Forming From Vapor Or Gaseous State (e.g., Vpe, Sublimation) Patents (Class 117/84)
  • Patent number: 9028612
    Abstract: In various embodiments, non-zero thermal gradients are formed within a growth chamber both substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to the growth direction during formation of semiconductor crystals, where the ratio of the two thermal gradients (parallel to perpendicular) is less than 10, by, e.g., arrangement of thermal shields outside of the growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Crystal IS, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Bondokov, Shailaja P. Rao, Shawn Robert Gibb, Leo J. Schowalter
  • Patent number: 9023306
    Abstract: The invention relates to a single crystal boron doped CVD diamond that has a toughness of at least about 22 MPa m1/2. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing single crystal boron doped CVD diamond. The growth rate of the diamond can be from about 20-100 ?m/h.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Carnegie Institution of Washington
    Inventors: Russell J. Hemley, Ho-Kwang Mao, Chih-Shiue Yan, Qi Liang
  • Patent number: 9023673
    Abstract: A method to grow single phase group III-nitride articles including films, templates, free-standing substrates, and bulk crystals grown in semi-polar and non-polar orientations is disclosed. One or more steps in the growth process includes the use of additional free hydrogen chloride to eliminate undesirable phases, reduce surface roughness, and increase crystalline quality. The invention is particularly well-suited to the production of single crystal (11.2) GaN articles that have particular use in visible light emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ostendo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Shapovalov, Oleg Kovalenkov, Vladimir Ivantsov, Vitali Soukhoveev, Alexander Syrkin, Alexander Usikov
  • Patent number: 9005363
    Abstract: Methods of depositing thin film materials having crystalline content are provided. The methods use plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. According to one embodiment of the present invention, microcrystalline silicon films are obtained. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, crystalline films of zinc oxide are obtained. According to a third embodiment of the present invention, crystalline films of iron oxide are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sencera Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell F Jewett, Steven F Pugh, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20150096488
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for growing and preferentially volumetrically enhancing group III-V nitride crystals. In particular the systems and methods include diffusing constituent species of the crystals through a porous body composed of the constituent species, where the species freely nucleate to grow large nitride crystals. The systems and methods further include using thermal gradients and/or chemical driving agents to enhance or limit crystal growth in one or more planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Peng Lu, Jason Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8992877
    Abstract: A method of forming mono-crystalline diamond by chemical vapor deposition, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one diamond seed; (b) exposing the seed to conditions for growing diamond by chemical vapor deposition, including supplying reaction gases that include a carbon-containing gas and hydrogen for growing diamond and include a nitrogen-containing gas; and (c) controlling the quantity of nitrogen-containing gas relative to other gases in the reaction gases such that diamond is caused to grow by step-growth with defect free steps without inclusions. The nitrogen is present in the range of 0.0001 to 0.02 vol %. Diborane can also be present in a range of from 0.00002 to 0.002 vol %. The carbon-containing gas can be methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: IIA Technologies Pte. Ltd., Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
    Inventor: Devi Shanker Misra
  • Patent number: 8980003
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a silicon carbide single crystal, a silicon carbide substrate having a surface of one of a (11-2n) plane and a (1-10n) plane, where n is any integer number greater than or equal to 0, is prepared. An epitaxial layer having a predetermined impurity concentration is grown on the one of the (11-2n) plane and the (1-10n) plane of the silicon carbide substrate by a chemical vapor deposition method so that a threading dislocation is discharged from a side surface of the epitaxial layer. A silicon carbide single crystal is grown into a bulk shape by a sublimation method on the one of the (11-2n) plane and the (1-10n) plane of the epitaxial layer from which the threading dislocation is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Watanabe, Yasuo Kitou, Masami Naito
