Papers by Keyword: Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE)

Abstract: The stable long time growth with the use of Si -C-Ti ternary solution was realized　by improving the thermal condition during the growth. We have succeeded in obtaining a maximum 10 mm thick bulk 6H-SiC crystal, which is the largest bulk crystal ever obtained by the solution growth technique. The obtained crystal was free of cracks and exhibited a homogeneous light green color. The crystallinity of the grown crystal was characterized by X-ray rocking curve measurements using (0006) reflection and by the molten KOH etching. The mapping of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) revealed the average FWHM around 30 arc seconds and the minimal FWHM under 16 arc seconds. The etch pit density (EPD) was typically in the range between 104 and 105 cm-2, which was comparable to that of the crystal seed.

Abstract: High-speed solution growth using Si-Cr based melt has been performed on on-axis 4H-SiC(0001) at a high temperature of about 2000°C. The maximum growth rate for one-hour growth reaches to 1120 m/h, while the typical growth rate of growth for 2h is about 500 m/h. A large crystal that is about 25 mm in diameter and 1650 m in thickness can be obtained by growth for 5h. The crystal quality is confirmed to be homogeneous by X-ray diffraction and X-ray topography, because FWHM is less than 30 arcsec. Etch pit density of the threading dislocations in the grown crystal is 103-104 cm-2, and that of basal plane dislocation is 2×102-3×103 cm-2. Resistivity of the crystals grown by the solution growth is comparable to those of crystals grown by physical vapor transport technique.

Abstract: GaSb based III-V heterostuctures are attractive for optoelectronic devices such as midin- frared lasers, detectors, and thermophotovoltaics (TPVs). In this paper the growth and characterization of GaInAsSb and GaAlAsSb quaternary layers, lat-tice-matched to GaSb substrate, are reported, with a particular focus on these alloys for TPV devi-ces. High-quality with a mirror-like surface morphology epilayers Ga1-x InxAsy Sb1-y with In content x in the range 0.1-0.22 and Ga1-xAlxAsySb1-y layers with Al content up to 0.3 in the solid are grown by Liquid-Phase Epitaxy (LPE) from In- and Ga-rich melt, respectively. The compositions of the quaternary compounds are determined by X-ray microanalysis. The crystalline quality of GaInAsSb/ GaSb and GaAlAsSb/GaSb heterostuctures is studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements.

Abstract: LPE (liquid phase epitaxy) growth of low nitrogen unintentionally doped SiC epitaxial layer on on-axis 4H-SiC substrate using nitrogen getter Si based solution was investigated to realize basal plane dislocation (BPD) free epitaxial layer. A significant reduction in BPD was demonstrated.

Abstract: We performed liquid phase epitaxial growth of SiC layers on on-axis 4H-SiC substrates using Si solvent. It was found that the polytype controllability of the epilayer significantly depends on the growth process conditions. By optimizing them, polytype mixing in the epilayers can be completely suppressed. It is shown that the density of basal plane dislocations in the epilayers is much less than in the substrates due to on-axis growth. SIMS analysis showed that the concentrations of trace impurity elements (B,Al,Ti,V,Cr,Fe,Ni,P) in the epilayers are under lower detection limit. The only impurity is nitrogen resulting in an n-type layer. Carrier concentrations Nd-Na ranging from high 1016 to low 1017cm-3 are achievable.

Abstract: We report on recent advances in liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) conversion of a bulk Si wafer into self standing 3C-SiC. This includes the role of the stress control within the (100) oriented “crucibles”, the elaboration of crack-free (111) “crucibles” and the successful conversion of (100) and (111) oriented Si wafer. To date up to 100µm thick 3C-SiC(100) as well as 30µm thick crack-free 3C-SiC (111) materials have been obtained. The growth rate ranges from 20 to 100µm/h and locally can even reach ~1mm/h. In this work we focus on the structural, morphological and optical properties of the LPE-grown material.

Abstract: We succeeded in growing a GaN single crystal substrate with diameter of about two inches using the Na flux method. Our success is due to the development of a new apparatus for growing large GaN single crystals. The crystal grown in this study has a low dislocation density of 2.3×105 (cm-2), The secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) technique demonstrates that the Na element is difficult to be taken in the crystal in both the + and – c directions, resulting in a Na concentration of 4.2 × 1014 (cm-3) in the crystal. Our success in growing a two-inch GaN substrate with a low impurity content and low dislocation density should pave the way for the Na flux method to become a practical application.

Abstract: Flash lamp annealing of multilayer stack of the type SiC/Silicon overlayer(SOL)/SiC reduces the defect densities in the 3C-SiC/Si heteroepitaxial structure. Ge and C additions to the SOL lead to a substantial increase of the mass transfer from the upper layer to the lower SiC layer. If the Ge content of the SOL and the flash lamp annealing conditions are properly chosen a homogeneous layer with a 3C-SiC thickness between 150 and 200 nm can be achieved corresponding to a growth rate between 7.5 and 10.0 +m/s. The thickening of the lower layer depends on the SOL composition. Ge and/or C incorporation into the SOL and therefore into the Si melt enhances the mass transport from the upper SiC layer to the lower one.

Abstract: KNbO3 thin films were grown on (100) and (110) SrTiO3 substrates by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) technique. The film orientation and surface morphology were characterized by XRD and AFM, respectively. The limited phase diagram of K2O-Nb2O5-V2O5 system was prepared by DTA measurement to investigate the effect of V2O5 flux on the LPE growth of KNbO3 film. The use of V2O5 flux enhanced a film growth rate at lower growth temperature.

Abstract: Epitaxial growth of 4H-SiC has been carried out at temperatures up to 1650 oC on 4HSiC substrates dipped in strongly diluted Si-based solutions. Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) in conditions of low supersaturation was shown to be an effective technique to overgrow micropipe defects (MPs) in SiC wafers prepared by the Physical Vapour Transport (PVT) technique. The aim of this work was to investigate the SiC growth morphology and the dependence of MP elimination efficiency on Si-Ge flux composition. Macroscopically flat, single crystalline SiC layers of a thickness up to 10 µm were grown with a growth rate of about 0.5 µm/h. Stepped growth morphology was observed independent of the melt composition. Micropipes with the diameter below 5 µm were closed with an efficiency of about 80%. SEM investigations as well as inspection under reflected/transmitted light did not show any specific distortion of the growth morphology at the micropipe healing place.