Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic device using a group III nitride substrate fabricated via the ammonothermal method. By utilizing the high-electron concentration of ammonothermally grown substrates having the dislocation density less than 105 cm?2, combined with a high-purity active layer of Ga1-x-yAlxInyN (0?x?1, 0?y?1) grown by a vapor phase method, the device can attain high level of breakdown voltage as well as low on-resistance. To realize a good matching between the ammonothermally grown substrate and the high-purity active layer, a transition layer is optionally introduced. The active layer is thicker than a depletion region created by a device structure in the active layer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a semi-insulating wafer of GaxAlyIn1-x-yN (0?x?1, 0?x+y?1) which is doped with bismuth (Bi). The semi-insulating wafer has the resistivity of 104 ohm-cm or more. Although it is very difficult to obtain a single crystal ingot of group III nitride, the ammonothermal method can grow highly-oriented poly or single crystal ingot of group III nitride having the density of dislocations/grain boundaries less than 105 cm?2. The invention also disclose the method of fabricating the semi-insulating group III nitride bulk crystals and wafers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic device using a group III nitride substrate fabricated via the ammonothermal method. By utilizing the high-electron concentration of ammonothermally grown substrates having the dislocation density less than 105 cm?2, combined with a high-purity active layer of Ga1-x-yAlxInyN (0?x?1, 0?y?1) grown by a vapor phase method, the device can attain high level of breakdown voltage as well as low on-resistance. To realize a good matching between the ammonothermally grown substrate and the high-purity active layer, a transition layer is optionally introduced. The active layer is thicker than a depletion region created by a device structure in the active layer.

Abstract: In one instance, the invention provides a substrate for growing a thick layer of group III nitride. The substrate has a first surface prepared for epitaxial growth of group III nitride and a second surface, opposite to the first surface, having a plurality of grooves. The invention also provides a method of producing a thick layer or a bulk crystal of group III nitride using a grooved substrate. The grooved substrate in one configuration grows a thick layer or a bulk crystal of group III nitride with reduced bow and/or spontaneous separation from the substrate.

Abstract: In one instance, the invention provides a substrate for growing a thick layer of group III nitride. The substrate has a first surface prepared for epitaxial growth of group III nitride and a second surface, opposite to the first surface, having a plurality of grooves. The invention also provides a method of producing a thick layer or a bulk crystal of group III nitride using a grooved substrate. The grooved substrate in one configuration grows a thick layer or a bulk crystal of group III nitride with reduced bow and/or spontaneous separation from the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of growing an ingot of group III nitride. Group III nitride crystals such as GaN are grown by the ammonothermal method on both sides of a seed to form an ingot and the ingot is sliced into wafers. The wafer including the first-generation seed is sliced thicker than the other wafers so that the wafer including the first-generation seed does not break. The wafer including the first-generation seed crystal can be used as a seed for the next ammonothermal growth.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a semi-insulating wafer of GaxAlyIn1-x-yN (0?x?1, 0?x+y?1) which is doped with bismuth (Bi). The semi-insulating wafer has the resistivity of 104 ohm-cm or more. Although it is very difficult to obtain a single crystal ingot of group III nitride, the ammonothermal method can grow highly-oriented poly or single crystal ingot of group III nitride having the density of dislocations/grain boundaries less than 105 cm?2. The invention also disclose the method of fabricating the semi-insulating group III nitride bulk crystals and wafers.

Abstract: A gallium nitride crystal with a polyhedron shape having exposed {10-10} m-planes and an exposed (000-1) N-polar c-plane, wherein a surface area of the exposed (000-1) N-polar c-plane is more than 10 mm2 and a total surface area of the exposed {10-10} m-planes is larger than half of the surface area of (000-1) N-polar c-plane. The GaN bulk crystals were grown by an ammonothermal method with a higher temperature and temperature difference than is used conventionally, using a high-pressure vessel with an upper region and a lower region. The temperature of the lower region is at or above 550° C., the temperature of the upper region is set at or above 500° C., and the temperature difference between the lower and upper regions is maintained at or above 30° C. GaN seed crystals having a longest dimension along the c-axis and exposed large area m-planes are used.

