Alkali Metal Re-Distribution after Oxidation of 4H-SiC

Relocation of alkali metals sodium, potassium and cesium during oxidation of 4H-SiC has been studied by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The alkali metal source has been introduced by ion implantation before oxidation into n-and p-type 4H-SiC samples. Dry oxidation of SiC has been performed at 1150 oC during 4, 8 and 16 h. In the formed oxide, the main part of the alkali metals diffuses out via the SiO2 surface. Close to the moving SiO2/SiC interface, a minor amount of alkali metals is retained. In the SiC material, the main amount of implanted alkali atoms is not redistributed during the oxidation, although a minor amount diffuses deeper into the samples. For p-type 4H-SiC, the diffusion deeper into the samples of the studied alkali metals decreases as the mass increases, Na+