Band alignment at InP/TiO₂ interfaces from density-functional theory

The natural band alignments between indium phosphide and the main dioxides of titanium, i.e. rutile, anatase, and brookite as well as amorphous titania are calculated from the branch-point energies of the respective materials. Irrespective of the titania polymorph considered, type-I band alignment is predicted. This may change, however, in dependence on the microscopic interface structure: supercell calculations for amorphous titania grown on P-rich InP(001) surfaces result in a titania conduction band that nearly aligns with that of InP. Depending on the interface specifics, both type-I band and type-II band alignments are observed in the simulations. This agrees with recent experimental findings.