  The influence of implantation-induced point defects (PDs) on SiC oxidation is
investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. PDs generally increase the
oxidation rate of crystalline grains. Particularly, accelerations caused by Si
antisites and vacancies are comparable, and followed by Si interstitials, which
are higher than those by C antisites and C interstitials. However, in the grain
boundary (GB) region, defect contribution to oxidation is more complex, with C
antisites decelerating oxidation. The underlying reason is the formation of a
C-rich region along the oxygen diffusion pathway that blocks the access of O to
Si and thus reduces the oxidation rate, as compared to the oxidation along a GB
without defects.
