Patent · US Active

Thin film lift-off via combination of epitaxial lift-off and spalling

US10186629B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
1References
45Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 2014
Grant dateJan 22, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 26, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/50
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to thin film liftoff processes for use in making devices such as electronic and optoelectronic devices, e.g., photovoltaic devices. The methods described herein use a combination of epitaxial liftoff and spalling techniques to quickly and precisely control the separation of an epilayer from a growth substrate. Provided herein are growth structures having a sacrificial layer positioned between a growth substrate and a sacrificial layer. Exemplary methods of the present disclosure include forming at least one notch in the sacrificial layer and spalling the growth structure by crack propagation at the at least one notch to separate the epilayer from the growth substrate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.