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Title: Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Point Defect Accumulation in 3C-SiC

Conference ·
OSTI ID:15007640

Defect accumulation in silicon carbide has been simulated by molecular dynamics using a Brenner-type potential connected smoothly to the Ziegler-Biersack-Littmark potential. Displacement damage in 3C-SiC, which is known to consist of point defects, vacancy and interstitial clusters and anti-site defects, was modelled by introducing random displacements in the Si or C sublattice. SiC was amorphized by Si displacements at a damage level corresponding to 0.15 displacements per atom (dpa) and by C displacements at 0.25 dpa. In both cases, the damage consists of Si and C Frenkel pairs as well as anti-site defects. The results provide evidence that SiC can be amorphized by displacing C atoms exclusively and suggest that short-range disorder provides the driving force for amorphization of SiC.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
15007640
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-40161; 8208; 3448; KC0201020; TRN: US0402210
Resource Relation:
Conference: Radiation Effects and Ion Beam Processing of Materials, Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings held December 1-5, 2003, Boston, Massachusetts, 792:479-484, Paper No. R4.1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English