Conduction Properties of NitAI Ohmic Contacts to AI-implanted p-type 4H-SiC

Ni/Al (`/` denotes deposition sequence) contacts were deposited on Al-implanted 4H-SiC for ohmic contact formation, and the conduction properties were characterized and compared with those of Ni-only contacts. The thicknesses of the Ni and Al thin film were 30 nm and 300 nm, respectively, and the films were sequentially deposited bye-beam evaporation without vacuum breaking. Rapid thermal anneal (RTA) temperature was varied as follows : , , and . The specific contact resistivity of the Ni contact was about , However, with the addition of Al overlayer, the specific contact resistivity decreased to about , almost irrespective of RTA temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the Ni contact confirmed the existence of various Ni silicide phases, while the results of Ni/Al contact samples revealed that Al-contaning phases such as , , , and were additionally formed as well as the Ni silicide phases. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum showed interfacial reaction zone mainly consisting of Al and Si at the contact interface, and it was also shown that considerable amounts of Si and C have diffused toward the surface. This indicates that contact resistance lowering of the Ni/Al contacts is related with the formation of the formation of interfacial reaction zone containing Al and Si. From these results, possible mechanisms of contact resistance lowering by the addition of Al were discussed.