Papers by Author: Brenda L. VanMil

Abstract: The effects of proton irradiation on uv 4H-SiC single photon avalanche photodiodes (SPADs) are reported. The SPADs, grown by chemical vapor deposition, were designed for uv operation with dark count rates (DCR) of about 30 kHz and single photon detection efficiency (SPDE) of 4.89%. The SPADs were irradiated with 2 MeV protons to a fluence of 1012 cm-2. After irradiation, the I-V characteristics show forward voltage (<1.9 V) generation-recombination currents 2 to 3 times higher than before irradiation. Single photon counting measurements imply generation-recombination centers created in the band gap after irradiation. For threshold voltage ranging from 23 to 26 mV, the 4H-SiC SPAD showed low DCR (<54 kHz) and high SPDE (>1%) after irradiation. The SPADs demonstrated proton radiation tolerance for geosynchronous space applications.

Abstract: The effectiveness of an in-situ growth interrupt in nitrogen doped 8° off-cut epilayers was investigated using ultraviolet photoluminescence imaging. Low-doped n-type epilayers (<1016 cm-3) exhibited an abrupt increase in BPD to TED conversion at the growth interrupt and achieved 96-99% conversion overall (< 10 BPDs/cm-2), while high-doped epilayers had minimal conversion at the interrupt (< 1%) and overall (< 30%). This large discrepancy suggests nitrogen prohibits or alters the conversion mechanism at the growth interrupt. Therefore, a novel SEM technique was developed to "freeze-in" the interface morphology and help elucidate the conversion mechanism. Preliminary results suggest that preferential etching at the point of BPD intersection with the surface is greatly reduced in highly doped layers, which inhibits the conversion mechanism.

Abstract: The recently developed technique of UVPL imaging has been used to track the path of basal plane dislocations (BPDs) in SiC epitaxial layers. The glide of BPDs during epitaxial growth has been observed and the role of this glide in forming half-loop arrays has been examined. The ability to track the path of BPDs through the epitaxy has made it possible to develop a BPD reduction process for epitaxy grown on 8° offcut wafers, which uses an in situ growth interrupt and has achieved a BPD reduction of > 98%. The images also provide insight into the strong BPD reduction that typically occurs in epitaxy grown on 4° offcut wafers.

Abstract: The temperature dependence of the carrier lifetime was measured in n-type 4H-SiC epilayers of varying Z1/2 deep defect concentrations and layer thicknesses in order to investigate the recombination processes controlling the carrier lifetime in low- Z1/2 material. The results indicate that in more recently grown layers with lower deep defect concentrations, surface recombination tends to dominate over carrier capture by other bulk defects. Low-injection lifetime measurements were also found to provide a convenient method to assess the surface band bending and surface trap density in samples with a significant surface recombination rate.

Abstract: This work reports 4H-SiC bipolar junction transistor (BJT) results based upon our first intentionally graded base BJT wafer with both base and emitter epi-layers continuously grown in the same reactor. The 4H-SiC BJTs were designed to improve the common emitter current gain through the built-in electrical fields originating from the grading of the base doping. Continuously-grown epi-layers are also believed to be the key to increasing carrier lifetime and high current gains. The 4H-SiC BJT wafer was grown in an Aixtron/Epigress VP508, a horizontal hot-wall chemical vapor deposition reactor using standard silane/propane chemistry and nitrogen and aluminum dopants. High performance 4H-SiC BJTs based on this initial non-optimized graded base doping have been demonstrated, including a 4H-SiC BJT with a DC current gain of ~33, specific on-resistance of 2.9 mcm2, and blocking voltage VCEO of over 1000 V.

Abstract: Knoop microhardness assessments were conducted on a variety of 6H- and 4H-SiC substrates to assess any appreciable differences that may need to be considered in wafer manufacture and general application. Nitrogen-doped, vanadium-doped and unintentionally doped (UID) substrates with both on-axis and 8° off-axis orientations were assessed. In general, the Knoop hardness values fell in the 2000 to 2500 kg/mm2 range (equivalent to approximately 20 to 25 GPa). Hardness values measured in the <1100> crystal direction were significantly higher than in the <11-20> direction. Undoped and vanadium-doped samples were harder than nitrogen-doped samples. For both 6H and 4H nitrogen-doped samples, the hardness was as much as 10% higher for 8° offcut wafers than for on-axis.

Abstract: Graphene layers were created on both C and Si faces of semi-insulating, on-axis, 4H- and 6H-SiC substrates. The process was performed under high vacuum (<10-4 mbar) in a commercial chemical vapor deposition SiC reactor. A method for H2 etching the on-axis substrates was developed to produce surface steps with heights of 0.5 nm on the Si-face and 1.0 to 1.5 nm on the C-face for each polytype. A process was developed to form graphene on the substrates immediately after H2 etching and Raman spectroscopy of these samples confirmed the formation of graphene. The morphology of the graphene is described. For both faces, the underlying substrate morphology was significantly modified during graphene formation; surface steps were up to 15 nm high and the uni-form step morphology was sometimes lost. Mobilities and sheet carrier concentrations derived from Hall Effect measurements on large area (16 mm square) and small area (2 and 10 m square) samples are presented and shown to compare favorably to recent reports.

Abstract: Epitaxial layers were grown on 4° off-axis 4H-SiC substrates by hot-wall chemical vapor deposition. The reduced off-cut angle resulted in lower basal plane dislocation (BPD) densities. The dependence of BPD reduction on growth conditions was investigated using ultraviolet photoluminescence (UVPL) imaging. With this method, it was found that the dislocations were converting to threading edge dislocations throughout the thickness of the film. A high (≥ 97%) conversion efficiency was found for all films grown with this orientation. A conversion of 100% was achieved for several films without pre-growth treatments or growth interrupts.

Abstract: Conversion of basal plane dislocations (BPD) to threading edge dislocations (TED) in 8° off-cut 4H-SiC within an n+ buffer layer would eliminate the nucleation site for Shockley-type stacking faults in active device regions grown on such buffer layers. To that end, the propagation and conversion of BPDs through in situ growth interrupts is monitored using ultraviolet photoluminescence (UVPL) wafer mapping. The optimized growth interrupt scheme lasts for 45 minutes with a propane mass flow of 10 sccm at growth temperature. This scheme has shown a conversion efficiency of up to 99% for samples with electron (hole) concentrations < 5x1014 cm-3 (8x1015 cm-3). Samples subjected to a 45 or 90 minute interrupt under 10 sccm of propane, regardless of conversion efficiency, exhibit a “slit” in the surface morphology associated with each BPD and oriented perpendicular to the off-cut and BPD propagation direction. Repetition of the optimal interrupt sequence with a 5 μm epilayer spacer grown between the two interrupts resulted in the same conversion efficiency as a single optimal growth interrupt. Incorporation of the optimal interrupt into an n+ layer is more complicated as attempts to do so in layers doped with nitrogen to 2x1018, 2x1017 and 2x1016 cm-3 resulted in conversion efficiencies of ~6%.

Abstract: This paper reports a 4H-SiC single photo avalanche diode (SPAD) operating at the solar blind wavelength of 280 nm. The SPAD has an avalanche breakdown voltage of 114V. At 90% and 95% of the breakdown voltage, the SPAD shows a low dark current of 57.2fA and 159fA, respectively. The quantum efficiency of 29.8% at 280nm and <0.007% at 400nm indicates a high UV-to-visible rejection ratio of >4300. Single photon counting measurement at 280nm shows that a single photon detection efficiency of 2.83% with a low dark count rate of 22kHz is achieved at the avalanche breakdown voltage of 116.8V.