First principle study on B-Al co-doped 3C-SiC

Abstract

The lattice parameters, band structure, density of states, effective mass, carrier concentration and electrical resistivity of 3C-SiC in different doped forms (undoped, B-doped, Al-doped and B-Al co-doped) are calculated using the plane wave ultrasoft pseudopotential based on density functional theory. Calculations indicate that as the B or Al replaces Si atoms, both the conduction band and valence band shift to higher energy level. The top of valence band shifts quicker, resulting in the decrease of the band gap. B-Al co-doped 3C-SiC shows the narrowest bandgap while the pure one has the widest. Effective mass of B-doped 3C-SiC decreases but that of Al-doped 3C-SiC increases; while B-Al co-doped 3C-SiC effective mass, whose value approaches to the undoped, can be understood in terms of different compensation. As the acceptor impurities, B and Al will greatly increase the carrier density of valence band top, and the carrier density of the co-doped is three times as Large as the B-doped or Al-doped 3C-SiC. In addition, B-Al co-doping has the lowest resistivity among the four doping forms displaying its significant advantages in electrical property.