Growth of silicon carbide on (100) silicon substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract

A plasma activated gas source molecular beam epitaxy process has been developed in which the molecular beam is formed by activating a methane-hydrogen mixture in a plasma source. Amorphous carbon growth on (100) silicon substrates occurs when the substrate temperature exceeds 800°C. The growth of cubic silicon carbide is observed above 880°C. Epitaxial silicon carbide layers are characterised using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry and Rutherford backscattering.