Growth of SiC Boules with Low Boron Concentration

The effects of growth conditions, diffusion barrier coatings, and hot zone materials on B incorporation in 6H-SiC crystals grown by physical vapor transport (PVT) were evaluated. Development of high purity source material with a B concentration less than 1.8x1015 atoms/cm3, was critical to the growth of boules with a B concentration less than 3.0x1016 atoms/cm3. Application of refractory metal carbide coatings to commercial graphite to serve as boron diffusion barriers and the use of very high purity pyrolytic graphite components ultimately led to the growth of SiC boules with boron concentrations as low as 2.4x1015 atoms/cm3. The effect of growth temperature and pressure were closely examined over a range from 2100°C to 2300°C and 5 to 13.5 Torr. This range of growth conditions and growth rates had no effect on B incorporation. Attempts to alter the gas phase stoichiometry through addition of hydrogen gas to the growth environment also had no impact on B incorporation. These results are explained by considering site competition effects and the ability of B to diffuse through the graphite growth cell components.