IP Library Granted Patent US 8,384,090
Granted Patent B2
US 8,384,090 · App. 11/940,454 · Granted Feb 26, 2013

Low 1C screw dislocation 3 inch silicon carbide wafer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,384,090
App. No.
11/940,454
Granted
Feb 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A high quality single crystal wafer of SiC is disclosed having a diameter of at least about 3 inches and a 1c screw dislocation density of less than about 2000 cm −2 .

Claims (44)

1. A high quality single crystal wafer of SiC having a diameter of at least about 3 inches and a 1c screw dislocation density less than about 2000 cm 2 .

2. A SiC crystal according to claim 1 wherein the 1c screw dislocation density is less than about 1500 cm −2 .

3. A SiC crystal according to claim 1 wherein the 1c screw dislocation density is less than about 1200 cm −2 .

4. A SiC crystal according to claim 1 wherein the crystal has a polytype selected from the group consisting of the 3C, 4H, 6H, 2H, and 15R polytypes.

5. A high quality semiconductor precursor wafer comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide wafer having a diameter of at least about 3 inches;

said wafer having the 4H polytype; and

said wafer having a 1c screw density on its surface of less than 2500 cm ˜ 2.

6. A high quality semiconductor precursor wafer according to claim 5 wherein said surface 1c screw dislocation density represents a count of the 1c screw dislocations on said surface following an etch that preferentially emphasizes 1c screw dislocation defects.

7. A high quality semiconductor precursor wafer according to claim 6 wherein said surface 1c screw dislocation density represents a count of the total 1c screw dislocations on said surface following an etch of the surface in molten potassium hydroxide.

8. A high quality semiconductor precursor wafer comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide wafer having a diameter of at least about 3 inches;

said wafer having the 4H polytype; and

said wafer having less than 123,700 1c screw dislocations on its surface.

9. A high quality semiconductor precursor wafer comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide wafer having a diameter of at least about 3 inches;

said wafer having the 4H polytype;

said wafer having a 1c screw dislocation density on its surface of less than 2500 cm −2 ; and

a Group III-nitride layer on said surface of said silicon carbide wafer.

10. A semiconductor precursor wafer according to claim 9 wherein said Group III-nitride layer is selected from the group consisting of GaN, AlGaN, AN, AlInGaN, InN, AlInN and mixtures thereof.

11. A plurality of semiconductor device precursors comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide wafer having a diameter of at least about 3 inches and a 1c screw dislocation density on the surface of less than 2500 cm −2 ; and

a plurality of respective Group III-nitride epitaxial layers on some portions of said wafer.

12. A semiconductor wafer comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide substrate of at least about 3 inches and having a 1c screw dislocation density of less than 2500 cm −2 , said single crystal having respective first and second surfaces opposite one another; and

a plurality of devices on said silicon carbide substrate, each said device comprising:

an epitaxial layer located on the substrate, said layer having a concentration of suitable dopant atoms for making the epitaxial layer a first conductivity type, and respective source, channel, and drain portions;

a metal oxide layer on said channel portion; and

and a metal gate contact on said metal oxide layer for forming an active channel when a bias is applied to said metal gate contact.

13. A semiconductor wafer comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide substrate of at least about 3 inches and having a 1c screw dislocation density of less than 2500 cm −2 , said single crystal having respective first and second surfaces opposite one another; and

a plurality of devices on said silicon carbide substrate, each said device comprising:

a conductive channel on said substrate;

a source and a drain on said conductive channel; and

a metal gate contact between said source and said drain on said conductive channel for forming an active channel when a bias is applied to the metal gate contact.

14. A semiconductor wafer comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide substrate of at least about 3 inches and having a 1c screw dislocation density of less than 2500 cm −2 , said single crystal having respective first and second surfaces opposite one another; and

a plurality of junction field-effect transistors positioned on said single crystal silicon carbide substrate.

15. A semiconductor wafer comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide substrate of at least about 3 inches and having a 1c screw dislocation density of less than 2500 cm −2 , said single crystal having respective first and second surfaces opposite one another; and

a plurality of hetero-field effect transistors positioned on said single crystal silicon carbide substrate.

16. A semiconductor wafer comprising:

a single crystal silicon carbide substrate of at least about 3 inches and having a 1c screw dislocation density of less than 2500 cm −2 , said single crystal having respective first and second surfaces opposite one another; and

a plurality of diodes positioned on said single crystal silicon carbide substrate.

Assignments (7)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Dec 23, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074050/0033 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Dec 23, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074050/0001 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Dec 23, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074050/0026 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Dec 23, 2025
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074049/0988 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 64185/0755 Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WOLFSPEED, INC.
Reel/Frame 072989/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: WOLFSPEED, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 064185/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2007
From: POWELL, ADRIAN; BRADY, MARK; MUELLER, STEPHAN G.; TSVETKOV, VALERI F.; LEONARD, ROBERT T.
To: CREE, INC.
Reel/Frame 020116/0948 →