LA4SiC - Laser Annealing process for 4H-SiC crystal quality enhancement
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Abstract
The increasing demand for high-power and high-frequency electronic devices has driven significant research into wide-bandgap semiconductors, particularly 4H-Silicon Carbide (4H-SiC). The quality of the 4H-SiC wafer substrate significantly impacts the performance and yield of subsequent epitaxial growth and device fabrication. Current methods to reduce defects still have imperfections and do not always guarantee a quality result. This project introduces a novel laser annealing method specifically designed to enhance the crystallinity of 4H-SiC wafer substrates prior to epitaxial growth. The proposed method utilizes a dedicated laser process performed in a controlled atmosphere to achieve localized heat treatment on the thin surface layer of the 4H-SiC wafer.
This targeted energy delivery allows for efficient defect recovery in the critical near-surface region without the need for extensive bulk heating. By precisely controlling the laser parameters, such as wavelength, power density, and scan speed, the annealing process can be optimized to effectively reduce or eliminate surface and near-surface defects, including dislocations, stacking faults, and point defects, which can subsequently propagate into the epitaxial layer and degrade device performance. The primary advantage of this localized laser annealing approach lies in its potential to significantly improve the quality of 4H-SiC wafers, leading to higher yields and reduced waste in semiconductor production. By addressing defects at the substrate level before epitaxial growth, the formation of detrimental defects in the active device layers can be minimized. This research will involve the design and optimization of the laser annealing process parameters, followed by thorough characterization of the treated 4H-SiC wafer substrates using characterization techniques to assess the improvement in crystallinity and the reduction of defect density.
Persone coinvolte
- Valentina Bertana (Responsabile Scientifico)
- Gianluca Melis (Componente gruppo di Ricerca)
- Giulia Mossotti (Componente gruppo di Ricerca)
Strutture coinvolte
Parole chiave
Settori ERC
Obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile (Sustainable Development Goals)
Budget
| Costo totale progetto: | € 90.000,00 |
|---|---|
| Contributo totale progetto: | € 90.000,00 |
| Costo totale PoliTo: | € 90.000,00 |
| Contributo PoliTo: | € 90.000,00 |