Patent · US Expired

Total immersion crystal growth

US4654110A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 21, 1984
Grant dateMar 31, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 21, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC30B27/02
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Crystals of wide band gap materials are produced by positioning a holder (106, 274) receiving a seed crystal (106) at the interface (36, 270) between a body (26, 206) of molten wide band gap material and an overlying layer (28 or 288) of temperature-controlled, encapsulating liquid. The temperature of the layer decreases from the crystallization temperature of the crystal at the interface with the melt to a substantially lower temperature at which formation of crystal defects does not occur, suitably a temperature of 200.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. After initiation of crystal growth, the leading edge of the crystal (212) is pulled through the layer until the leading edge of the crystal enters the ambient gas headspace (30, 265) which may also be temperature controlled. The length of the column of liquid encapsulant may exceed the length of the crystal such that the leading edge and trailing edge of the crystal are both simultaneously with the column of the crystal. The crystal can be pulled vertically by means of a pulling-rotation assembly (20) or horizontally by means of a low-angle withdrawal mechanism (210). The temperature of the encapsulating layer is controlled by heating a…

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