  • Patent number: 8980000
    Abstract: In a rotating disk reactor for growing epitaxial layers on substrate or other CVD reactor system, gas directed toward the substrates at gas inlets at different radial distances from the axis of rotation of the disk has both substantially the same gas flow rate/velocity and substantially the same gas density at each inlet. The gas directed toward portions of the disk remote from the axis may include a higher concentration of a reactant gas than the gas directed toward portions of the disk close to the axis, so that portions of the substrate surfaces at different distances from the axis receive substantially the same amount of reactant gas per unit area, and a combination of carrier gases with different relative molecular weights at different radial distances from the axis of rotation are employed to substantially make equal the gas density in each region of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Bojan Mitrovic, Alex Gurary, William Quinn, Eric A. Armour
  • Patent number: 8980001
    Abstract: A susceptor having a recessed portion and a ring-like step portion is arranged in a reaction chamber, and a plurality of through bores are formed in a bottom wall in the recessed portion excluding the step portion. A lift pin inserted in each of the through bores temporarily holds a wafer, then a lower surface of an outer peripheral portion of the wafer is mounted on the step portion to accommodate the wafer in the recessed portion, and a raw material gas is circulated in the reaction chamber to form an epitaxial layer on a wafer surface in the recessed portion. When forming the epitaxial layer on the wafer surface, the lift pin protrudes upwards from an upper surface of the bottom wall, and a height h of a top portion of the lift pin based on the upper surface of the bottom wall as a reference is set to the range from a position where the height h exceeds 0 mm to a position immediately before the lift pin comes into contact with the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Sakurai, Masayuki Ishibashi
  • Publication number: 20150068445
    Abstract: A method of producing silicon carbide is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a sublimation furnace comprising a furnace shell, at least one heating element positioned outside the furnace shell, and a hot zone positioned inside the furnace shell surrounded by insulation. The hot zone comprises a crucible with a silicon carbide precursor positioned in the lower region and a silicon carbide seed positioned in the upper region. The hot zone is heated to sublimate the silicon carbide precursor, forming silicon carbide on the bottom surface of the silicon carbide seed. Also disclosed is the sublimation furnace to produce the silicon carbide as well as the resulting silicon carbide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Roman V. Drachev, Parthasarathy Santhanaraghavan, Andriy M. Andrukhiv, David S. Lyttle
  • Publication number: 20150068446
    Abstract: A method of producing silicon carbide is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a sublimation furnace comprising a furnace shell, at least one heating element positioned outside the furnace shell, and a hot zone positioned inside the furnace shell surrounded by insulation. The hot zone comprises a crucible with a silicon carbide precursor positioned in the lower region and a silicon carbide seed positioned in the upper region. The hot zone is heated to sublimate the silicon carbide precursor, forming silicon carbide on the bottom surface of the silicon carbide seed. Also disclosed is the sublimation furnace to produce the silicon carbide as well as the resulting silicon carbide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Roman V. Drachev, Andriy M. Andrukhiv, David S. Lyttle, Parthasarathy Santhanaraghavan
  • Publication number: 20150068447
    Abstract: A method of producing silicon carbide is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a sublimation furnace comprising a furnace shell, at least one heating element positioned outside the furnace shell, and a hot zone positioned inside the furnace shell surrounded by insulation. The hot zone comprises a crucible with a silicon carbide precursor positioned in the lower region and a silicon carbide seed positioned in the upper region. The hot zone is heated to sublimate the silicon carbide precursor, forming silicon carbide on the bottom surface of the silicon carbide seed. Also disclosed is the sublimation furnace to produce the silicon carbide as well as the resulting silicon carbide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Roman V. Drachev, Parthasarathy Santhanaraghavan, Andriy M. Andrukhiv, David S. Lyttle
