Papers by Author: Marie France Beaufort

Abstract: In this study, investigations on MAX phase Ti3SiC2 formation to n-type 4H-SiC substrates and its ohmic-behaved are reported. Ti-Al layers were deposited onto SiC substrates at room temperature by magnetron sputtering in high vacuum system. Thermal annealing at 1000°C in Ar atmosphere were performed to allow interdiffusion processes. X-ray diffraction and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy reveal that a Ti3SiC2 contact, in perfect epitaxy with 4H-SiC substrate, is so-obtained. In situ annealing experiment underlines the evolution of Ti-Al contact microstructure versus temperature. The evolution of contact system from Schottky to Ohmic behaved is observed by I-V measurements for annealing temperatures larger than 700°C.

Abstract: The 3C-6H polytypic transition in 3C-SiC single crystals is studied by means of diffuse X-ray scattering (DXS) coupled with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM reveals that the partially transformed SiC crystals contain regions of significantly transformed SiC (characterized by a high density of stacking faults) co-existing with regions of pure 3C-SiC. The simulation of the diffuse intensity allows to determine both the volume fraction of transformed material and the transformation level within these regions. It is further shown that the evolution with time and temperature of the transition implies the multiplication and glide of partial dislocations, the kinetics of which are quantified by means of DXS.

Abstract: Ion implantation into 4H-SiC induces a local gradient of strain which increases with the nuclear energy losses. With the increase of temperature the strain tends to become uniform in the whole implanted area requiring the migration of particles. In case of helium implantation, defects are more stabilized and their evolutions observed post thermal annealing are concomitant with the surface swelling. The local modifications imputed to the ion process lead to the formation and the pile-up of stacking faults in the highly damaged region.

Abstract: The evolution of the normal strain induced by nitrogen implantation in 4H-SiC was investigated through X-ray diffraction measurements and compared to previous studies on helium implanted SiC. The shape of the normal strain profile in the near surface region shows that the accumulation of point defects is not the only mechanism operative at room temperature. In the highly damaged region, the normal strain profile fits the N concentration.

Abstract: The evolution of mechanical properties of helium-implanted 4H-SiC at room temperature has been mainly studied by nanoindentation tests. The curves of hardness and elastic modulus present a maximum at low levels of damage while a degradation of the mechanical properties is observed for high levels of damage. However, when the concentration of implanted ions exceeds 0.5 %, complex defects (helium-vacancy defects) become predominant which results in the increase of both the hardness and the modulus. Under high fluence of helium implantation tiny bubbles form and the amorphous transition is observed above a critical level of damage.

Abstract: (001) n-type Ge has been implanted at given fluence and intermediate temperature with hydrogen ions using two processes: conventional in-line implantation and plasma based ion implantation. The as-created microstructure has been compared using transmission electron microscopy. In particular, it has been shown that the major differences observed are due to the implantation temperature, much higher during the PBII process. This suggests that plasma based ion implantation could be used for layer transfer in spite of a higher surface roughness observed after the PBII process.

Abstract: Single crystals SiC were implanted with 50 keV helium ions at room temperature and fluences in the range 1x1016 -1x1017 cm-2. The helium implantation induced swelling was studied through the measurement of the step height. The damage was studied by using X-ray diffraction measurements and the transmission electron microscopy observations. Degradation of mechanical properties is found after helium implantation.

Abstract: In the present work, we report on the effects of the implantation temperature on the formation of bubbles and extended defects in Ne+-implanted Si(001) substrates. The implantations were performed at 50 keV to a fluence of 5x1016 cm-2, for distinct implantation temperatures within the 250°C≤Ti≤800°C interval. The samples are investigated using a combination of cross-sectional and plan-view Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) observations and Grazing Incidence Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (GISAXS)measurements. In comparison with similar He implants, we demonstrate that the Ne implants can lead to the formation of a much denser bubble system.