Very High Sustainable Forward Current Densities on 4H-SiC p-n Junctions Formed by VLS Localized Epitaxy of Heavily Al-Doped p++ Emitters

Abstract

This study deals with the electrical characterization of PiN diodes fabricated on a 4°off-axis 4H-SiC n+ substrate with a n- epilayer (1×1016 cm-3 / 10 µm). Optimized p++ epitaxial areas were grown by Vapour-Liquid-Solid (VLS) transport to form p+ emitters localized in etched wells with 1 µm depth. Incorporated Al level in the VLS p++ zones was checked by SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy), and the doping level was found in the range of 1-3×1020 at.cm-3. Electrical characterizations were performed on these PiN diodes, with 800 nm deposit of aluminium as ohmic contact on p-type SiC. Electrical measurements show a bipolar behaviour, and very high sustainable forward current densities ≥ 3 kA.cm-2, preserving a low leakage current density in reverse bias. These measurements were obtained on structures without any passivation and no edge termination.