AbstractArgon ions (Ar+) were implanted into n-type 4H-SiC epitaxial layers at 600 °C. The energy of the ions was 160 keV and at a dose of 2 × 1016 cm−2. After post-implantation annealing at 1600 °C, Schottky diodes were fabricated on the ion implanted samples. Bulk n-type 4H-SiC samples were irradiated at room temperature with 1 MeV electrons at doses of 1 × 1016 to 5.1 × 1017 el/cm2. The current density of the beam was 0.91 μA/cm2. Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) was used to characterize the induced defects. DLTS studies of Ar+ implanted samples showed six defect levels at EC – 0.18 eV, EC – 0.23eV, EC – 0.31eV, EC – 0.38 eV, EC – 0.72 eV, and EC – 0.81 eV. Z1/Z2 defect is the dominant defect in the electron irradiated sample and anneals out completely after 10 minutes at 1000 °C. However, Z1/Z2 defect in Ar+ implanted samples was stable up to 1600 °C. It is suggested that the annealing behavior of Z1/Z2 depends on the source of its formation.
