Investigation of Ti₃SiC₂ MAX Phase Formation onto N-Type 4H-SiC

In this study, investigations on MAX phase Ti3SiC2 formation to n-type 4H-SiC substrates and its ohmic-behaved are reported. Ti-Al layers were deposited onto SiC substrates at room temperature by magnetron sputtering in high vacuum system. Thermal annealing at 1000°C in Ar atmosphere were performed to allow interdiffusion processes. X-ray diffraction and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy reveal that a Ti3SiC2 contact, in perfect epitaxy with 4H-SiC substrate, is so-obtained. In situ annealing experiment underlines the evolution of Ti-Al contact microstructure versus temperature. The evolution of contact system from Schottky to Ohmic behaved is observed by I-V measurements for annealing temperatures larger than 700°C.