Identification of the Negative Carbon Vacancy at Quasi-Cubic Site in 4H-SiC by EPR and Theoretical Calculations

Abstract

In freestandingn-type 4H-SiC epilayers irradiated with low-energy (250 keV) electrons at room temperature, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of the negative carbon vacancy at the hexagonal site, VC- (h), and a new signal were observed. From the similarity in defect formation and the spin-Hamiltonian parameters of the two defects, the new center is suggested to be the negative C vacancy at the quasi-cubic site, VC- (k). The identification is further supported by hyperfine calculations.