Papers by Author: Jawad ul Hassan

Abstract: Abstract. The aim of this study is to compare DC characteristics of ‘as-grown’ and hydrogen (H)-intercalated epitaxial graphenes on SiC substrates [1,2]. Epitaxial graphene is grown on SiC at 1400-1600C, and H-intercalation is performed via in-situ introduction of Hydrogen during the graphitization process [6]. The fabrication processing steps used to define test structures are identical for the two materials. Results on the DC behaviour and uniformity issues with respect to both materials are reported. As-grown material behaves as a linear resistance, while H-intercalated demonstrates a non-linear characteristic. Hysteresis effects and time dependent behaviors are also observed in both materials. Extensive Hall measurements are performed on both materials with the aim of providing a qualitative understanding of material uniformity in both epi-graphenes.

Abstract: Focusing on the change in aluminium-related photoluminescence lines in 4H-SiC versus doping concentration, we have used a combination of LTPL (Low Temperature PhotoLuminescence) and secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements to set new calibration curves. In this way, one can probe the change in aluminum concentration in the range 10¹⁷ to 10¹⁹ cm^-3. When applied to LTPL maps collected on full 3-inch wafers, we show that such abacuses constitute a powerful tool to control efficiently the doping level of as-grown p⁺ (emitters) and p⁺⁺ (contact) layers for power device applications.

Abstract: Free carrier dynamics has been studied in 4H- and 3C-SiC in a wide temperature range using time-resolved photoluminescence, free carrier absorption, and light induced transient grating techniques. Considerably high carrier lifetime was observed in 3C-SiC epitaxial layers grown on 4H-SiC substrates using hot-wall CVD with respect to previously reported values for 3C-SiC grown either on Si or on 6H-SiC substrates. The temperature dependences of carrier lifetime and diffusion coefficient for 4H- and 3C-SiC were compared. Shorter photoluminescence decay time with respect to free carrier absorption decay time was observed in the same 4H-SiC sample, while these techniques revealed similar trends in the carrier lifetime temperature dependencies. However, the latter dependences for hot-wall CVD-grown 3C layers were found different if measured by time resolved photoluminescence and free carrier absorption techniques.

Abstract: The effect of different C/Si ratio on the surface morphology has been studied to optimize the on-axis homoepitaxial growth conditions on 4H-SiC substrates to improve the surface roughness of epilayers. The overall surface roughness is found to decrease with decreasing C/Si ratio. An order of magnitude lower surface roughness has been observed using C/Si ratio = 0.8 without disturbing the polytype stability in the epilayer. A high growth rate of 10 µm/h was achieved without introducing 3C inclusions. The epilayers grown at higher growth rate with C/Si ratio = 1 also had improvements in the surface roughness. 100% 4H polytype was maintained in the epilayers grown with C/Si ratio in the range of 1.2 to 0.8 and with high growth rate of 10 µm/h.

Abstract: An extended structural defects which locally drastically reduces the carrier lifetime, has been observed in as-grown epilayers. A combination of back polishing, etching in molten KOH and optical microscopy revealed the geometrical structure of the stacking fault inside the epilayer. The fault started close to the epi-substrate interface, expanded initially rapidly but changed geometry after some time and reduced in size during further growth. The optical spectrum as well as the temperature dependence from this fault is identical to the emission from the single Shockley stacking faults previously only observed and formed in the bipolar diodes during forward voltage operation.

Abstract: Two different and novel in-grown triangular stacking faults have been observed and characterized in 4H-SiC epitaxial layers grown on 4o off-cut substrates. The faults were formed at the beginning of the growth and extended continuously in size during the growth. Their structural and optical properties were however different as seen from both synchrotron white beam topography and low temperature photoluminescence. The luminescence spectra were similar but appeared in different energy regions 2.85 – 2.95 eV and 2.48 – 2.64 eV, respectively. BPDs present in the epilayer are found to be transformed into SFs under laser excitation during high resolution optically detected lifetime mapping. The faults are found to expand from the epilayer surface towards the epi-substrate interface. The optical spectrum from this fault is identical to the emission from the single layered Shockley stacking faults with excitonic bandgap of 3.034 eV previously only observed and formed in the bipolar diodes during forward voltage operation.

Abstract: Homoepitaxial growth has been performed on 3” Si-face on-axis 4H–SiC substrates using standard gas system in a horizontal Hot-wall chemical vapor deposition system. Substrate surface damages are found to act as preferential nucleation sites for 3C inclusions also, the surface morphology after in-situ etching is found to largely influence the polytype stability in the epilayer. Different in-situ etching conditions were studied where Si-rich conditions are found to be better. Growth parameters and starting growth conditions are refined to obtain stable polytype in the epilayer. High quality homoepitaxial layers with 100% 4H–SiC are obtained on 3” substrates. Different optical and structural techniques are used to characterize the layers and to understand the growth mechanisms. The layers are found to be of high quality and no epitaxial defects typically found on off-axis epitaxial layers are observed. A high surface roughness is observed in these layers, however higher growth rate significantly lowers the surface roughness without affecting the polytype stability in the epilayer.

Abstract: This paper reports on the influence of temperature on the electrical carrier lifetime of a 3.3 kV 4H-SiC PiN diode processed with a new generation of SiC material. The Open Circuit Voltage Decay (OCVD) is used to evaluate ambipolar lifetime evolution versus temperature. The paper presents a description of the setup, electrical measurements and extraction fittings. The ambipolar lifetime is found to rise from 600 ns at 30 °C to 3.5 μs at 150 °C.

Abstract: The paper presents experimental data on the temperature dependence and the excitation properties of the phosphorus-related photoluminescence in 4H SiC. Two main sets of phonon replicas can be observed with selective excitation, which are attributed to two of the no-phonon lines observed in the spectrum. Some of the excited states are also attributed to one of the no-phonon lines on the ground of the selectively excited spectra. A tentative explanation of the observed features in terms of multiple bound excitons is proposed.

Abstract: Thick 4H-SiC epitaxial layers have been characterized using high-resolution lifetime mapping. The lifetime maps are obtain by the detection of photoluminescence decay of the band gap emission. Full wafers mappings with 200 m resolution reveal lifetime variations that can be associated with structural defects replicated from the substrate, and variations in epitaxial growth conditions due to the susceptor design. High resolution mapping over smaller regions with down to 20 m step size, reveals local lifetime reductions associated with different structural defects in the epitaxial layer. Identified defects that influence the lifetime are the carrot defect, different types of in-grown stacking faults, and an unidentified defect associated with a pair of basal plane dislocations on the surface. Also clusters of threading screw dislocations, probably originating from a dissociated micropipe in the substrate, are found to reduce the lifetime.