CVD growth of SiC for high-power and high-frequency applications

CVD growth of SiC for high-power and high-frequency applications PDF Author: Robin Karhu
Publisher: Linköping University Electronic Press
ISBN: 9176851494
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 40

Get Book Here

Book Description
Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a wide bandgap semiconductor that has attracted a lot of interest for electronic applications due to its high thermal conductivity, high saturation electron drift velocity and high critical electric field strength. In recent years commercial SiC devices have started to make their way into high and medium voltage applications. Despite the advancements in SiC growth over the years, several issues remain. One of these issues is that the bulk grown SiC wafers are not suitable for electronic applications due to the high background doping and high density of basal plane dislocations (BPD). Due to these problems SiC for electronic devices must be grown by homoepitaxy. The epitaxial growth is performed in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors. In this work, growth has been performed in a horizontal hot-wall CVD (HWCVD) reactor. In these reactors it is possible to produce high-quality SiC epitaxial layers within a wide range of doping, both n- and p-type. SiC is a well-known example of polytypism, where the different polytypes exist as different stacking sequences of the Si-C bilayers. Polytypism makes polytype stability a problem during growth of SiC. To maintain polytype stability during homoepitaxy of the hexagonal polytypes the substrates are usually cut so that the angle between the surface normal and the c-axis is a few degrees, typically 4 or 8°. The off-cut creates a high density of micro-steps at the surface. These steps allow for the replication of the substrates polytype into the growing epitaxial layer, the growth will take place in a step-flow manner. However, there are some drawbacks with step-flow growth. One is that BPDs can replicate from the substrate into the epitaxial layer. Another problem is that 4H-SiC is often used as a substrate for growth of GaN epitaxial layers. The epitaxial growth of GaN has been developed on on-axis substrates (surface normal coincides with c-axis), so epitaxial 4H-SiC layers grown on off-axis substrates cannot be used as substrates for GaN epitaxial growth. In efforts to solve the problems with off-axis homoepitaxy of 4H-SiC, on-axis homoepitaxy has been developed. In this work, further development of wafer-scale on-axis homoepitaxy has been made. This development has been made on a Si-face of 4H-SiC substrates. The advances include highly resistive epilayers grown on on-axis substrates. In this thesis the ability to control the surface morphology of epitaxial layers grown on on-axis homoepitaxy is demonstrated. This work also includes growth of isotopically enriched 4H-SiC on on-axis substrates, this has been done to increase the thermal conductivity of the grown epitaxial layers. In (paper 1) on-axis homoepitaxy of 4H-SiC has been developed on 100 mm diameter substrates. This paper also contains comparisons between different precursors. In (paper 2) we have further developed on-axis homoepitaxy on 100 mm diameter wafers, by doping the epitaxial layers with vanadium. The vanadium doping of the epitaxial layers makes the layers highly resistive and thus suitable to use as a substrate for III-nitride growth. In (paper 3) we developed a method to control the surface morphology and reduce the as-grown surface roughness in samples grown on on-axis substrates. In (paper 4) we have increased the thermal conductivity of 4H-SiC epitaxial layers by growing the layers using isotopically enriched precursors. In (paper 5) we have investigated the role chlorine have in homoepitaxial growth of 4H-SiC. In (paper 6) we have investigated the charge carrier lifetime in as-grown samples and traced variations in lifetime to structural defects in the substrate. In (paper 7) we have investigated the formation mechanism of a morphological defect in homoepitaxial grown 4H-SiC.

Fundamentals of Silicon Carbide Technology

Fundamentals of Silicon Carbide Technology PDF Author: Tsunenobu Kimoto
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118313550
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 565

Get Book Here

Book Description
A comprehensive introduction and up-to-date reference to SiC power semiconductor devices covering topics from material properties to applications Based on a number of breakthroughs in SiC material science and fabrication technology in the 1980s and 1990s, the first SiC Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) were released as commercial products in 2001. The SiC SBD market has grown significantly since that time, and SBDs are now used in a variety of power systems, particularly switch-mode power supplies and motor controls. SiC power MOSFETs entered commercial production in 2011, providing rugged, high-efficiency switches for high-frequency power systems. In this wide-ranging book, the authors draw on their considerable experience to present both an introduction to SiC materials, devices, and applications and an in-depth reference for scientists and engineers working in this fast-moving field. Fundamentals of Silicon Carbide Technology covers basic properties of SiC materials, processing technology, theory and analysis of practical devices, and an overview of the most important systems applications. Specifically included are: A complete discussion of SiC material properties, bulk crystal growth, epitaxial growth, device fabrication technology, and characterization techniques. Device physics and operating equations for Schottky diodes, pin diodes, JBS/MPS diodes, JFETs, MOSFETs, BJTs, IGBTs, and thyristors. A survey of power electronics applications, including switch-mode power supplies, motor drives, power converters for electric vehicles, and converters for renewable energy sources. Coverage of special applications, including microwave devices, high-temperature electronics, and rugged sensors. Fully illustrated throughout, the text is written by recognized experts with over 45 years of combined experience in SiC research and development. This book is intended for graduate students and researchers in crystal growth, material science, and semiconductor device technology. The book is also useful for design engineers, application engineers, and product managers in areas such as power supplies, converter and inverter design, electric vehicle technology, high-temperature electronics, sensors, and smart grid technology.

