Valence band-anticrossing in GaP1−xBix dilute bismide alloys: giant bowing of the band gap and spin-orbit splitting energy

Using spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements on GaP1−xBix/GaP epitaxial layers up to x = 3.7% we observe a giant bowing of the direct band gap (EgΓ) and valence band spin-orbit splitting energy (∆SO). EgΓ (∆SO) is measured to decrease (increase) by approximately 200 meV (240 meV) with the incorporation of 1% Bi, corresponding to a greater than fourfold increase in ∆SO in going from GaP to GaP0.99Bi0.01. The evolution of EgΓ and ∆SO with x is characterised by strong, composition-dependent bowing. We demonstrate that a simple valence band-anticrossing model, parametrised directly from atomistic supercell calculations, quantitatively describes the measured evolution of EgΓ and ∆SO with x. In contrast to the well-studied GaAs1−xBix alloy, in GaP1−xBix substitutional Bi creates localised impurity states lying energetically within the GaP host matrix band gap. This leads to the emergence of an optically active band of Bi-hybridised states, accounting for the overall large bowing of EgΓ and ∆SO and in particular for the giant bowing observed for x <= 1%. Our analysis provides insight into the action of Bi as an isovalent impurity, and constitutes the first detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the GaP1−xBix alloy band structure.Data for paper published at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43142-