Papers by Author: Gaetano Izzo

Abstract: The defects produced by 7.0 MeV C+ irradiation in 4H-SiC epitaxial layer were followed by Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy, current-voltage measurements and Transmission Electron Microscopy in a large fluence range (109-51013 ions/cm2). At low fluence (109 -1010 ions/cm2), the formation of three main level defects located at 0.68 eV, 0.98 eV and 1.4 eV below the conduction band edge is detected. The trap concentration increases with ion fluence suggesting that these levels are associated to the point defects generated by ion irradiation. In this fluence range the leakage current of the diodes does not change. At higher fluence an evolution of defects occurs, as the concentration of traps at 0.68 eV and 1.4 eV decreases, while the intensity of the level at 0.98 eV remains constant. In this fluence range complex defects are formed and an increase of a factor five in the leakage current is measured.

Abstract: The growth rate of 4H-SiC epi layers has been increased up to 100 µm/h by chlorine addition. The epitaxial layers grown with this process have been characterized by electrical, optical and structural characterization methods. Very thick (> 100 µm) epitaxial layer has been grown and the Schottky diodes realized on these layers have good yield (> 87%) with a low defect density (10/cm2). This process gives the opportunity to realize very high power devices with breakdown voltages in the range of 10 kV or X-Ray and particle detectors with a low cost epitaxy process.

Abstract: The defects produced by irradiation with 7 MeV C+ induce a change in the electrical properties of 4H-SiC Schottky diodes. Capacitance-voltage and Current-voltage characteristics of the diodes fabricated in epilayers doped with different nitrogen concentrations were monitored before and after irradiation with different fluences. The Capacitance-voltage curves show free carrier compensation after low fluence irradiation and it was found that the reduction of carriers per ion induced vacancy increases with nitrogen content. The forward current-voltage characteristics of the diodes show an increase in the series resistance after irradiation. This change is mainly related to the high compensation occurring around the end of the ion range.

Abstract: The growth rate of 4H-SiC epi layers has been increased up to 100 µm/h with the use of trichlorosilane instead of silane as silicon precursor. The epitaxial layers grown with this process have been characterized by electrical, optical and structural characterization methods. Schottky diodes, manufactured on the epitaxial layer grown with trichlorosilane at 1600 °C, have higher yield and lower defect density in comparison to diodes realized on epilayers grown with the standard epitaxial process.

Abstract: A novel Monte Carlo kinetic model has been developed and implemented to predict growth rate regimes and defect formation for the homo-epitaxial growth of various SiC polytypes on different substrates. Using this model we have studied the generation of both point like and extended defects in terms of the growth rate and off-cut angle, finding qualitative agreement with both electrical and optical characterization and analytical results.

Abstract: High growth rate of 4H-SiC epitaxial layers can be reached with the introduction of HCl in the deposition chamber. The effect of the Cl/Si ratio on this epitaxial growth process has been studied by optical and electrical measurements. Optical microscopy shows an improvement of the surface morphology and luminescence measurements reveal a decrease of epitaxial layer defects with increasing the Cl/Si ratio in the range 0.05–2.0. The leakage current measured on the diodes realized on these wafers is reduced of an order of magnitude and DLTS measurements show a decrease of the EH6,7 level concentration in the same range of Cl/Si ratio. The value Cl/Si=2.0 allows to grow epitaxial layers with the lowest defect concentration.