CVD Growth of Silicon Carbide for High Frequency Applications

CVD Growth of Silicon Carbide for High Frequency Applications PDF Author: Urban Forsberg
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789173730815
Category : Silicon carbide
Languages : en
Pages : 184

Get Book Here

Book Description


CVD solutions for new directions in SiC and GaN epitaxy

CVD solutions for new directions in SiC and GaN epitaxy PDF Author: Xun Li
Publisher: Linköping University Electronic Press
ISBN: 9175190842
Category : Gallium nitride
Languages : en
Pages : 57

Get Book Here

Book Description
This thesis aims to develop a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process for the new directions in both silicon carbon (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) epitaxial growth. The properties of the grown epitaxial layers are investigated in detail in order to have a deep understanding. SiC is a promising wide band gap semiconductor material which could be utilized for fabricating high-power and high-frequency devices. 3C-SiC is the only polytype with a cubic structure and has superior physical properties over other common SiC polytypes, such as high hole/electron mobility and low interface trap density with oxide. Due to lack of commercial native substrates, 3C-SiC is mainly grown on the cheap silicon (Si) substrates. However, there’s a large mismatch in both lattice constants and thermal expansion coefficients leading to a high density of defects in the epitaxial layers. In paper 1, the new CVD solution for growing high quality double-position-boundaries free 3C-SiC using on-axis 4H-SiC substrates is presented. Reproducible growth parameters, including temperature, C/Si ratio, ramp-up condition, Si/H2 ratio, N2 addition and pressure, are covered in this study. GaN is another attractive wide band gap semiconductor for power devices and optoelectronic applications. In the GaN-based transistors, carbon is often exploited to dope the buffer layer to be semi-insulating in order to isolate the device active region from the substrate. The conventional way is to use the carbon atoms on the gallium precursor and control the incorporation by tuning the process parameters, e.g. temperature, pressure. However, there’s a risk of obtaining bad morphology and thickness uniformity if the CVD process is not operated in an optimal condition. In addition, carbon source from the graphite insulation and improper coated graphite susceptor may also contribute to the doping in a CVD reactor, which is very difficult to be controlled in a reproducible way. Therefore, in paper 2, intentional carbon doping of (0001) GaN using six hydrocarbon precursors, i.e. methane (CH4), ethylene (C2H4), acetylene (C2H2), propane (C3H8), iso-butane (i-C4H10) and trimethylamine (N(CH3)3), have been explored. In paper 3, propane is chosen for carbon doping when growing the high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structure on a quarter of 3-inch 4H-SiC wafer. The quality of epitaxial layer and fabricated devices is evaluated. In paper 4, the behaviour of carbon doping using carbon atoms from the gallium precursor, trimethylgallium (Ga(CH3)3), is explained by thermochemical and quantum chemical modelling and compared with the experimental results. GaN is commonly grown on foreign substrates, such as sapphire (Al2O3), Si and SiC, resulting in high stress and high threading dislocation densities. Hence, bulk GaN substrates are preferred for epitaxy. In paper 5, the morphological, structural and luminescence properties of GaN epitaxial layers grown on N-face free-standing GaN substrates are studied since the N-face GaN has advantageous characteristics compared to the Ga-face GaN. In paper 6, time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) technique is used to study the properties of AlGaN/GaN epitaxial layers grown on both Ga-face and N-face free-standing GaN substrates. A PL line located at ~3.41 eV is only emerged on the sample grown on the Ga-face substrate, which is suggested to associate with two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) emission.

Advancing Silicon Carbide Electronics Technology I

Advancing Silicon Carbide Electronics Technology I PDF Author: Konstantinos Zekentes
Publisher: Materials Research Forum LLC
ISBN: 1945291850
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 249

Get Book Here

Book Description
The rapidly advancing Silicon Carbide technology has a great potential in high temperature and high frequency electronics. High thermal stability and outstanding chemical inertness make SiC an excellent material for high-power, low-loss semiconductor devices. The present volume presents the state of the art of SiC device fabrication and characterization. Topics covered include: SiC surface cleaning and etching techniques; electrical characterization methods and processing of ohmic contacts to silicon carbide; analysis of contact resistivity dependence on material properties; limitations and accuracy of contact resistivity measurements; ohmic contact fabrication and test structure design; overview of different metallization schemes and processing technologies; thermal stability of ohmic contacts to SiC, their protection and compatibility with device processing; Schottky contacts to SiC; Schottky barrier formation; Schottky barrier inhomogeneity in SiC materials; technology and design of 4H-SiC Schottky and Junction Barrier Schottky diodes; Si/SiC heterojunction diodes; applications of SiC Schottky diodes in power electronics and temperature/light sensors; high power SiC unipolar and bipolar switching devices; different types of SiC devices including material and technology constraints on device performance; applications in the area of metal contacts to silicon carbide; status and prospects of SiC power devices.

