IP Library Granted Patent US 9,691,607
Granted Patent B2
US 9,691,607 · App. 13/639,309 · Granted Jun 27, 2017

Process for producing epitaxial silicon carbide single crystal substrate and epitaxial silicon carbide single crystal substrate obtained by the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,691,607
App. No.
13/639,309
Granted
Jun 27, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a process for producing an epitaxial single-crystal silicon carbide substrate by epitaxially growing a silicon carbide film on a single-crystal silicon carbide substrate by chemical vapor deposition. The step of crystal growth in the process comprises a main crystal growth step, which mainly occupies the period of epitaxial growth, and a secondary crystal growth step, in which the growth temperature is switched between a set growth temperature (T 0 ) and a set growth temperature (T 2 ) which are respectively lower and higher than a growth temperature (T 1 ) used in the main crystal growth step. The basal plane dislocations of the single-crystal silicon carbide substrate are inhibited from being transferred to the epitaxial film. Thus, a high-quality epitaxial film is formed.

Claims (13)

1. An epitaxial silicon carbide single crystal substrate, which is an epitaxial silicon carbide single crystal substrate which has been obtained by a process for producing an epitaxial silicon carbide single crystal substrate, comprising forming a silicon carbide film through epitaxial growth on a silicon carbide single crystal substrate having an off-angle of 2° or more and 6° or less by a chemical vapor deposition process,

wherein a crystal growth step of epitaxially growing the silicon carbide film on the substrate includes a crystal growth sub-step involving a temperature switching operation of changing a growth temperature up or down between a lower preset temperature T 0 and a higher preset temperature T 2 with respect to a growth temperature T 1 in a crystal growth main step occupying the majority of an epitaxial growth time,

wherein the basal plane dislocation density of the silicon carbide film is 20 dislocations/cm 2 or less,

wherein a film thickness of the silicon carbide film grown in the crystal growth sub-step is 0.2 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less,

wherein the basal plane dislocation carried over from the silicon carbide single crystal substrate is converted into an edge dislocation in the silicon carbide film grown in the crystal growth sub-step, and

wherein the basal plane dislocation density of the silicon carbide film is no more than 0.3% of an edge dislocation density of the silicon carbide film.

2. An epitaxial silicon carbide single crystal substrate, which is an epitaxial silicon carbide single crystal substrate which has been obtained by a process for producing an epitaxial silicon carbide single crystal substrate, comprising forming a silicon carbide film through epitaxial growth on a silicon carbide single crystal substrate having an off-angle of 2° or more and 6° or less by a chemical vapor deposition process,

wherein a crystal growth step of epitaxially growing the silicon carbide film on the substrate includes a crystal growth sub-step involving a temperature switching operation of changing a growth temperature up or down between a lower preset temperature T 0 and a higher preset temperature T 2 with respect to a growth temperature T 1 in a crystal growth main step occupying the majority of an epitaxial growth time,

wherein the crystal growth sub-step is included in a first half side of the crystal growth step,

wherein the basal plane dislocation density of the silicon carbide film is 20 dislocations/cm 2 or less,

wherein a film thickness of the silicon carbide film grown in the crystal growth sub-step is 0.2 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less,

wherein the basal plane dislocation carried over from the silicon carbide single crystal substrate is converted into an edge dislocation in the silicon carbide film grown in the crystal growth sub-step, and

wherein the basal plane dislocation density of the silicon carbide film is no more than 0.3% of an edge dislocation density of the silicon carbide film.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 14, 2024
From: RESONAC CORPORATION
To: RESONAC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066599/0037 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 23, 2023
From: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
To: RESONAC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064082/0513 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2018
From: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
To: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
Reel/Frame 045991/0704 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 7, 2013
From: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
To: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029769/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2012
From: AIGO, TAKASHI; TSUGE, HIROSHI; HOSHINO, TAIZO; FUJIMOTO, TATSUO; KATSUNO, MASAKAZU; NAKABAYASHI, MASASHI; YASHIRO, HIROKATSU
To: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029086/0162 →