Papers by Author: Noriyoshi Shibata

Abstract: Electron beam induced current (EBIC) and etch pit method have been used to study the dissociation behavior of basal plane dislocations (BPDs) in 4H-SiC under electron beam irradiation. When 20 kV scanning electron beam was applied for 1 h, it has been found that BPDs whose dislocation lines were along [11-20] off-cut direction dissociated into partial dislocations (PDs) forming a stacking fault (SF) between them; while no dissociation was found for BPDs extending along other directions. These results are discussed in terms of different formation energy of SFs expanding from a pure screw type and a mixed type BPD. In addition, the angle between dislocation line of a BPD and the [11-20] off-cut direction might also play a role in determining the minimum energy for SF formation.

Abstract: The wide size distribution of the hexagonal etch pit of screw dislocations (SD) in 4H-SiC wafer was found in spite of the narrow size distribution of the SD pit in epitaxial film. Calculation on the basis of the strain energy equation indicated that etch pit size depends on the Burgers vector and dislocation tilt. Size variation of SD etch pits in 4H-SiC wafer fabricated by sublimation method is explained to be caused by the dislocation tilt by observing the sizes and the positions of etch pits from the surface of the epitaxial film to the inside of 4H-SiC wafer. The SDs in 4H-SiC wafer fabricated by sublimation method propagate to c-axis direction in macroscopic but changing tilt in microscopic.

Abstract: Dislocations in highly doped n-type 4H-SiC (n+-SiC, n>1019 cm-3) substrate have been studied by means of electron beam induced current (EBIC). Ni/n-SiC/n+-SiC/Al structure was fabricated in order to simultaneously observe the dislocations in n-SiC epilayer and n+-SiC substrate. We have found that dark dots in the EBIC image correspond to threading screw dislocations (TSDs) and threading edge dislocations (TEDs) with the former being relatively darker. Short dark lines along off-cut are attributed to basal plane dislocations (BPDs) in the epilayer; and the randomly oriented long dark lines are caused by the BPDs in the substrate. The classification of the dislocations by EBIC has been examined by wet etching in KOH+Na2O2.

Abstract: We have proposed a new wet etching recipe using molten KOH and Na2O2 as the etchant (“KN etching”) for dislocation revelation in highly doped n-type 4H-SiC (n+-4H-SiC). Threading screw dislocations (TSDs) and threading edge dislocations (TEDs) have been clearly revealed as hexagonal etch pits differing in pit sizes, and basal plane dislocations (BPDs) as seashell-shaped pits. This new etching recipe has provided a solution to the problem that conventional KOH etching is not effective for dislocation identification in 4H-SiC if the electron concentration is high (>mid-1018 cm-3). We have investigated the effect of SiC off-cut angle on KN etching and it has been shown that the “KN etching” is applicable for the n+-SiC substrate with off-angle from 0o to 8o.

Abstract: The structures of defects that form different types of etch pits on highly N-doped 4H-SiC substrates, that were produced by a sublimation method, after molten KOH etching were characterized. It was found that most of the dislocations in the epitaxial layer originated from defects at the surface of substrate whose etch pit structures were clearly different from the conventional structures. The etch pits were classified into drop, oval, round and caterpillar pits. The drop and oval pits were concluded to be formed by the deformation of conventional etch pits. Round pits were concluded to originate from half loop dislocations and were transformed to complex dislocations by epitaxial growth. Analysis by transmission electron microscopy measurement indicates that slipped edge dislocations (or screw dislocations) on the basal plane form caterpillar pits.

Abstract: Photoluminescence from epitaxial ZnO thin films deposited on R-plane sapphire substrates by RF magnetron sputtering was investigated. The intensity of the near band emission (NBE) of the ZnO thin film on R-plane sapphire was stronger than that of the film formed on C-plane sapphire at a low temperature. Some experimental results suggest that NBE depends on the polarization of the excitation light, which are considered to be related to the ZnO crystal orientation on the sapphire substrate.

Abstract: Recently the present authors’ group found that porous silicon showed strong and stable white/white-blue light emission after successive thermal carbonization and oxidation by water vapor. This material can be considered as a price-competitive solid-state white-light source. We examined these layers by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). The EEL spectra indicated that the silicon skeleton in the porous layer was completely oxidized by the thermal treatment in wet argon ambient and multi-types of carbon phases were present in the 1073 K oxidized sample of stronger emission, while carbon complexes including Si and/or O were formed in the 1223 K oxidized sample of weaker light emission. EF-TEM images showed that carbon/oxygen were more uniformly distributed in the 1223 K oxidized sample. It is assumed that the strong light-emitting properties are controlled by the size and internal chemical bonding states of carbon clusters incorporated.

Abstract: In the present work, the carbonization of porous silicon for the subsequent 3C-SiC growth has been systematically studied. The effect of temperature and acetylene flow-rate on the chemical state of the surface and structure relaxation was studied. It was found that the porous nano-crystalline morphology is unstable and tends to recrystallize in temperature range typical of 3C-SiC growth on Si (10000C-13000C). The carbonization impedes recrystallization at 10000C, but at 13000C the full recrystallization takes place. Pyrolytic amorphous graphite-like carbon was found on porous silicon carbonized at temperature and with acetylene flow-rate above critical values.

Abstract: We have obtained Er-doped ZnO thin film in a micropattern of reverse trapezoids processed on Si substrate by sputtering and ultrafine polishing techniques. Near-infrared light emission was detected successfully from the thin film filling a single micropit with 10 μm square. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation showed epitaxial growth of ZnO crystals along the curvature of the micropit.

Abstract: Diffusion behavior at the interface of (001)-epitaxially grown (Ba,Sr)TiO3(BST)/electrode/buffer layer/Si thin films was examined by use of secondary ion-microprobe mass spectrometer (SIMS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) attached with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDX). As the (001)-epitaxially grown film, following three kinds of structure was grown; (1)BST/(La,Sr)CoO3(LSCO)/CeO2/yttria-stabilized zirconia(YSZ)/Si, (2)BST/PLD-deposited Pt/SrTiO3(ST)/LSCO/CeO2/YSZ/Si and (3)BST/sputter-deposited Pt/ST/LSCO/CeO2/YSZ/Si. For sample (1), uphill diffusion of Sr and Ti was observed at the interface of YSZ and SiO2. Diffusion of Co into CeO2 layer was also detected. These tendencies of diffusion were also observed for samples (2) and (3). In addition to these tendencies, apparent uphill diffusion of Co at the Pt layer was observed for sample (2). However, this diffusion was not observed for sample (3). It was also observed that oxygen diffusion was prevented for sputter-deposited Pt. On the other hand, oxygen diffusion was observed for PLD-deposited Pt.