Effects of Potassium Adsorption and Potassium–Water Coadsorption on the Chemical and Electronic Properties of n-Type GaN(0001) Surfaces

The interaction of n-type GaN(0001) surfaces with potassium and water is investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy, with special focus on adsorbate–substrate charge-transfer processes and water dissociation. Potassium atoms adsorb at the surface, forming a distinct surface dipole layer. For very low K coverage, the attached ionized K adsorbates result in a drop of the work function and the released electrons induce a reduction of the initial upward band bending. After stabilization of both quantities in the sub-monolayer regime, a reverse effect is observed for higher K coverage up to one monolayer (ML), exceeding the upward band bending of the clean surface. If the K-covered surface is exposed to water, hydroxyl groups are formed, whereas during long K and H2O coadsorption, a potassium hydroxide film grows. In both cases, a further reduction of the work function and an abrupt change in the surface depletion layer is recorded. For the coadsorption, initially an electron accumulation layer forms at the...