  • Publication number: 20150059641
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for growing group III-V nitride crystals. In particular the systems and methods include diffusing constituent species of the crystals through a porous body composed of the constituent species, where the species freely nucleate to grow large nitride crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jason Schmitt, Peng Lu, Jeremy Jones
  • Patent number: 8956453
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for providing a crystalline germanium layer on a crystalline base substrate having a crystalline surface. The method comprises cleaning the base substrate for removing contaminants and/or native oxides from the surface, providing an amorphous germanium layer on the surface of the base substrate while exposing to the base substrate to a hydrogen source such as e.g. a hydrogen plasma, a H2 flux or hydrogen originating from dissociation of GeH4 and/or to a non-reactive gas source such as N2, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn or mixtures thereof, and crystallizing the amorphous germanium layer by annealing the base substrate so as to provide a crystalline germanium layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: IMEC, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Inventors: Ruben Lieten, Stefan Degroote
  • Patent number: 8945305
    Abstract: Methods for depositing a material, such as a metal or a transition metal oxide, using an ALD (atomic layer deposition) process and resulting structures are disclosed. Such methods include treating a surface of a semiconductor structure periodically throughout the ALD process to regenerate a blocking material or to coat a blocking material that enables selective deposition of the material on a surface of a substrate. The surface treatment may reactivate a surface of the substrate toward the blocking material, may restore the blocking material after degradation occurs during the ALD process, and/or may coat the blocking material to prevent further degradation during the ALD process. For example, the surface treatment may be applied after performing one or more ALD cycles. Accordingly, the presently disclosed methods enable in situ restoration of blocking materials in ALD process that are generally incompatible with the blocking material and also enables selective deposition in recessed structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene P. Marsh
  • Patent number: 8945304
    Abstract: A system and method A method of growing an elongate nanoelement from a growth surface includes: a) cleaning a growth surface on a base element; b) providing an ultrahigh vacuum reaction environment over the cleaned growth surface; c) generating a reactive gas of an atomic material to be used in forming the nanoelement; d) projecting a stream of the reactive gas at the growth surface within the reactive environment while maintaining a vacuum of at most 1×10?4 Pascal; e) growing the elongate nanoelement from the growth surface within the environment while maintaining the pressure of step c); f) after a desired length of nanoelement is attained within the environment, stopping direction of reactive gas into the environment; and g) returning the environment to an ultrahigh vacuum condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education on behalf of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of Nevada
    Inventors: Biswajit Das, Myung B. Lee
  • Patent number: 8945302
    Abstract: Method for crystal growth from a surfactant of a metal-nonmetal (MN) compound, including the procedures of providing a seed crystal, introducing atoms of a first metal to the seed crystal thus forming a thin liquid metal wetting layer on a surface of the seed crystal, setting a temperature of the seed crystal below a minimal temperature required for dissolving MN molecules in the wetting layer and above a melting point of the first metal, each one of the MN molecules being formed from an atom of a second metal and an atom of a first nonmetal, introducing the MN molecules which form an MN surfactant monolayer, thereby facilitating a formation of the wetting layer between the MN surfactant monolayer and the surface of the seed crystal, and regulating a thickness of the wetting layer, thereby growing an epitaxial layer of the MN compound on the seed crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mosaic Crystals Ltd.
