Papers by Author: E.N. Mokhov

Abstract: Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at X-band (9.4 GHz) and Q-band (35 GHz) have been used to study defects in two samples of AlN monocrystals, grown by a sublimation sandwich method. These investigations reveal the presence of Fe2+ impurities in the reddish sample. The spectra of substitutional Fe2+ are highly anisotropic and could be observed even up to the room temperature. After illumination the signals showing the DX behavior were detected in the same sample. We assume these signals to arise due to the presence of the shallow donor center namely the isolated substitutional oxygen ON occupying the nitrogen position. In the second slightly amber-coloured sample EPR measurements before and after X-ray showed the presence of a deep-donor center which was assumed to be nitrogen vacancy VN. Based on thermoluminescence measurements the depth of the level was estimated to 0.45-0.5 eV.

Abstract: High concentration of two types of P donors up to 1017 cm-3 in SiC enriched with 30Si after neutron transmutation doping (NTD) has been achieved. It was established that annealing at sufficiently low temperature of 1300oC, that is 500-600°C lower compared with annealing of NTD SiC with natural isotope composition, gives rise to the EPR signal of shallow P donors, labeled sPc1, sPc2 and sPh. The correlated changes of the EPR spectra of the three sP centres in all the experiments and the qualitative similarities with spectra of shallow N donors prove that these centres have shallow donor levels and a similar electronic structure and belong to different lattice sites. The annealing at 1700°C results in a transformation of one type of P donors (sPc1, sPc2 and sPh) into another type having low temperature EPR spectra labeled dP.

Abstract: Scandium can be used to influence the stoichiometry of SiC during growth of the hexagonal polytypes. Using PL-EPR and total energy calculations in the framework of density functional theory, scandium is predicted to be built in predominantly at the Si-sublattice in form of ScSi acceptors with acceptor levels at 0.55 eV (6H-SiC) and 0.48 eV (4H-SiC). In addition, new PL-EPR spectra are found with a large anisotropy in the g-tensor suggesting defect pairs as an origin.

Abstract: D-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements as well as X and Q-band field-swept Electron Spin Echo (ESE) and pulsed Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) studies were performed on a series of n-type 4H-SiC wafers grown by different techniques including sublimation sandwich method (SSM), physical vapor transport (PVT) and modified Lely method. Depending on the C/Si ratio and the growth temperature the n-type 4H-SiC wafers revealed, besides a triplet due to nitrogen residing on the cubic site (Nc), two nitrogen (N) related EPR spectra with g||=2.0055, g⊥=2.0010 and g||=2.0063, g⊥=2.0005 with different intensities. In the samples with low C/Si ratio the EPR spectrum with g|| =2.0055, g⊥=2.0010 consists of a triplet with low intensity which is tentatively explained as a N-related complex, while in the samples with high C/Si ratio the triplet is transformed into one structureless line of high intensity, which is explained as being due to an exchange interaction between N donors. In the samples grown at low temperature with enhanced carbon concentration the EPR line with g||=2.0063, g⊥=2.0005 and a small hyperfine (hf) interaction dominates the EPR spectrum. It is attributed to N on the hexagonal lattice site. The interpretation of the EPR data is supported by activation energies and donor concentrations obtained from Hall effect measurements for three donor levels in this series of 4H-SiC samples.

Abstract: In this paper, we report on a photoluminescence (PL) and EPR study of several semiinsulating (SI) 4H SiC samples showing the different compensation regimes due to the presence of V4+ and V3+of different concentration. The samples which contain only V3+ indicates the compensation regime NV≅ND-NA>0 with the Fermi level located in the upper half of the band gap. The presence of V4+ along with V3+ in the other two set of samples indicates the SI behavior of the samples with compensation regime NV>NA-ND>0. Considering that the samples revealed EPR spectrum of vanadium V3+, position of the Fermi level should be also in the upper half of the band gap and mixed conductivity could be expected. UD-3 PL spectrum was observed in vanadium doped SI 4H SiC presented in the samples in V3+/V4+ and V4+/V5+ charge states with compensation regime NV>NA-ND>0. The data obtained prove that the PL and EPR are suitable techniques in determination SI yield in SiC crystal.

Abstract: Two types of a new triplet centers labeled as N-V have been observed in heavily neutron irradiated (dose of 1021 cm-2) and high-temperature annealed (2000°C) 6H-SiC crystals. The centers have an axial symmetry along c-axis. Anisotropic hyperfine splitting due to the one 14N nucleus has been observed. The EPR spectra of N-V defects in the triplet state in 6H-SiC reveal strong temperature dependence. The parameters of these centers are similar to that for well-known N-V center in diamond. It seems to consist of silicon vacancy and carbon substitutional nitrogen in the adjacent lattice cites oriented along c-axis. Similar to the diamond N-V centers in SiC have been produced by neutron irradiation and high-temperature annealing of the crystals containing nitrogen. For the first shell the structure of the N-V defect in 6H-SiC is practically identical with that in diamond. The charge state of this defect seems to be +1 compare with neutral state for nitrogensilicon vacancy defect in 6H-SiC with S=1/2.

Abstract: P6 and P7 centers, which are responsible for semi-insulating properties of SiC, were shown to be neutral Si-C divacancies (VSi-VC)o having a triplet ground state. The EPR experiments that were performed at very low temperatures and in complete darkness exclude the possibility of a thermal or optically excited triplet state and, as a result, the existing model of excited triplet state P6 and P7 centers was discarded. The optical alignment process which induces the spin polarization of the ground triplet 3A state of the P6, P7 centers in SiC was interpreted to be caused by strong spin selectivity of the intersystem crossing (ISC) nonradiative transitions from an excited 3E state to a metastable singlet 1A state. The luminescence and optical absorption are caused by transitions between spin sublevels of 3A and 3E states. The analogy in properties of a divacancy in SiC and the N-V defect in diamond allows considering the divacancy in SiC as a potential defect for the single defect spectroscopy.

Abstract: The conclusion which is drawn from the EPR line broadening and narrowing of the N shallow donor in an isotope enriched and non-enriched 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC crystals along with previous ENDOR results shows that the spin-density distribution over the C and Si nuclei differs between the 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC polytypes. The main part of the spin density in 4H-SiC is located on the Si sublattice. In contrast, in 6H-SiC the main part of the spin density is located on the C sublattice. An explanation for the difference in the electronic wave function of the N donor in 4HSiC and 6H-SiC can be found in the large difference in the band structure of two polytypes and in the position of the minima in the Brillouin zone.

Abstract: The high-temperature stable defect complexes in 6H-SiC crystals created by heavy neutron irradiation and following high-temperature annealing have been discovered by EPR. After annealing at 1500°C at least five new axially symmetric centers with the electron spin S = 1/2 and S = 1 were shown to arise in 6H-SiC crystals. The striking feature of all discovered centers is a strong hyperfine interaction with a great number (up to twelve) of equivalent host Si (C) atoms. Two models, a four-vacancy complex VSi-3VC, and a split-interstitial antisite (C2)Si or a pair of two antisites (C2)Si-SiC are discussed. There is a good probability that some of new centers could be related to the famous D1 and DII centers. After annealing at 2000°C the dc1-dc4 centers disappeared and a new triplet center labeled as N-V in the form of a silicon vacancy and a nitrogen atom in neighboring carbon substitutional position has been observed. The parameters of this center are similar to that for well-known N-V center in diamond.