Abstract: Methods for forming a graphene film on a silicon carbide material are provided, along with the resulting coated materials. The method can include: heating the silicon carbide material to a growth temperature (e.g., about 1,000° C. to about 2,200° C.), and exposing the silicon carbide material to a growth atmosphere comprising a halogen species. The halogen species reacts with the silicon carbide material to remove silicon therefrom. The halogen species can comprise fluorine (e.g., SiF4, etc.), chlorine (e.g., SiCl4), or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Methods are provided for growing basal plane dislocation (BPD)-free SiC device-ready epilayers, particularly suitable for 4H-SiC devices. The devices are formed via a substantially 100% conversion of BPDs to threading edge dislocations (TEDs) while pinning the conversion point below the epilayer interface. Methods include the formation of a recombination layer on a previously formed and etched buffer layer. Devices allow for improved reliability and efficiency of high voltage switches used in the day-to-day applications such as inverters, uninterrupted power supplies, and other high power handling devices employed in hybrid electric vehicles, aircraft electronic systems, etc. by enabling the manufacture of smaller, lighter, and more efficient, high power SiC devices in a cost effective, reliable platform.

Abstract: Methods for forming an epilayer on a surface of a substrate are generally provided. For example, a substrate can be positioned within a hot wall CVD chamber (e.g., onto a susceptor within the CVD chamber). At least two source gases can then be introduced into the hot wall CVD chamber such that, upon decomposition, fluorine atoms, carbon atoms, and silicon atoms are present within the CVD chamber. The epilayer comprising SiC can then be grown on the surface of the substrate in the presence of the fluorine atoms.

Abstract: A bi-polar device is provided, along with methods of making the same. The bi-polar device can include a semiconductor substrate doped with a first dopant, a semiconductor layer on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a Schottky barrier layer on the semiconductor layer. The method of forming a bi-polar device can include: forming a semiconductor layer on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate, where the semiconductor substrate comprises a first dopant and where the semiconductor layer comprises a second dopant that has an opposite polarity than the first dopant; and forming a Schottky barrier layer on a first portion of the semiconductor layer while leaving a second portion of the semiconductor layer exposed.

Abstract: Methods for forming an epilayer on a surface of a substrate are generally provided. For example, a substrate can be positioned within a hot wall CVD chamber (e.g., onto a susceptor within the CVD chamber). At least two source gases can then be introduced into the hot wall CVD chamber such that, upon decomposition, fluorine atoms, carbon atoms, and silicon atoms are present within the CVD chamber. The epilayer comprising SiC can then be grown on the surface of the substrate in the presence of the fluorine atoms.

Abstract: Methods for forming an epilayer on a surface of a substrate are generally provided. For example, a substrate can be positioned within a hot wall CVD chamber (e.g., onto a susceptor within the CVD chamber). At least two source gases can then be introduced into the hot wall CVD chamber such that, upon decomposition, fluorine atoms, carbon atoms, and silicon atoms are present within the CVD chamber. The epilayer comprising SiC can then be grown on the surface of the substrate in the presence of the fluorine atoms.

Abstract: A method of growing an epitaxial layer on a substrate is generally provided. According to the method, the substrate is heated in a chemical vapor deposition chamber to a growth temperature in the presence of a carbon source gas, then the epitaxial layer is grown on the substrate at the growth temperature, and finally the substrate is cooled in a chemical vapor deposition chamber to at least about 80% of the growth temperature in the presence of a carbon source gas. Substrates formed from this method can have a carrier lifetime between about 0.25 ?s and about 9.9 ?s.

Abstract: Non-destructive pretreatment methods are generally provided for a surface of a SiC substrate with substantially no degradation of surface morphology thereon. In one particular embodiment, a molten suspension mixture (e.g., including KOH (or KOH eutectic) and a buffering agent) is applied directly onto the surface of the SiC substrate to form a treated surface thereon. An epitaxial film (e.g., SiC) can then be grown on the treated surface to achieve very high (e.g., up to and including 100%) BPD to TED conversion rate close to the epilayer/substrate interface.

Abstract: Non-destructive pretreatment methods are generally provided for a surface of a SiC substrate with substantially no degradation of surface morphology thereon. In one particular embodiment, a molten mixture (e.g., including KOH and a buffering agent) is applied directly onto the surface of the SiC substrate to form a treated surface thereon. An epitaxial film (e.g., SiC) can then be grown on the treated surface to achieve very high (e.g., up to and including 100%) BPD to TED conversion rate close to the epilayer/substrate interface.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a silicon carbide layer having a first conductivity type and a main junction adjacent a surface of the silicon carbide layer, and a junction termination region at the surface of the silicon carbide layer adjacent the main junction. Charge in the junction termination region decreases with lateral distance from the main junction, and a maximum charge in the junction termination region may be less than about 2×1014 cm?2.

