Papers by Author: Georgios Zoulis

Abstract: The current communication focuses on the influence of a post-growth annealing on the evolution of defects inside (111) 3C-SiC layers grown by the Vapour Liquid Solid (VLS) mechanism in SiGe melts on Si-face on- and off axis 6H-SiC substrates. The layers are studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Low Temperature Photoluminescence (LTPL). It was found that the growth on off-axis substrates results in a 3C-SiC layer containing mainly stacking faults (SFs) and microtwins (MT). The density of MT lamellae and SFs reduces in the layers grown on the on-axis substrate compared to off-axis substrate. In the layers grown on off-axis substrates the annealing strongly reduces the density of SFs inclined to the 3C/6H-SiC interface. Additionally, 3C to 6H polytypic transformation appears only at the interface, most probably starting from substrate step edges. This was only seen on off-axis seed since the step edges are more.

Abstract: We present the results of an optical investigation performed using low temperature photomuminescence and Raman spectroscopy on bulk 3C-SiC samples grown with the Continuous-Feed Physical Vapor Transport technique, using a small diameter neck to filter the defects and improve the as-grown material.

Abstract: The current communication focuses on the investigation of 3C-SiC layers grown by the Vapour-Liquid-Solid mechanism on on-axis Si-face 6H-SiC substrates in SiSn melts with different compositions and at different growth temperatures. The layers are studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy and Low Temperature Photoluminescence. It was found that for melts with Sn concentration higher than 60 at% large Sn-related precipitates are formed. The depth distribution of the Sn precipitates strongly depends not only on the melt composition but also on the growth temperature. Their formation strongly influences the stacking fault density and the dopant incorporation in the layers. Lower Sn concentrations combined with higher growth temperatures should result in 3C-SiC layer with enhanced structural quality.

Abstract: Thin 3C-SiC(111) epilayers grown on 6H-SiC(0001) substrate by VLS and CVD procedures were studied by low temperature photoluminescence (LTPL) and nonlinear optical techniques at room and low temperatures. Free carrier density ((0.3-7)×1017 cm-3) and nitrogen concentration (4×1016 cm-3) in the layers were determined from Raman and LTPL data. Investigation of non-equilibrium carrier dynamics by using transient grating and free carrier absorption techniques provided an ambipolar diffusion coefficient Da (~2.5 cm2/s) and carrier lifetime τR (2-4 ns) values at room temperature. The temperature dependences of Da and τR in 40-300 K range revealed the scattering processes in high density plasma as well the impact of defects.

Abstract: Ga-doped 3C-SiC layers have been grown on on-axis 6H-SiC (0001) substrates by the VLS technique and investigated by low temperature photoluminescence (LTPL) measurements. On these Ga-doped samples, all experimental spectra collected at 5K were found dominated by strong N-Ga donor-acceptor pair (DAP) transitions and phonon replicas. As expected, the N-Ga DAP zero-phonon line (ZPL) was located at lower energy (~ 86 meV) below the N-Al one. Fitting the transition energies for the N-Al close DAP lines gave 251 meV for the Al acceptor binding energy in 3C-SiC and, by comparison, 337 meV for the Ga acceptor one.

Abstract: In the present work the defects appearing in layers grown by liquid phase epitaxy on different substrates are compared. The used seeds were (i) 3C-SiC with (111) orientation, grown heteroepitaxially on (0001) 4H-SiC or 6H-SiC substrates by continuous feed physical vapour transport process and the vapour-liquid-solid mechanism, respectively, and (ii) 3C-SiC wafer with (100) orientation from HOYA. The structural and optical investigation showed that (i) on the (111) substrates, due to the appearance of silicon and 6H-SiC inclusions, a layer which consisted of a sequence of long period polytypes was formed. The dominant polytype formed was 21R-SiC, which after successive transformation to 39R- and 57R- SiC led to the formation of 6H-SiC on the top of the layer. (ii) On the (100) substrates, a 3C-SiC layer with comparatively uniform defect density was formed. The main defects were stacking faults and their density was reducing during the process.

Abstract: Both, n-type and p-type 3C-SiC samples grown on 6H-SiC substrates by sublimation epitaxy have been investigated. From low temperature photoluminescence studies, we demonstrate a low level of residual (n and/or p-type) doping with weak compensation, which is confirmed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy in the case of p-type samples.

Abstract: We report the results of a systematic investigation performed to reduce the residual n-type doping level of the 3C-SiC layers grown by the VLS mechanism on 6H-SiC(0001) on-axis substrate. This new approach, termed “High purity VLS” leads to low doped and low compensated material, which was confirmed by Raman and Low Temperature Photoluminescence spectroscopy. The resultant 3C morphology remains typical of single-domain layers and the n-type doping level could be estimated around 6x1016 cm-3.

Abstract: We report in this work, the solution growth of heavily p-type doped 3C-SiC and 6H-SiC. Description of the 3C and 6H-SiC crystals in terms of defects and resistivity are presented and discussed with respect to growth conditions such as temperature, Al content in the melt and seed polarity. Crystals and thick layers are investigated by means of TEM, NDIC microscopy and Raman.

Abstract: We present a structural and optical investigation of nitrogen-doped single crystals of cubic silicon carbide prepared by the continuous feed - physical vapour transport method. Self-nucleated crystals were produced which exhibited well faceted square and triangular shapes. KOH etching was used to characterize the structural defects, like stacking faults and dislocations. The effect of changing the nitrogen flow rate on the different crystalline orientations was investigated by Raman spectroscopy and low temperature photoluminescence techniques.