    Inventor: Moshe Einav
  • Patent number: 8940614
    Abstract: A method of forming an epitaxial SiC film on SiC substrates in a warm wall CVD system, wherein the susceptor is actively heated and the ceiling and sidewall are not actively heated, but are allowed to be indirectly heated by the susceptor. The method includes a first process of reaction cell preparation and a second process of epitaxial film growth. The epitaxial growth is performed by flowing parallel to the surface of the wafers a gas mixture of hydrogen, silicon and carbon gases, at total gas velocity in a range 120 to 250 cm/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Loboda, Jie Zhang
  • Patent number: 8940093
    Abstract: A method of controlling an epitaxial growth process in an epitaxial reactor. The method includes optimizing the thermocouple offset parameter for a second run by setting up a modeled output parameter value as a linear function of the actual output parameter value, and a second thermocouple offset parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Manfred Schiekofer, Pietro Foglietti, Robert Maier
  • Publication number: 20150020731
    Abstract: Bulk single crystal of aluminum nitride (AlN) having an areal planar defect density?100 cm?2. Methods for growing single crystal aluminum nitride include melting an aluminum foil to uniformly wet a foundation with a layer of aluminum, the foundation forming a portion of an AlN seed holder, for an AlN seed to be used for the AlN growth. The holder may consist essentially of a substantially impervious backing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Robert T. Bondokov, Kenneth E. Morgan, Leo J. Schowalter, Glen A. Stack
  • Patent number: 8936680
    Abstract: The present invention, which provides a crucible for producing single-crystal silicon carbide, and a production apparatus and a production method for single-crystal silicon carbide, which are capable of stably growing a single-crystal silicon carbide ingot good in crystallinity at high yield, is a crucible for producing single-crystal silicon carbide having a crucible vessel for holding silicon carbide raw material and a crucible cover for attaching a seed crystal and is adapted to sublimate a silicon carbide raw material in the crucible vessel to supply silicon carbide sublimation gas onto a seed crystal attached to the crucible cover and grow single-crystal silicon carbide on the seed crystal, which crucible for producing single-crystal silicon carbide is provided in the crucible vessel and the crucible cover with threaded portions to be screwed together and is provided with a sublimation gas discharge groove or grooves capable of regulating flow rate by relative rotation of the threaded portions; and is a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Katsuno, Tatsuo Fujimoto, Hiroshi Tsuge, Masashi Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8936682
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a SiC single crystal includes growing a SiC single crystal on a surface of a SiC seed crystal, which satisfies following conditions: (i) the SiC seed crystal includes a main growth surface composed of a plurality of sub-growth surfaces; (ii) among directions from an uppermost portion of a {0001} plane on the main growth surface to portions on a periphery of the main growth surface, the SiC seed crystal has a main direction in which a plurality of sub-growth surfaces is arranged; and (iii) an offset angle ?k of a k-th sub-growth surface and an offset angle ?k+1 of a (k+1)-th sub-growth surface satisfy a relationship of ?k<?k+1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Urakami, Itaru Gunjishima, Ayumu Adachi
  • Patent number: 8936681
    Abstract: A method for making an epitaxial structure is provided. The method includes the following steps. A substrate is provided. The substrate has an epitaxial growth surface for growing epitaxial layer. A carbon nanotube layer is placed on the epitaxial growth surface. An epitaxial layer is epitaxially grown on the epitaxial growth surface. The carbon nanotube layer is removed. The carbon nanotube layer can be removed by heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Publication number: 20150013592
    Abstract: Bulk single crystal of aluminum nitride (AlN) having an areal planar defect density ?100 cm?2. Methods for growing single crystal aluminum nitride include melting an aluminum foil to uniformly wet a foundation with a layer of aluminum, the foundation forming a portion of an AlN seed holder, for an AlN seed to be used for the AlN growth. The holder may consist essentially of a substantially impervious backing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Robert T. Bondokov, Kenneth E. Morgan, Leo J. Schowalter, Glen A. Slack
  • Patent number: 8926753
