Papers by Author: Ralf Müller

Abstract: The origin of dislocation evolution during SiC crystal growth is usually related to lattice relaxation mechanisms caused by thermal stress. In this paper we discuss dislocation generation and dislocation propagation related to doping and suppression of basal plane dislocations, the latter being of particular interest for bipolar electronic devices. We have prepared alternating p-/n-/pdoped SiC crystals using the donor nitrogen and the acceptors aluminum or boron. In addition we determined the mechanical properties of n-type and p-type SiC; in particular we measured the critical shear stress by nano-indentation on c-plane and a-plane 6H-SiC surfaces. A considerably lower basal plane dislocation density is found in aluminum as well as in boron doped p-type SiC compared to nitrogen doped n-type SiC. It is concluded that the explanation of the reduced basal plane dislocation density in p-type SiC needs the consideration of electronic as well as mechanical effects.

Abstract: We report on investigation of p-type doped, SiC wafers grown by the Modified- Physical Vapor Transport (M-PVT) method. SIMS measurements give Al concentrations in the range 1018 to 1020 cm-3, with weak Ti concentration but large N compensation. To measure the wafers’ resistivity, carrier concentration and mobility, temperature-dependant Hall effect measurements have been made in the range 100-850 K using the Van der Pauw method. The temperature dependence of the mobility suggests higher Al concentration, and higher compensation, than estimated from SIMS. Additional LTPL measurements show no evidence of additional impurities in the range of investigation, but suggest that the additional compensation may come from an increased concentration of non-radiative centers.

Abstract: The long term performance of today’s SiC based bipolar power devices suffer strongly from stacking fault formation caused by slip of basal plane dislocations, the latter often originating from the n-type doped SiC substrate wafer. In this paper, using sequentially p-type / n-type / p-type doped SiC crystals, we address the question, whether basal plane dislocation generation and annihilation behaves differently in n-type and p-type SiC. We have found that basal plane dislocations are absent or at least appear significantly less pronounced in p-type doped SiC, which may become of great importance for the stacking fault problem in SiC.

Abstract: We have studied the impact of the chemical nature of additional gases fed into the modified physical vapor transport (M-PVT) growth cell. In particular experiments were carried out using helium, argon, nitrogen and propane in the growth setup. Numerical modeling was used to address the underlying physical and chemical effects that impact the global temperature field. It is found that chemical decomposition of complex gases plays a secondary role as heat source or sink. However, temperature variations related to varying gas compositions fed to the systems are primarily induced by changes of the graphite foam isolation properties.

Abstract: Several SiC bulk crystals were grown with erbium and ytterbium as doping materials. Erbium contents determined by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) ranged from 1.2 · 1014 cm-3 to 1.04 · 1015 cm-3, while ytterbium contents were below SIMS detection limit. Photoluminescence (PL) investigations of the characteristic 4f-4f-transition lines revealed a reduced luminescence yield in highly nitrogen and aluminum co-doped samples. Also, samples without intentional co-doping grown on the C-face showed less luminescence intensity than those grown on the Si-face. A stabilizing effect of erbium doping on the 4H polytype was observed.

Abstract: We have studied the application of optical techniques for the determination of the spatial distribution of electronic properties of highly aluminum doped p-type SiC wafers. Absorption and birefringence mapping are known to be sensitive characterization methods to determine the homogeneity of charge carrier concentration and defects in n-type SiC. In the case of highly p-type doped SiC these methods fail due to the opaque character of the material. In this paper we show that Raman spectroscopy which is a reflective method can be used in order to address the same materials properties like absorption and birefringence. The study was performed using medium doped p-type SiC:Al where optical transmission and reflection methods can be applied simultaneously.

Abstract: Several highly aluminum doped SiC bulk crystals were grown with a modified PVT (MPVT) method. To facilitate 4H-SiC formation, growth was conducted on the C-face. The samples were investigated using Hall measurements in the Van-der-Pauw geometry. Lowest room temperature values for specific resistivities were 0.09 Ωcm for 6H-SiC and 0.2 Ωcm for 4H-SiC, which are to our knowledge the lowest values yet reported in literature. Thus, resistivity values of < 0.2 Ωcm, which are required for substrates in high power device applications, could be demonstrated for 4HSiC. Remarkably, in very highly doped samples the type of conduction could not be determined by Hall measurements.

Abstract: We review the development of a modified physical vapor transport (M-PVT) growth technique for the preparation of SiC single crystals which makes use of an additional gas pipe into the growth cell. While the gas phase composition is basically fixed in conventional physical vapor transport (PVT) growth by crucible design and temperature field, the gas inlet of the MPVT configuration allows the direct tuning of the gas phase composition for improved growth conditions. The phrase "additional" means that only small amounts of extra gases are supplied in order to fine-tune the gas phase composition. We discuss the experimental implementation of the extra gas pipe and present numerical simulations of temperature field and mass transport in the new growth configuration. The potential of the growth technique will be outlined by showing the improvements achieved for p-type doping of 4H-SiC with aluminum, i.e. [Al]=9⋅1019cm-3 and ρ<0.2Ωcm, and n-type doping of SiC with phosphorous, i.e. [P]=7.8⋅1017cm-3.