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Time Evolution of Nanoscale Surface Topography of Tungsten Carbide Coatings on “Hot” Silicon Carbide Electronics Devices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Claudin Muntele
Affiliation:
[email protected], Alabama A&M University, Physics, PO Box 1447, Normal AL 35762, United States
Daniel Walker
Affiliation:
[email protected], Alabama A&M University, Physics, PO Box 1447, Normal, AL, 35762, United States
Abdalla Elsamadicy
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Alabama in Huntsville, Physics, Huntsville, AL, 35816, United States
Daryush Ila
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Alabama in Huntsville, Physics, Huntsville, AL, 35816, United States
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Abstract

We are reporting here on the current status of our investigations on the time evolution of nanoscale surface morphology of thermally evaporated tungsten carbide coatings on silicon carbide substrates. The purpose of the study is to develop a recipe for creating thermally and chemically stable electrical contacts on silicon carbide electronic devices able to work at elevated temperatures (up to 800 °C) in oxidizing environments. We used thermal evaporation and tungsten carbide (WC) powder as a starting material to produce the thin layer deposition on semi-insulating silicon carbide (6H). Our intended applications are for devices working at 800 °C; therefore, our investigations are carried out at 1 hr intervals of time the samples spent at this temperature, in air at atmospheric pressure. We used Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) for measuring the stoichiometry and depth profile, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to monitor the surface morphology change.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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References

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