    Abstract: Material gas hits the outer peripheral surface of a dam member and rides on the upper surface side, and then is allowed to flow along the main surface of a silicon single-crystal substrate placed on a susceptor. An upper lining member is disposed above the dam member so as to face the dam member. A gas introducing clearance is formed between the dam member and the upper lining member. In a vapor growth device, the upper lining member is regulated in size so that the length, formed in a direction along the horizontal reference line, of the gas introducing clearance gradually decreases as it is away from the horizontal reference line or is kept constant at any position. A vapor growth device capable of making more uniform the flowing route of a material gas flowing on the silicon single-crystal substrate, and a production method for an epitaxial wafer are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Yamada
  • Patent number: 8926752
    Abstract: There is provided a method capable of obtaining an aluminum-based group III nitride crystal layer having a smooth surface and high crystallinity by employing only HVPE in which inexpensive raw materials can be used to reduce production costs and high-speed film formation is possible without employing MOVPE. To produce a group III nitride crystal by HVPE comprising the step of growing a group III nitride crystal layer by vapor-phase growth on a single crystal substrate by contacting the heated single crystal substrate with a raw material gas containing a group III halide and a compound having a nitrogen atom, the group III nitride crystal is grown by vapor-phase growth on the single crystal substrate heated at a temperature of 1,000° C. or more and less than 1,200° C. to form an intermediate layer and then, a group III nitride crystal is further grown by vapor-phase growth on the intermediate layer on the substrate heated at a temperature of 1,200° C. or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Tokuyama Corporation, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
    Inventors: Akinori Koukitu, Yoshinao Kumagai, Toru Nagashima, Kazuya Takada, Hiroyuki Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20150004435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for growing a non-polar m-plane epitaxial layer on a single crystal oxide substrate, which comprises the following steps: providing a single crystal oxide with a perovskite structure; using a plane of the single crystal oxide as a substrate; and forming an m-plane epitaxial layer of wurtzite semiconductors on the plane of the single crystal oxide by a vapor deposition process, wherein the non-polar m-plane epitaxial layer may be GaN, or III-nitrides. The present invention also provides an epitaxial layer having an m-plane obtained according to the aforementioned method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Li CHANG, Yen-Teng HO
  • Patent number: 8920560
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer includes: a step of pulling a single crystal from a boron-doped silicon melt in a chamber based on a Czochralski process; and a step of forming an epitaxial layer on a surface of a silicon wafer sliced from the single crystal. The single crystal is allowed to grow while passed through a temperature region of 800 to 600° C. in the chamber in 250 to 180 minutes during the pulling step. The grown single crystal has an oxygen concentration of 10×1017 to 12×1017 atoms/cm3 and a resistivity of 0.03 to 0.01 ?cm. The silicon wafer is subjected to pre-annealing prior to the step of forming the epitaxial layer on the surface of the silicon wafer, for 10 minutes to 4 hours at a predetermined temperature within a temperature region of 650 to 900° C. in an inert gas atmosphere. The method is to fabricate an epitaxial wafer that has a diameter of 300 mm or more, and that attains a high IG effect, and involves few epitaxial defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Koike, Toshiaki Ono, Naoki Ikeda, Tomokazu Katano
  • Patent number: 8906457
    Abstract: Methods for deposition of metal films consisting essentially of Co, Mn, Ru or a lanthanide on surfaces using metal coordination complexes are provided. The precursors used in the process include a 2-methylimine pyrrolyl ligand and/or N,N?-diisopropylformamidinato ligand. The precursors may also contain cyclopentadienyl, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl or pyrrolyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: David Thompson, Jeffrey W. Anthis, Christian Dussarrat, Clement Lansalot-Matras
  • Publication number: 20140352607
    Abstract: A raw material for growing an ingot according to the embodiment comprises an agglomerate raw material in which fine particles are agglomerated, wherein the agglomerate raw material has a granular shape. A method for fabricating a raw material for growing an ingot according to the embodiment comprises the steps of: preparing an ultrahigh-purity powder; and granulating the ultrahigh-purity powder. A method for fabricating an ingot according to the embodiment comprises the steps of: preparing a raw material; filling the raw material in a crucible; and growing a single crystal from the raw material, wherein the raw material comprises an agglomerate raw material in which fine particles are agglomerated, and the agglomerate raw material has a granular shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bum Sup Kim, Kyoung Seok Min
