Abstract: A method for the epitaxial growth of SiC is described which includes contacting a surface of a substrate with hydrogen and HCl, subsequently increasing the temperature of the substrate to at least 1550° C. and epitaxially growing SiC on the surface of the substrate. A method for the epitaxial growth of SiC is also described which includes heating a substrate to a temperature of at least 1550° C., contacting a surface of the substrate with a C containing gas and a Si containing gas at a C/Si ratio of 0.5-0.8 to form a SiC buffer layer and subsequently contacting the surface with a C containing gas and a Si containing gas at a C/Si ratio >0.8 to form a SiC epitaxial layer on the SiC buffer layer. The method results in silicon carbide epitaxial layers with improved surface morphology.