Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of fabricating a semiconductor thin film, comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate having a surface consisting of a single crystal of Si; removing an oxide film from the surface of the substrate and terminating dangling bonds of Si atoms on the surface with hydrogen atoms; forming an initial layer of at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, and In on the substrate terminated with the hydrogen atoms; forming a buffer layer containing at least In and Sb on the initial layer; and forming a semiconductor thin film containing at least In and Sb on said buffer layer at a temperature higher than a temperature at which said buffer layer is started to be formed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of fabricating a semiconductor thin film, comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate having a surface consisting of a single crystal of Si; removing an oxide film from the surface of the substrate and terminating dangling bonds of Si atoms on the surface with hydrogen atoms; forming an initial layer of at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, and In on the substrate terminated with the hydrogen atoms; forming a buffer layer containing at least In and Sb on the initial layer; and forming a semiconductor thin film containing at least In and Sb on said buffer layer at a temperature higher than a temperature at which said buffer layer is started to be formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein (A) said initial layer is formed of Al to a thickness of 0.1 to 3 nm; (B) said buffer layer is started to be formed at a temperature of 250°-430° C.; and (C) said semiconductor thin film is formed at a temperature of 370°-460° C. higher than said temperature at which said buffer layer is started to be formed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein (A) said initial layer is formed of Ga to a thickness of 0.1 to 2 nm; (B) said buffer layer is started to be formed at a temperature of 250°-400° C.; and (C) said semiconductor thin film is formed at a temperature of 370°460° C. higher than said temperature at which said buffer layer is started to be formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein (A) said initial layer is formed out of In to a thickness of 0.1 to 2 nm; (B) said buffer layer is started to be formed at a temperature of 250°-350° C.; and (C) said semiconductor thin film is formed at a temperature of 370°-460° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buffer layer consists of In and Sb.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buffer layer consists of Al, In, and Sb, and wherein said Al has a proportion decreasing with increasing thickness of said buffer layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buffer layer consists of Ga, In, and Sb.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a proportion of Al, In, and Sb of the buffer layer varies continuously or in a stepwise fashion from an interface with said initial layer to an interface with said semiconductor thin film, from a proportion of those of the initial layer to a proportion of those of the semiconductor thin film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buffer layer is formed while maintaining said temperature at which said buffer layer is started to be formed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said buffer layer is formed in such a way that a ratio of a number of evaporated Sb particles to a number of evaporated In particles is increased with increasing thickness of said buffer layer and then temperature of said substrate is elevated at least to 370° C. at a rate exceeding 0.5° C./sec.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buffer layer is formed in such a way that temperature of said substrate is elevated with increasing thickness of said buffer layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buffer layer is formed in such a way that temperature of said substrate is descended with increasing thickness of the buffer layer, and then the substrate is elevated at least to 370° C. at a rate exceeding 0.5° C./sec.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said semiconductor thin film consists only of indium antimonide or consists of a mixed crystal between indium antimonide and at least one selected from the group consisting of indium phosphide, indium arsenide, indium bismuthide, and Ga antimonide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for fabricating a Hall-effect device, comprising the steps of: forming a semiconductor thin film by making use of the method of claim 1; and attaching electrodes to said semiconductor thin film.