5.Silicon Carbide Technology

5-1 Introduction

5-1 Introduction Silicon carbide (SiC)-based semiconductor electronic devices and circuits are presently being developed for use in high-temperature, high-power, and high-radiation conditions under which conventional semiconductors cannot adequately perform. Silicon carbide’s ability to function under such extreme conditions is expected to enable significant improvements to a far-ranging variety of applications and systems. These range [...]

5-2-1 SiC Material Properties

SILICON CARBIDE (SiC) materials are currently metamorphosing from research and development into a market driven manufacturing product. SiC substrates are currently used as the base for a large fraction of the world production of green, blue, and ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Emerging markets for SiC homoepitaxy include high-power switching [...]

5-2-1-1 SiC Crystallography

5-2-1-1 SiC Crystallography Silicon carbide occurs in many different crystal structures, called polytypes. Despite the fact that all SiC polytypes chemically consist of 50% carbon atoms covalently bonded with 50% silicon atoms, each SiC polytype has its own distinct set of electrical semiconductor properties. While there are over 100 known [...]

5-2-1-2 Electrical Properties

5-2-1-2 Electrical Properties Owing to the differing arrangement of Si and C atoms within the SiC crystal lattice, each SiC polytype exhibits unique fundamental electrical and optical properties. Some of the more important semiconductor electrical properties of the 3C, 4H, and 6H SiC polytypes are given in Table 5.1. Much more detailed electrical [...]

5-2-2-1 SiC Crystallography: Important Polytypes and Definitions

5-2-2-1 SiC Crystallography: Important Polytypes and Definitions Silicon carbide occurs in many different crystal structures, called polytypes. A more comprehensive introduction to SiC crystallography and polytypism can be found in Reference 9. Despite the fact that all SiC polytypes chemically consist of 50% carbon atoms covalently bonded with 50% silicon atoms, each SiC [...]

5-2-2-2 SiC Semiconductor Electrical Properties

5-2-2-2 SiC Semiconductor Electrical Properties Owing to the differing arrangement of Si and C atoms within the SiC crystal lattice, each SiC polytype exhibits unique fundamental electrical and optical properties. Some of the more important semiconductor electrical properties of the 3C, 4H, and 6H SiC polytypes are given in Table 5.1. Much [...]

5-3 Applications and Benefits of SiC Electronics

5-3 Applications and Benefits of SiC Electronics Two of the most beneficial advantages that SiC-based electronics offer are in the areas of high-temperature and high-power device operation. The specific SiC device physics that enables high-temperature and high-power capabilities will be examined first, by several examples of revolutionary system-level performance improvements these enhanced capabilities [...]

5-3-1 High-Temperature Device Operation

5-3-1 High-Temperature Device Operation The wide bandgap energy and low intrinsic carrier concentration of SiC allow SiC to maintain semiconductor behavior at much higher temperatures than silicon, which in turn permits SiC semiconductor device functionality at much higher temperatures than silicon . As discussed in basic semiconductor electronic device physics textbooks, semiconductor electronic [...]

5-3-2 High-Power Device Operation

5-3-2 High-Power Device Operation The high breakdown field and high thermal conductivity of SiC coupled with high operational junction temperatures theoretically permit extremely high-power densities and efficiencies to be realized in SiC devices. The high breakdown field of SiC relative to silicon enables the blocking voltage region of a power device to be [...]

5-3-3 System Benefits of High-Power High-Temperature SiC Devices

5-3-3 System Benefits of High-Power High-Temperature SiC Devices Uncooled operation of high-temperature and high-power SiC electronics would enable revolutionary improvements to aerospace systems. Replacement of hydraulic controls and auxiliary power units with distributed “smart” electromechanical controls capable of harsh ambient operation will enable substantial jet-aircraft weight savings, reduced maintenance, reduced pollution, higher fuel [...]