Papers by Author: Hidekazu Tsuchida

Abstract: This article gives the results of crystal growth by a High-Temperature Gas Source Method such as HTCVD. It was reported that clusters were formed and were an important factor of the growth in HTCVDs, and some influences of them were investigated. The difference between the model with and without clustering was compared. The experimental growth rates corresponded to the cluster model, and this indicated that clusters affect the crystal growth. Relations between the experimental growth rate and the growth temperature as a function of gas flow ratio were investigated. The gas flow ratio was defined: (SiH₄+C₃H₈) / (SiH₄+C₃H₈+H₂). Maximum growth rate was 2.3mm/h under high source gas ratio. At present, a Φ75mm×54mm sized ingot has been developed.

Abstract: Thick multi-layer 4H-SiC epitaxial growth was investigated for very high-voltage Si-face p-channel insulated gate bipolar transistors (p-IGBTs). The multi-layer included n⁺ buffer, p⁺ field stop, and thick p^- drift layers. Two processes were employed to enhance the carrier lifetime of the p^- drift layer: carbon ion implantation/annealing and hydrogen annealing, and the enhanced carrier lifetime was confirmed by the open-circuit voltage decay measurement. Using the grown thick multi-layer 4H-SiC, simple pin diodes were fabricated instead of p-IGBTs to demonstrate efficient conductivity modulation in the thick p^- drift layer. While the on-state voltage was high at room temperature, it decreased significantly at elevated temperatures, and attained 3.5 V at 100 A/cm² at 200°C for the diode with the carrier lifetime enhancement processes, indicating sufficient conductivity modulation.

Abstract: This paper demonstrates three-dimensional imaging of threading screw dislocations (TSDs) and threading edge dislocations (TEDs) in 4H-SiC using two-photon-excited photoluminescence (2PPL) band-edge emission. Three-dimensional (3D) images of TSDs and TEDs are successfully obtained as dark contrasts on a bright background of band-edge emission. The intensity inversion of a 2PPL 3D image yields a perspective to visually examine the propagation behavior of dislocations. The tilt angles of TEDs are also measured and shown to correlate with the directions of the extra half planes of TEDs.

Abstract: This work reports on description and application of a new Photoluminescence (PL) Imaging technique for in-grown stacking fault (SF) characterization and identification on 4H-SiC epilayers. The purpose of this technique is to make a spectroscopic picture from a collection of PL imaging picture taken at different output wavelengths in order to both display the shape and an approximation of the maximum PL intensity wavelength at room temperature (RT) of the characterized SF. This is why we called this technique “PL Imaging Spectroscopy”. Five types of SFs have been observed and compared to PL spectra collected at RT and 10K.

Abstract: Polarization characteristics of luminescence from partial dislocations (PDs) in 4H-SiC have been investigated by room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) imaging. After expansion of Shockley stacking faults by high-power laser irradiation, PL from PDs tilted by 6° from their Burgers vector (6°-PDs) was observed with almost the same PL peak energy as that of 30°-Si (g) PDs. The PL from the 30°-Si (g) and 6°-PDs which were mobile under illumination were both found to be polarized perpendicular to their dislocation lines. In contrast, the PL from immobile 30°-C(g) PDs was not polarized. The present results suggest that the carriers bound to the 30°-Si (g) and 6°-PDs have anisotropic wave functions and those bound to 30°-C(g)PDs have isotropic wave functions.

Abstract: The defect evolution on 90 μm-thick heavily Al-doped 4H-SiC epilayers with Al doping level higher than 10²⁰ cm^-3 was studied by tracing back to initial growth stage to monitor major dislocations and their propagations in each growth stage. Results from X-ray topography and KOH etching demonstrate that all existing dislocations on the surface of 90 μm-thick epilayer can be identified as the defects originating from substrate. In other words, there seems no new dislocation generated after a long-term growth. Nevertheless, a high density of misfit dislocation was found appearing near the substrate/epilayer interface for epilayer with Al doping level of 3.5×10²⁰ cm^-3, while misfit dislocation cannot be seen on epilayer with Al doping level of 1.5×10²⁰ cm^-3.

Abstract: The effects of high-speed wafer rotation for 4H-SiC epitaxy in newly developed 150 mm vertical reactor is investigated by simulation analysis. The simulation model shows a good agreement with experimental results. It is revealed that a combination of high-speed wafer rotation as high as 1000 rpm and relatively high system pressure of 267 mbar is effective to reducing boundary layer thickness above the 4H-SiC wafer, and greatly enhances the epitaxial growth rates. The growth rate increase ~2 times using the combination of high-speed wafer rotation and relatively high system pressure.

Abstract: Possibilities of very fast 4H-SiC crystal growth using a high-temperature gas source method are surveyed by computational simulation and experimental studies. The temperature range suitable to obtain high growth rates are investigated by simulating temperature dependences of growth rates for H₂+SiH₄+C₃H₈ and H₂ +SiH₄+C₃H₈+HCl gas systems. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that an increase in source gas flow rates as well as gas-flow velocities enhance growth rates. High growth rates exceeding 1 mm/h are experimentally obtained using both gas systems. Single crystal growth on a 3-inch diameter seed crystal is also demonstrated.

Abstract: The epitaxial growth of thick multi-layer 4H-SiC to fabricate very high-voltage C-face n-channel IGBTs is demonstrated using 3-inch diameter wafers. We employ an inverted-growth process, which enables the on-state voltage of resultant IGBTs to be reduced. Furthermore a long minority carrier lifetime (> 10 μs) and a low-resistance p⁺ epilayer can reduce the forward voltage drop of the IGBTs. The small forward voltage drop is demonstrated particularly at high temperatures by fabricating and characterizing simple pin diodes using the epi-wafer.

Abstract: This paper demonstrates high-resolution photoluminescence (PL) imaging and discrimination of threading dislocations in 4H-SiC epilayers. Threading screw dislocations (TSDs) and TEDs are distinguished by differences in PL spot size and spectrum. We found that TEDs are further discriminated into six types according to their Burgers vector directions by the appearance of PL imaging. Cross-sectional PL imaging reveals inclination angles of threading dislocations across a thick epilayer.