Abstract: First and second buffer regions and an n?-type drift region are sequentially formed by epitaxial growth on an n+-type starting substrate. An impurity concentration of the first buffer region is higher than that of the n?-type drift region and lower than that of the n+-type starting substrate. An impurity concentration of the second buffer region is higher than that of the first buffer region and continuously increases by a first impurity concentration gradient from a first gradient changing point toward the n?-type drift region to a second gradient changing point toward the first buffer region; continuously decreases by a second impurity concentration gradient from the first gradient changing point to a first interface; and continuously decreases by a third impurity concentration gradient from the second gradient changing point to a second interface. The second impurity concentration gradient is lower than the third impurity concentration gradient.

Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes silicon carbide semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, a first semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, a trench, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, and an interlayer insulating film. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer constitute a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer and in a deep region of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer at least 1 ?m from an interface with the third semiconductor layer, a maximum value of a concentration of aluminum is less than 3.0×1013/cm3. In the deep region of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a maximum value of a concentration of boron is less than 1.0×1014/cm3.

Abstract: An n+-type SiC substrate constituting an n+-type drain region contains a concentration of nitrogen, which is a donor, within a predetermined range (predetermined impurity concentration of the n+-type drain region) and, as impurities other than the nitrogen, contains boron, aluminum, and titanium such that a sum of respective concentrations of the boron, aluminum, and titanium is an amount that does not affect the n-type impurity concentration of the n+-type SiC substrate (impurity concentration of the n+-type drain region). The boron, aluminum, and titanium in the n+-type SiC substrate function as a lifetime killer of majority carriers. The boron concentration of the n+-type SiC substrate is in a range of 5×1016/cm3 to 1×1017/cm3. The aluminum concentration and the concentration of the titanium concentration of the n+-type SiC substrate are each within a range of 1×1016/cm3 to 5×1016/cm3.

Abstract: A body diode is energized by inputting a BD energization pulse signal having a predetermined cycle. At the start of energization of the body diode and immediately before termination thereof, an ON signal of a Von measurement pulse signal is input to a high-temperature semiconductor chip at a timing different from that of an ON signal of the BD energization pulse signal, thereby passing a drain-source current through a MOSFET, and a drain-source voltage is measured. Thereafter, energization of the body diode is terminated. At room temperature before and after the energization of the body diode, the drain-source voltage is measured by inputting the ON signal of the Von measurement pulse signal. A semiconductor chip for which a fluctuation amount of the drain-source voltage at a high temperature and a fluctuation amount of the drain-source voltage at room temperature are within predetermined ranges is determined to be a conforming product.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor device provided on a semiconductor substrate and an ohmic electrode provided on a back surface of the semiconductor device and containing a nickel silicide and a molybdenum carbide, or the nickel silicide and a titanium carbide. The ohmic electrode is configured by first regions where a silicide is thick and second regions where the silicide is thin; a ratio of an arithmetic area of the second regions to an arithmetic area of the ohmic electrode is in a range from 10% to 30% in a plan view.

Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device being capable of operating at least 100 degree C., includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region, the semiconductor substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other, a first semiconductor region of an n type, provided in the semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor region of a p type, provided in the active region, between the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and the first semiconductor region, and a device element structure including a pn junction between the second and first semiconductor regions that forms a body diode through which a current flows when the semiconductor device is turned on. A stacking fault area that is a sum of areas that contain stacking faults within an entire active region of the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in the first surface is set to be greater, the higher a breakdown voltage is set.

Abstract: Back-surface roughness of a back surface of a silicon carbide semiconductor device having a MOS gate structure in a first region that is a region within 30 ?m of a cross section (lateral surface) of the device is at most 4 ?m while the back-surface roughness in a second region other than the first region is at most 2 ?m, the back surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor device is the back surface of the second electrode. In a method of manufacture, the back-surface roughness of the device is specified to meet a predetermined condition. Then, ON voltages of the device before and after a forward current is passed through body diodes of the device are measured, and a rate of change of the ON voltage while the forward current is passed through body diodes is calculated, and then the device having a calculated rate of change less than 3% is identified.

Abstract: A body diode is energized by inputting a BD energization pulse signal having a predetermined cycle. At the start of energization of the body diode and immediately before termination thereof, an ON signal of a Von measurement pulse signal is input to a high-temperature semiconductor chip at a timing different from that of an ON signal of the BD energization pulse signal, thereby passing a drain-source current through a MOSFET, and a drain-source voltage is measured. Thereafter, energization of the body diode is terminated. At room temperature before and after the energization of the body diode, the drain-source voltage is measured by inputting the ON signal of the Von measurement pulse signal. A semiconductor chip for which a fluctuation amount of the drain-source voltage at a high temperature and a fluctuation amount of the drain-source voltage at room temperature are within predetermined ranges is determined to be a conforming product.

Abstract: A portion of a source pad is exposed in an opening of a passivation film. In the exposed portion of the source pad, a wiring region in which a package wiring member is to be bonded and a probe region that is a region different from the wiring region are provided. The probe region has a probe mark of a probe for an energization inspection. An area of the probe mark that overlaps the wiring region is at most 30% of an entire area of the wiring region in a plan view of the silicon carbide semiconductor device.

Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes silicon carbide semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, a first semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, a trench, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, and an interlayer insulating film. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer constitute a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer and in a deep region of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer at least 1 ?m from an interface with the third semiconductor layer, a maximum value of a concentration of aluminum is less than 3.0×1013/cm3. In the deep region of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a maximum value of a concentration of boron is less than 1.0×1014/cm3.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a silicon-carbide semiconductor device, which has a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gate structure and a built-in diode, is a conforming product. The method includes measuring an ON voltage of the silicon carbide semiconductor device, passing a forward current through the built-in diode of the silicon carbide semiconductor device, measuring another ON voltage of the silicon carbide semiconductor device, which is the ON voltage of the silicon carbide semiconductor device after passing the forward current, calculating a rate of change between the ON voltage and the another ON voltage, and determining that the silicon carbide semiconductor device is a conforming product unless the calculated rate of change is less than 3%.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor device provided on a semiconductor substrate and an ohmic electrode provided on a back surface of the semiconductor device and containing a nickel silicide and a molybdenum carbide, or the nickel silicide and a titanium carbide. The ohmic electrode is configured by first regions where a silicide is thick and second regions where the silicide is thin; a ratio of an arithmetic area of the second regions to an arithmetic area of the ohmic electrode is in a range from 10% to 30% in a plan view.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a silicon-carbide semiconductor device, which has a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gate structure and a built-in diode, is a conforming product. The method includes measuring an ON voltage of the silicon carbide semiconductor device, passing a forward current through the built-in diode of the silicon carbide semiconductor device, measuring another ON voltage of the silicon carbide semiconductor device, which is the ON voltage of the silicon carbide semiconductor device after passing the forward current, calculating a rate of change between the ON voltage and the another ON voltage, and determining that the silicon carbide semiconductor device is a conforming product unless the calculated rate of change is less than 3%.

Abstract: In a vertical MOSFET having a trench gate structure, a lifetime killer region is provided in a p-type epitaxial layer formed by epitaxial growth. The lifetime killer region includes an electron lifetime killer that causes electrons entering the lifetime killer region to recombine and become extinct. As a result, the lifetime killer region decreases the electrons generated at the pn interface of the p-type epitaxial layer and an n-type drift layer and enables a configuration in which electrons are not delivered to the p-type epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device, including a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, and an insulating film formed on a front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate. The silicon carbide semiconductor substrate has fluorine implanted therein, a concentration of which is in a range of 2×1017/cm3 to 4×1018/cm3. A method of manufacturing the silicon carbide semiconductor device includes providing a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, forming an oxide film on a front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, removing a portion of the oxide film to expose the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, implanting fluorine ions in the front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate through the removed portion of the oxide film, removing the oxide film after the fluorine ions are implanted, and forming an insulating film on the front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate after the oxide film is removed.

Abstract: In a vertical MOSFET having a trench gate structure, a lifetime killer region is provided in a p-type epitaxial layer formed by epitaxial growth. The lifetime killer region includes an electron lifetime killer that causes electrons entering the lifetime killer region to recombine and become extinct. As a result, the lifetime killer region decreases the electrons generated at the pn interface of the p-type epitaxial layer and an n-type drift layer and enables a configuration in which electrons are not delivered to the p-type epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device, including a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, and an insulating film formed on a front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate. The silicon carbide semiconductor substrate has fluorine implanted therein, a concentration of which is in a range of 2×1017/cm3 to 4×1018/cm3. A method of manufacturing the silicon carbide semiconductor device includes providing a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, forming an oxide film on a front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, removing a portion of the oxide film to expose the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate, implanting fluorine ions in the front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate through the removed portion of the oxide film, removing the oxide film after the fluorine ions are implanted, and forming an insulating film on the front surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate after the oxide film is removed.

Abstract: A method of forming a protective film for a magnetic recording medium is disclosed. The protective film suppresses cobalt elution out of the magnetic recording layer and has a thickness not larger than 3 nm. The method of the invention of forming a protective film for a magnetic recording medium comprises (1) a step of forming a protective film, on a lamination including a substrate and metallic film layers formed on the substrate, by means of a plasma CVD method using a raw gas of a hydrocarbon gas, wherein a flow rate of the hydrocarbon gas is in a range of 50 sccm to 200 sccm and a emission current is in a range of 0.1 A to 0.3 A, and (2) a step of surface treatment on the protective film that has been formed in the step (1), including sub-steps of (2a) a plasma treatment in an argon gas and (2b) a plasma treatment in a gas containing a nitrogen gas.

Abstract: A method of forming a protective film for a magnetic recording medium is disclosed. The protective film suppresses cobalt elution out of the magnetic recording layer and has a thickness not larger than 3 nm. The method of the invention of forming a protective film for a magnetic recording medium comprises (1) a step of forming a protective film, on a lamination including a substrate and metallic film layers formed on the substrate, by means of a plasma CVD method using a raw gas of a hydrocarbon gas, wherein a flow rate of the hydrocarbon gas is in a range of 50 sccm to 200 sccm and a emission current is in a range of 0.1 A to 0.3 A, and (2) a step of surface treatment on the protective film that has been formed in the step (1), including sub-steps of (2a) a plasma treatment in an argon gas and (2b) a plasma treatment in a gas containing a nitrogen gas.

Abstract: A method of forming a carbon protective film is disclosed that improves electromagnetic conversion characteristics through reduction of the film thickness without any damage on a magnetic layer. Also disclosed is a magnetic recording medium that exhibits good electromagnetic conversion characteristics and corrosion resistance. The method of forming the carbon protective film uses a high frequency plasma CVD method on a disk including at least a magnetic film on a nonmagnetic substrate. A bias voltage in a range of ?200 V to zero V is applied at the beginning of discharge in a process of forming the carbon protective film, and a bias voltage in a range of ?500 V to ?200 V is applied at the end of discharge. Also disclosed is a magnetic recording medium having at least a magnetic film and a protective film on a nonmagnetic substrate, wherein the protective film is formed by the method of forming a protective film stated above according to the invention.