  • Patent number: 8900489
    Abstract: The present application provides nitride semiconductor nanoparticles, for example nanocrystals, made from a new composition of matter in the form of a novel compound semiconductor family of the type group II-III-N, for example ZnGaN, ZnInN, ZnInGaN, ZnAlN, ZnAlGaN, ZnAlInN and ZnAlGaInN. This type of compound semiconductor nanocrystal is not previously known in the prior art. The invention also discloses II-N semiconductor nanocrystals, for example ZnN nanocrystals, which are a subgroup of the group II-III-N semiconductor nanocrystals. The composition and size of the new and novel II-III-N compound semiconductor nanocrystals can be controlled in order to tailor their band-gap and light emission properties. Efficient light emission in the ultraviolet-visible-infrared wavelength range is demonstrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Peter Neil Taylor, Jonathan Heffernan, Stewart Edward Hooper, Tim Michael Smeeton
  • Patent number: 8888914
    Abstract: The object is to provide a photoelectric surface member which allows higher quantum efficiency. In order to achieve this object, a photoelectric surface member 1a is a crystalline layer formed by a nitride type semiconductor material, and comprises a nitride semiconductor crystal layer 10 where the direction from the first surface 101 to the second surface 102 is the negative c polar direction of the crystal, an adhesive layer 12 formed along the first surface 101 of the nitride semiconductor crystal layer 10, and a glass substrate 14 which is adhesively fixed to the adhesive layer 12 such that the adhesive layer 12 is located between the glass substrate 14 and the nitride semiconductor crystal layer 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Tokuaki Nihashi, Masatomo Sumiya, Minoru Hagino, Shunro Fuke
  • Publication number: 20140331917
    Abstract: A silicon carbide powder according to the embodiment includes nitrogen having a concentration in a range of about 100 ppm to about 5000 ppm. A method for manufacturing silicon carbide powder according to the embodiment includes preparing a mixture by mixing a silicon source including silicon with a solid carbon source or a carbon source including an organic carbon compound; heating the mixture; cooling the mixture; and supplying a nitrogen-based gas into the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Byung Sook Kim, Bum Sup Kim, Kyoung Seok Min, Dong Geun Shin, Seo Yong Ha, Jung Eun Han
  • Patent number: 8882909
    Abstract: Relaxed germanium buffer layers can be grown economically on misoriented silicon wafers by low-energy plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. In conjunction with thermal annealing and/or patterning, the buffer layers can serve as high-quality virtual substrates for the growth of crack-free GaAs layers suitable for high-efficiency solar cells, lasers and field effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Dichroic Cell S.R.L.
    Inventor: Hans Von Kaenel
  • Patent number: 8882910
    Abstract: A substrate is formed of AlxGa1-xN, wherein 0<x?1. The substrate is a single crystal and is used producing a Group III nitride semiconductor device. A method for producing a substrate of AlxGa1-xN, wherein 0<x?1, includes the steps of forming a layer of AlxGa1-xN, wherein 0<x?1, on a base material and removing the base material. The method adopts the MOCVD method using a raw material molar ratio of a Group V element to Group III element that is 1000 or less, a temperature of 1200° C. or more for forming the layer of AlxGa1-xN, wherein 0<x?1. The base material is formed of one member selected from the group consisting of sapphire, SiC, Si, ZnO and Ga2O3. The substrate is used for fabricating a Group III nitride semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Amano, Akira Bando
  • Patent number: 8876973
    Abstract: There is provided an n type (100) oriented single crystal diamond semiconductor film into which phosphorous atoms have been doped and a method of producing the same. The n type (100) oriented single crystal diamond semiconductor film, characterized in that (100) oriented diamond is epitaxially grown on a substrate under such conditions that; the diamond substrate is (100) oriented diamond, a means for chemical vapor deposition provides hydrogen, hydrocarbon and a phosphorous compound in the plasma vapor phase, the ratio of phosphorous atoms to carbon atoms in the plasma vapor phase is no less than 0.1%, and the ratio of carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms is no less than 0.05%, and the method of producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Kato, Satoshi Yamasaki, Hideyo Ookushi, Shinichi Shikata
  • Patent number: 8871617
