Status of Large Diameter SiC Single Crystals

Large-diameter SiC single crystals are grown at II-VI by physical vapor transport (PVT).  II-VI manufactures up to 150 mm diameter substrates of two types: vanadium doped semi-insulating and nitrogen doped n-type.  We have previously discussed in some detail the practice of SiC crystal growth at II-VI [1], and reported on the properties of the grown crystals, including dominating defects and their evolution during growth [2].  This paper is an update on the progress of the growth of high quality large diameter substrates over the past 18 months.

            SiC single crystals grown by sublimation exhibit relatively high dislocation densities and may contain slightly misoriented grains.  Defect data will be presented on wafers that have been characterized by etch pit density and X-ray rocking curves and topography.  Resistivity was characterized by an eddy current measurement for conducting and capacitive based measurement for semi-insulating substrates.  Using these methods a comparison of progress will be provided.

            We have achieved stacking fault and micro pipe free wafers with a typical total dislocation density of 6x10³ cm^-2, TSD density of ~1.2x10³ cm^-2, and typical BPD density of 5x10² cm^-2 in 150mm substrates and 3x10² cm^-2 in 100mm substrates.  For semi-insulating wafers we have achieved resistivities in excess of 1E11ohms*cm.

 [1]    A. Gupta et al., “Status of Large Diameter SiC Single Crystals”, Materials Science Forum, 2012, vol. 717-720, pp. 3-8.

[2]     P. Wu et al., “Defect Evolution during Growth of SiC Crystals”, J. Cryst. Growth, Vol. 310, 7-9 (2008), pp. 1804-1809.