Patent · US Expired

Method to reduce stacking fault nucleation sites and reduce forward voltage drift in bipolar devices

US7018554B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
21References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 22, 2003
Grant dateMar 28, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/931
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method is disclosed for preparing a substrate and epilayer for reducing stacking fault nucleation and reducing forward voltage (Vf) drift in silicon carbide-based bipolar devices. The method includes the steps of etching the surface of a silicon carbide substrate with a nonselective etch to remove both surface and sub-surface damage, thereafter etching the same surface with a selective etch to thereby develop etch-generated structures from at least any basal plane dislocation reaching the substrate surface that will thereafter tend to either terminate or propagate as threading defects during subsequent epilayer growth on the substrate surface, and thereafter growing a first epitaxial layer of silicon carbide on the twice-etched surface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.