Comparison of Displacement Damage in 4H-SiC Schottky Barrier Diodes Irradiated by 1 MeV Electrons and 3 MeV Protons
Abstract
This work systematically investigates the displacement damage in 4H-SiC Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) induced by 1 MeV electrons and 3 MeV protons. By calculating the non-ionizing energy loss (NIEL) and corresponding displacement damage dose (Dd), we demonstrate the failure of theNIELmethod to unify the electrical degradation trends observed in both protons and electrons irradiated devices. Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) reveals distinct defect spectra for each particle type, yet a strong linear correlation is established between the concentration of the Z1/2center and the degradation of key electrical parameters across both particles. Combined with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, we attribute the limitations ofNIELmethod to the particle specific Primary Knock-on Atom (PKA) spectra, which lead to divergent defect evolution. These findings provide critical insights into defect mediated degradation mechanisms, offering a more physically grounded model for the radiation hardened design of SiC power devices.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Silicon Carbide Semiconductor Technologies
Radiation Effects in Electronics
Pulsed Power Technology Applications
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 100–109
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026