Abstract: Present invention discloses a high-pressure vessel of large size formed with a limited size of e.g. Ni—Cr based precipitation hardenable superalloy. Vessel may have multiple zones. For instance, the high-pressure vessel may be divided into at least three regions with flow-restricting devices and the crystallization region is set higher temperature than other regions. This structure helps to reliably seal both ends of the high-pressure vessel, at the same time, may help to greatly reduce unfavorable precipitation of group III nitride at the bottom of the vessel. Invention also discloses novel procedures to grow crystals with improved purity, transparency and structural quality. Alkali metal-containing mineralizers are charged with minimum exposure to oxygen and moisture until the high-pressure vessel is filled with ammonia. Several methods to reduce oxygen contamination during the process steps are presented.

Abstract: Present invention discloses a high-pressure vessel of large size formed with a limited size of e.g. Ni—Cr based precipitation hardenable superalloy. Vessel may have multiple zones. For instance, the high-pressure vessel may be divided into at least three regions with flow-restricting devices and the crystallization region is set higher temperature than other regions. This structure helps to reliably seal both ends of the high-pressure vessel, at the same time, may help to greatly reduce unfavorable precipitation of group III nitride at the bottom of the vessel. Invention also discloses novel procedures to grow crystals with improved purity, transparency and structural quality. Alkali metal-containing mineralizers are charged with minimum exposure to oxygen and moisture until the high-pressure vessel is filled with ammonia. Several methods to reduce oxygen contamination during the process steps are presented.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel composite substrate which solves the problem associated with the quality of substrate surface. The composite substrate has at least two layers comprising the first layer composed of GaxAlyIn1-x-yN (0?x?1, 0?x+y?1) and the second layer composed of metal oxide wherein the second layer can be removed with in-situ etching at elevated temperature. The metal oxide layer is designed to act as a protective layer of the first layer until the fabrication of devices. The metal oxide layer is designed so that it can be removed in a fabrication reactor of the devices through gas-phase etching by reactive gas such as ammonia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of growing an ingot of group III nitride. Group III nitride crystals such as GaN are grown by the ammonothermal method on both sides of a seed to form an ingot and the ingot is sliced into wafers. The wafer including the first-generation seed is sliced thicker than the other wafers so that the wafer including the first-generation seed does not break. The wafer including the first-generation seed crystal can be used as a seed for the next ammonothermal growth.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel composite substrate which solves the problem associated with the quality of substrate surface. The composite substrate has at least two layers comprising the first layer composed of GaxAlyIn1-x-yN (0?x?1, 0?x+y?1) and the second layer composed of metal oxide wherein the second layer can be removed with in-situ etching at elevated temperature. The metal oxide layer is designed to act as a protective layer of the first layer until the fabrication of devices. The metal oxide layer is designed so that it can be removed in a fabrication reactor of the devices through gas-phase etching by reactive gas such as ammonia.

Abstract: In one instance, the invention provides a bulk crystal of group III nitride having a thickness of more than 1 mm without cracking above the sides of a seed crystal. This bulk group III nitride crystal is expressed as Gax1Aly1In1-x1-y1N (0?x1?1, 0?x1+y1?1) and the seed crystal is expressed as Gax2Aly2In1-x2-y2N (0?x2?1, 0?x2+y2?1). The bulk crystal of group III nitride can be grown in supercritical ammonia or a melt of group III metal using at least one seed crystal having basal planes of c-orientation and sidewalls of m-orientation. By exposing only c-planes and m-planes in this instance, cracks originating from the sides of the seed crystal are avoided.