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods of forming mixed metal thin films comprising at least two different metals are provided. In some embodiments, a mixed metal oxide thin film is formed by atomic layer deposition and subsequently reduced to a mixed metal thin film. Reduction may take place, for example, in a hydrogen atmosphere. The presence of two or more metals in the mixed metal oxide allows for reduction at a lower reduction temperature than the reduction temperature of the individual oxides of the metals in the mixed metal oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Viljami J. Pore, Eva Tois
  • Patent number: 8866159
    Abstract: A high quality single crystal wafer of SiC is disclosed having a diameter of at least about 100 mm and a micropipe density of less than about 25 cm?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Powell, Mark Brady, Robert Tyler Leonard
  • Patent number: 8858708
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing high-purity dense polycrystalline III-nitride slabs. A vessel which contains a group III-metal such as gallium or an alloy of group III-metals of shallow depth is placed in a reactor. The group III-metal or alloy is heated until a molten state is reached after which a halide-containing source mixed with a carrier gas and a nitrogen-containing source is flowed through the reactor vessel. An initial porous crust of III-nitride forms on the surface of the molten III-metal or alloy which reacts with the nitrogen-containing source and the halide-containing source. The flow rate of the nitrogen-containing source is then increased and flowed into contact with the molten metal to produce a dense polycrystalline III-nitride. The products produced from the inventive process can be used as source material for III-nitride single crystal growth which material is not available naturally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America As represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael J. Callahan, Buguo Wang, John S. Bailey
  • Patent number: 8858709
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition method of growing a crystal includes providing a seed crystal and a source material in spaced relation inside of a growth crucible that is at least in-part gas permeable to an unwanted gas. The growth chamber is heated whereupon the source material sublimates and is transported via a temperature gradient in the growth chamber to the seed crystal where the sublimated source material precipitates. Concurrent with heating the growth chamber, a purging gas is caused to flow inside or outside of the growth crucible in a manner whereupon the unwanted gas flows from the inside to the outside of the growth crucible via the gas permeable part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: II-VI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ilya Zwieback, Avinash K. Gupta
  • Publication number: 20140299048
    Abstract: A temperature of a source material and a temperature of a seed substrate are defined as Tm and TS, respectively. A silicon carbide single crystal is grown at a growth rate R?RG by heating the source material and the seed substrate so as to satisfy TS<Tm and satisfy a temperature difference D?DG, where D represents an absolute value of a difference between Tm and Ts. R is decreased so as to satisfy R?RR in connection with RR smaller than RG. In decreasing R, the temperature difference D is decreased such that the temperature difference D?DR is satisfied in connection with DR smaller than DG while at least any of Tm and Ts is held at at least TR not lower than 1800° C. The source material and the seed substrate are cooled such that each of Tm and Ts is lower than TR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES. LTD
    Inventors: Makoto SASAKI, Tsutomu HORI, Shunsaku UETA
  • Patent number: 8852342
    Abstract: A surface of a single crystalline semiconductor-carbon alloy layer having a surface normal along or close to a major crystallographic direction is provided by mechanical means such as cutting and/or polishing. Such a surface has naturally formed irregular surface features. Small semiconductor islands are deposited on the surface of single crystalline semiconductor-carbon alloy layer. Another single crystalline semiconductor-carbon alloy structure may be placed on the small semiconductor islands, and the assembly of the two semiconductor-carbon alloy layers with the semiconductor islands therebetween is annealed. During the initial phase of the anneal, surface diffusion of the semiconductor material proceeds to form vicinal surfaces while graphitization is suppressed because the space between the two semiconductor-carbon alloy layers maintains a high vapor pressure of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christos D. Dimitrakopoulos, Marcus O. Freitag, Alfred Grill, Robert L. Wisnieff
  • Publication number: 20140295171
