Papers by Author: David Méndez

Abstract: The effect of the temperature at which the carbon source is introduced in the reactor on the early stages of the carbonization process is analyzed here. Three samples heated up to 1150°C with propane introduction temperatures (Tintro) of 725, 1030 and 1100°C are analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and attenuated total reflectance. The size of the SiC nuclei increases with Tintro. There is also an effect on the strain of the resulting carbonization layer. The electron diffraction pattern of the sample with the highest Tintro shows a fully relaxed 3C-SiC layer, while no evidence of SiC relaxation is present in low Tintro samples where the SiC islands seems to be pseudomorphic.

Abstract: One of the problems with Si(001)/3C-SiC templates is that they involve highly defective interfaces due to the presence of misfit dislocations, voids and planar defects that degrade the SiC layer quality. A way to accommodate the high lattice mismatch between these materials and reduce the voids density is to carbonize the Si substrate before the epitaxial growth. In this contribution an alternative way to reduce planar defects density is presented by analyzing the relationship between planar defects and voids. Planar view and cross section transmission electron microscopy micrographs show a diminution of planar defects in the regions surrounding the voids. Due to the lower elastic energy over the voids and/or to a lateral growth in these regions, the generation of planar defects is partially deactivated, improving locally the crystalline quality of the SiC layer. The introduction of such cavities can be thus seen as a new parameter of Si/SiC templates design.