Simulations and experiments of SiC heteroepitaxial growth on Si(001) surface

Mechanism of SiC heteroepitaxial growth by the carbonization of the Si(001) surface was studied at the atomic scale using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) experiments. Heteroepitaxial growth of single crystal 3c-SiC on the Si(001) surface (3c-SiC[001]∥Si[001] and 3c-SiC[110]∥Si[110]) was observed in both the MD simulations and MBE experiments. Breaking of the Si—Si bonds and shrinkage of the [110] Si rows with C atoms are possible mechanisms for the heteroepitaxial growth of SiC on Si(001). Microscopic structures and mechanisms of the twin formations and pit formations are discussed. Ultraviolet light irradiation is proposed and confirmed to enhance the epitaxial growth of SiC in the MBE experiments.