Controlling the carbon vacancy concentration in 4H-SiC subjected to high temperature treatment

The carbon vacancy (VC) is the major charge carrier lifetime limiting-defect in 4H-SiC epitaxial layers and it is readily formed during elevated heat treatments. Here we describe two ways for controlling the VC concentration in 4H-SiC epi-layer using different annealing procedures. One set of samples was subjected to high temperature processing at 1950 °C for 3 min, but then different cooling rates were applied. A significant reduction of the VC concentration was demonstrated by the slow cooling rate. In addition, elimination of the VC's was also established by annealing a sample, containing high VC concentration, at 1500 °C for a sufficiently long time. Both procedures clearly demonstrate the need for maintaining thermodynamic equilibrium during cooling.