Silicon Carbide

Silicon Carbide PDF Author: Wolfgang J. Choyke
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642188702
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 911

Get Book Here

Book Description
Since the 1997 publication of "Silicon Carbide - A Review of Fundamental Questions and Applications to Current Device Technology" edited by Choyke, et al., there has been impressive progress in both the fundamental and developmental aspects of the SiC field. So there is a growing need to update the scientific community on the important events in research and development since then. The editors have again gathered an outstanding team of the world's leading SiC researchers and design engineers to write on the most recent developments in SiC.

Advances in Silicon Carbide Processing and Applications

Advances in Silicon Carbide Processing and Applications PDF Author: Stephen E. Saddow
Publisher: Artech House
ISBN: 9781580537414
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 236

Get Book Here

Book Description
Learn the latest advances in SiC (Silicon Carbide) technology from the leading experts in the field with this new cutting-edge resource. The book is your single source for in-depth information on both SiC device fabrication and system-level applications. This comprehensive reference begins with an examination of how SiC is grown and how defects in SiC growth can affect working devices. Key issues in selective doping of SiC via ion implantation are covered with special focus on implant conditions and electrical activation of implants. SiC applications discussed include chemical sensors, motor-control components, high-temperature gas sensors, and high-temperature electronics. By cutting through the arcane data and jargon surrounding the hype on SiC, this book gives an honest assessment of today's SiC technology and shows you how SiC can be adopted in developing tomorrow's applications.

Microelectronics, Microsystems And Nanotechnology: Papers Presented Of At Mmn 2000

Microelectronics, Microsystems And Nanotechnology: Papers Presented Of At Mmn 2000 PDF Author: Androula G Nassiopoulou
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814489999
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 409

Get Book Here

Book Description
This volume contains papers on the following: CMOS devices and devices based on compound semiconductors; processing; silicon integrated technology and integrated circuit design; quantum physics; nanotechnology; nanodevices, sensors and microsystems. The latest news and future challenges in these fields are presented in invited papers.

Design and Implementation of a 200mm 3C-SiC CVD Reactor

Design and Implementation of a 200mm 3C-SiC CVD Reactor PDF Author: Christopher L. Frewin
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description
ABSTRACT: Silicon carbide, SiC, is a semiconductor material which has many diverse uses in many of today's leading technologies. The wide band-gap aspect of the material has been utilized to create power and high frequency electronics, its physical hardness enables its use for MEMS devices, and the biological compatibility make perfect for utilization in medical applications. SiC is not a chemical compound normally found in nature and must be artificially generated. One of the methods used for the creation of single crystal, high quality SiC material is provided through the use of a chemical vapor deposition reactor. The University of South Florida currently has a horizontal hot-wallLPCVD reactor used by Dr. S.E. Saddow and his group to grow epitaxial SiC material for research grants by ONR and ARL. These agencies have commissioned the construction of a second LPCVD reactor for the primary purpose of growing 3C-SiC, a specific SiC crystal polytype, and this work describes the fabrication of the new reactor, MF2. This reactor was designed using the first reactor, MF1, as a template, but the design was modified to better facilitate single crystalline growth. The environment of the reactor is a very important consideration for crystal growth, and slight variations can cause critical defect incorporation into the crystal lattice. Many conditioning runs were required to facilitate the epitaxial growth of the different polytypes of SiC, and constant switching of the primary hot-zone required for the growth of hexagonal 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC to the hot zone required for 3C-SiC consumed precious resources and time. The new reactor uses a single primary control to monitor the three most important environmental concerns; hot-zone temperature, gaseous flow, and chamber pressure. The new reactor has been designed to use 100 mm Si substrates instead of the 50mm Si substrate size currently in use by MF1. The construction, testing, and 3C-SiC epitaxial growth on Si substrate capability of a 200 mm 3C-SiC hot-wall LPCVD reactor are demonstrated through this work.

Wide Energy Bandgap Electronic Devices

Wide Energy Bandgap Electronic Devices PDF Author: Fan Ren
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812382461
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 526

Get Book Here

Book Description
Presents state-of-the-art GaN and SiC electronic devices, as well as detailed applications of these devices to power conditioning, r. f. base station infrastructure and high temperature electronics.