Abstract: In one instance, the invention provides a bulk crystal of group III nitride having a thickness of more than 1 mm without cracking above the sides of a seed crystal. This bulk group III nitride crystal is expressed as Gax1Aly1In1-x1-y1N (0?x1?1, 0?x1+y1?1) and the seed crystal is expressed as Gax2Aly2In1-x2-y2N (0?x2?1, 0?x2+y2?1). The bulk crystal of group III nitride can be grown in supercritical ammonia or a melt of group III metal using at least one seed crystal having basal planes of c-orientation and sidewalls of m-orientation. By exposing only c-planes and m-planes in this instance, cracks originating from the sides of the seed crystal are avoided.

Abstract: In one instance, the invention provides a bulk crystal of group III nitride having a thickness of more than 1 mm without cracking above the sides of a seed crystal. This bulk group III nitride crystal is expressed as Gax1Aly1In1-x1-y1N (?x1?1, 0?x1+y1?1) and the seed crystal is expressed as Gax2Aly2In1-x2-y2N (0?x2?1, 0?x2+y2?1). The bulk crystal of group III nitride can be grown in supercritical ammonia or a melt of group III metal using at least one seed crystal having basal planes of c-orientation and sidewalls of m-orientation. By exposing only c-planes and m-planes in this instance, cracks originating from the sides of the seed crystal are avoided.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one instance, a group III nitride wafer sliced from a group III nitride ingot, polished to remove the surface damage layer and tested with x-ray diffraction. The x-ray incident beam is irradiated at an angle less than 15 degree and diffraction peak intensity is evaluated. The group III nitride wafer passing this test has sufficient surface quality for device fabrication. The invention also provides, in one instance, a method of producing group III nitride wafer by slicing a group III nitride ingot, polishing at least one surface of the wafer, and testing the surface quality with x-ray diffraction having an incident beam angle less than 15 degree to the surface. The invention also provides, in an instance, a test method for testing the surface quality of group III nitride wafers using x-ray diffraction having an incident beam angle less than 15 degree to the surface.

Abstract: The invention provides, in one instance, a group III nitride wafer sliced from a group III nitride ingot, polished to remove the surface damage layer and tested with x-ray diffraction. The x-ray incident beam is irradiated at an angle less than 15 degree and diffraction peak intensity is evaluated. The group III nitride wafer passing this test has sufficient surface quality for device fabrication. The invention also provides, in one instance, a method of producing group III nitride wafer by slicing a group III nitride ingot, polishing at least one surface of the wafer, and testing the surface quality with x-ray diffraction having an incident beam angle less than 15 degree to the surface. The invention also provides, in an instance, a test method for testing the surface quality of group III nitride wafers using x-ray diffraction having an incident beam angle less than 15 degree to the surface.

Abstract: A high-pressure cylindrical reactor suitable for a high-pressure process using supercritical ammonia to form bulk crystals of group III nitride or transition metal nitride is disclosed. In one instance, the reactor has a reactor body and lid formed of precipitation hardenable Ni—Cr superalloy and is sealed by a gasket made of Ni-based metal. Ni content of the gasket is greater than Ni content of both the reactor body and lid. The gasket is tapered so that its thickest part is at or near the gasket's inner radius or circumference, and the thinnest part of the gasket is more than 0.2 inch thick and is at or near the gasket's outer radius or circumference. The gasket's surfaces are compressed at 60,000 psi or higher. This construction provides a consistent seal of the reactor for repeated use.

Abstract: Bulk crystal of group III nitride having thickness greater than 1 mm with improved crystal quality, reduced lattice bowing and/or reduced crack density and methods of making. Bulk crystal has a seed crystal, a first crystalline portion grown on the first side of the seed crystal and a second crystalline portion grown on the second side of the seed crystal. Either or both crystalline portions have an electron concentration and/or an oxygen concentration similar to the seed crystal. The bulk crystal can have an additional seed crystal, with common faces (e.g. same polarity, same crystal plane) of seed crystals joined so that a first crystalline part grows on the first face of the first seed crystal and a second crystalline part grows on the first face of the second seed crystal. Each crystalline part's electron concentration and/or oxygen concentration may be similar to its corresponding seed crystal.