S, Schmidt W. G, Frauenheim T,et al. Rare-earth defect pairs in GaN: LDA+ U calculations [J]. Phys. Rev. B. 2009, 80(10): 104120. [百度学术]
Tom H W K, Mate C M, Zhu X D, et al. Studies of alkali adsorption on Rh(111) using optical second-harmonic generation [J]. Surf. Sci. 1986, 172(2): 466-476. [百度学术]
Kiejna A, Ossowski T, Wachowicz E. Alkali metals adsorption on the Mg(0001) surface [J]. Surf. Sci. 2004, 548(1-3): 22-28. [百度学术]
Jin K H, Choi S M, Jhi S. H. Crossover in the adsorption properties of alkali metals on graphene [J]. Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter. 2010, 82: 033414. [百度学术]
Sahin H, Peeters F M. Adsorption of alkali, alkaline-earth, and 3d transition metal atoms on silicene [J]. Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter. 2013, 87(8): 218-224. [百度学术]
Sun M, Tang W, Ren Q, et al. First-principles study of the alkali earth metal atoms adsorption on graphene [J]. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2015, 356: 668-673. [百度学术]
Xia S. H, Liu L, Kong Y. K,et al. Study of Cs adsorption on (100) surface of [001]-oriented GaN nanowires: A first principle research [J]. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2016, 387: 1110-1115. [百度学术]
Benemanskaya G V, Vikhnin V S, Shmidt N M, et al. Electron accumulation layer at the Cs-covered GaN(0001) n-type surface [J]. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2004, 85(8): 1365-1367. [百度学术]
Du Y J, Chang B K, Wang X H, et al. Theoretical study of Cs adsorption on GaN (0 0 0 1) surface [J]. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2012, 258: 7425. [百度学术]
Wang Z G, Zhang C L, Li J B, et al. Weber. First principles study of electronic properties of gallium nitride nanowires grown along different crystal directions [J]. Comput. Mater. Sci. 2010, 50: 344-348. [百度学术]
Kampen T U, Eyckelerr M, Monch W. Electronic properties of cesium-covered GaN(0001) surfaces [J]. Appl. Surf. Sci. 1998,123-124(1):28-32. [百度学术]
Gonzalez-Hernandez R, Lopez-Perez W. Vanadium adsorption and incorporation at the GaN(0001) surface: A first-principles study [J]. Rev. B. 2010, 81: 195407. [百度学术]