    Abstract: An ingot in which generation of crack is sufficiently suppressed is obtained. The ingot includes: a seed substrate formed of silicon carbide; and a silicon carbide layer grown on the seed substrate and containing nitrogen atoms. The silicon carbide layer has a thickness of 15 mm or more in a growth direction. In the silicon carbide layer, a concentration gradient of the nitrogen atoms in the growth direction is 5×1017 atoms/cm4 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu HORI, Makoto SASAKI, Tomohiro KAWASE
  • Patent number: 8845992
    Abstract: Affords Group-III nitride single-crystal ingots and III-nitride single-crystal substrates manufactured utilizing the ingots, as well as methods of manufacturing III-nitride single-crystal ingots and methods of manufacturing III-nitride single-crystal substrates, wherein the incidence of cracking during length-extending growth is reduced. Characterized by including a step of etching the edge surface of a base substrate, and a step of epitaxially growing onto the base substrate hexagonal-system III-nitride monocrystal having crystallographic planes on its side surfaces. In order to reduce occurrences of cracking during length-extending growth of the ingot, depositing-out of polycrystal and out-of-plane oriented crystal onto the periphery of the monocrystal must be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Okahisa, Seiji Nakahata, Tomoki Uemura
  • Publication number: 20140283735
    Abstract: A method for growing an ingot according to the embodiment includes filling a first powder in a crucible; raising a temperature of the crucible; forming a second powder by grain-growing the first powder; and growing the ingot by sublimating the second powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoung Seok Min, Dong Geun Shin
  • Publication number: 20140287226
    Abstract: There is obtained an ingot in which generation of crack is suppressed. The ingot includes: a seed substrate formed of silicon carbide; and a silicon carbide layer grown on the seed substrate. The silicon carbide layer has a thickness of 15 mm or more in a growth direction. When measuring a lattice constant in the silicon carbide layer at a plurality of measurement points in the growth direction, a difference between a maximum value of the lattice constant and a minimum value of the lattice constant is 0.004 nm or less. A distance between adjacent two points of the measurement points is 5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu HORI, Makoto SASAKI, Shunsaku UETA, Tomohiro KAWASE
  • Patent number: 8840723
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing polycrystalline silicon whereby raw-material gas is supplied to one or more heated silicon seed rods provided vertically in a reactor so as to deposit the polycrystalline silicon on a surface of the silicon seed rod, having a seed rod holding member, made of conductive material, having a holding hole in which a lower end of the silicon seed rod is inserted, the holding hole having a horizontal cross-sectional shape with at least two corners, and the holding member having a screw hole extending from the outer surface of the seed rod holding member to at least the holding hole and formed at the location of at least two corners of the holding hole; and a fixing screw which fixes the silicon seed rod and is threaded through at least one of the screw holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihide Endoh, Masayuki Tebakari, Toshiyuki Ishii, Masaaki Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20140251205
    Abstract: A system for depositing a film on a substrate comprises a lateral control shutter disposed between the substrate and a material source. The lateral control shutter is configured to block some predetermined portion of source material to prevent deposition of source material onto undesirable portion of the substrate. One of the lateral control shutter or the substrate moves with respect to the other to facilitate moving a lateral growth boundary originating from one or more seed crystals. A lateral epitaxial deposition across the substrate ensues, by having an advancing growth front that expands grain size and forms a single crystal film on the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Tivra Corporation
    Inventor: Indranil De
  • Patent number: 8815344
    Abstract: Method for selectively depositing an atomic layer deposition film on a substrate having two different surfaces are generally described. More specifically, methods for depositing TaN selectively onto one or more of a dielectric or metal versus the other of a dielectric of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul F. Ma
  • Publication number: 20140234194
    Abstract: A sublimation grown SiC single crystal includes vanadium dopant incorporated into the SiC single crystal structure via introduction of a gaseous vanadium compound into a growth environment of the SiC single crystal during growth of the SiC single crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: II-VI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ilya Zwieback, Thomas E. Anderson, Avinash K. Gupta, Michael C. Nolan, Bryan K. Brouhard, Gary E. Ruland