SiC is unique amongst the wide bandgap semiconductors in that the natural thermal oxide is stoichiometric SiO2, as is the case for silicon. The possibility of producing devices such as MOSFET in which thermal SiO2 is used as the gate insulator has motivated substantial work aimed at understanding the morphology and electrical properties of the SiO2/SiC interface and the processes responsible for thermal oxide growth. The oxide growth kinetics are quite different, parallel and anti-parallel to the crystal polar direction. We review the experimental study of the nature of the thermal oxide grown in ultra-dry oxygen and of the extended interfacial region at the SiO2/SiC interface on the nominally Si-terminated and C-terminated polar surfaces of hexagonal polytypes of SiC, highlighting how the use of stable isotopic tracing has helped to clarify processes for which kinetics measurements alone do not prove to be sufficiently incisive.

One and three bilayers of HfO2(9Å)∕Al2O3(3Å) thin films were grown by atomic layer chemical-vapor deposition on Si(001) substrates whose surfaces were nitrided or oxidized. The films as-grown and postannealed in an ultrahigh vacuum were analyzed by atomic force microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, and medium energy ion scattering. For the one- and three-bilayer films grown on the nitrided Si substrates, the HfO2 and Al2O3 layers are mixed to form Hf aluminates at temperatures above 600°C. The mixed Hf aluminate layer is partly decomposed into HfO2 and Al2O3 grains and Al2O3 segregates to the surface by postannealing at 900°C. Complete decomposition takes place at 1000°C and the surface is covered with Al2O3. The surfaces are uniform and almost flat up to 900°C but are considerably roughened at 1000°C due to the complete decomposition of the Hf aluminate layer. In contrast, for one- bilayer films stacked on the oxidized Si substrates, Hf silicate layers, including Hf aluminate, are formed by annealing at 600–800°C. At temperatures above 900°C, HfSi2 grows and Al oxide escapes from the surface.

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