Abstract: A bi-polar device is provided, along with methods of making the same. The bi-polar device can include a semiconductor substrate doped with a first dopant, a semiconductor layer on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a Schottky barrier layer on the semiconductor layer. The method of forming a bi-polar device can include: forming a semiconductor layer on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate, where the semiconductor substrate comprises a first dopant and where the semiconductor layer comprises a second dopant that has an opposite polarity than the first dopant; and forming a Schottky barrier layer on a first portion of the semiconductor layer while leaving a second portion of the semiconductor layer exposed.

Abstract: Methods for forming a graphene film on a silicon carbide material are provided, along with the resulting coated materials. The method can include: heating the silicon carbide material to a growth temperature (e.g., about 1,000° C. to about 2,200° C.), and exposing the silicon carbide material to a growth atmosphere comprising a halogen species. The halogen species reacts with the silicon carbide material to remove silicon therefrom. The halogen species can comprise fluorine (e.g., SiF4, etc.), chlorine (e.g., SiCl4), or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Non-destructive pretreatment methods are generally provided for a surface of a SiC substrate with substantially no degradation of surface morphology thereon. In one particular embodiment, a molten suspension mixture (e.g., including KOH (or KOH eutectic) and a buffering agent) is applied directly onto the surface of the SiC substrate to form a treated surface thereon. An epitaxial film (e.g., SiC) can then be grown on the treated surface to achieve very high (e.g., up to and including 100%) BPD to TED conversion rate close to the epilayer/substrate interface.

Abstract: Non-destructive pretreatment methods are generally provided for a surface of a SiC substrate with substantially no degradation of surface morphology thereon. In one particular embodiment, a molten mixture (e.g., including KOH and a buffering agent) is applied directly onto the surface of the SiC substrate to form a treated surface thereon. An epitaxial film (e.g., SiC) can then be grown on the treated surface to achieve very high (e.g., up to and including 100%) BPD to TED conversion rate close to the epilayer/substrate interface.

Abstract: Non-destructive pretreatment methods are generally provided for a surface of a SiC substrate with substantially no degradation of surface morphology thereon. In one particular embodiment, a molten mixture (e.g., including KOH and a buffering agent) is applied directly onto the surface of the SiC substrate to form a treated surface thereon. An epitaxial film (e.g., SiC) can then be grown on the treated surface to achieve very high (e.g., up to and including 100%) BPD to TED conversion rate close to the epilayer/substrate interface.

Abstract: Methods for forming an epilayer on a surface of a substrate are generally provided. For example, a substrate can be positioned within a hot wall CVD chamber (e.g., onto a susceptor within the CVD chamber). At least two source gases can then be introduced into the hot wall CVD chamber such that, upon decomposition, fluorine atoms, carbon atoms, and silicon atoms are present within the CVD chamber. The epilayer comprising SiC can then be grown on the surface of the substrate in the presence of the fluorine atoms.

Abstract: A method of growing an epitaxial layer on a substrate is generally provided. According to the method, the substrate is heated in a chemical vapor deposition chamber to a growth temperature in the presence of a carbon source gas, then the epitaxial layer is grown on the substrate at the growth temperature, and finally the substrate is cooled in a chemical vapor deposition chamber to at least about 80% of the growth temperature in the presence of a carbon source gas. Substrates formed from this method can have a carrier lifetime between about 0.25 ?s and about 9.9 ?s.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a silicon carbide layer having a first conductivity type and a main junction adjacent a surface of the silicon carbide layer, and a junction termination region at the surface of the silicon carbide layer adjacent the main junction. Charge in the junction termination region decreases with lateral distance from the main junction, and a maximum charge in the junction termination region may be less than about 2×1014 cm?2.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a silicon carbide layer having a first conductivity type and a main junction adjacent a surface of the silicon carbide layer, and a junction termination region at the surface of the silicon carbide layer adjacent the main junction. Charge in the junction termination region decreases with lateral distance from the main junction, and a maximum charge in the junction termination region may be less than about 2×1014 cm?2.

Abstract: A method of growing an epitaxial layer on a substrate is generally provided. According to the method, the substrate is heated in a chemical vapor deposition chamber to a growth temperature in the presence of a carbon source gas, then the epitaxial layer is grown on the substrate at the growth temperature, and finally the substrate is cooled in a chemical vapor deposition chamber to at least about 80% of the growth temperature in the presence of a carbon source gas. Substrates formed from this method can have a carrier lifetime between about 0.25 ?s and about 9.9 ?s.