High-Voltage 4H-SiC PiN Diodes With Etched Junction Termination Extension

Implantation-free mesa-etched 4H-SiC PiN diodes with a near-ideal breakdown voltage of 4.3 kV (about 80% of the theoretical value) were fabricated, measured, and analyzed by device simulation and optical imaging measurements at breakdown. The key step in achieving a high breakdown voltage is a controlled etching into the epitaxially grown p-doped anode layer to reach an optimum dopant dose of ~ 1.2 times 10
¹³
cm
^-2
in the junction termination extension (JTE). Electroluminescence revealed a localized avalanche breakdown that is in good agreement with device simulation. A comparison of diodes with single- and double-zone etched JTEs shows a higher breakdown voltage and a less sensitivity to varying processing conditions for diodes with a two-zone JTE.