METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL GRADIENT FREEZE 8 INCH GALLIUM ARSENIDE SUBSTRATES | Matter42 Literature
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 12,398,486 B2
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL GRADIENT FREEZE 8 INCH GALLIUM ARSENIDE SUBSTRATES
Weiguo Liu, Rajaram Shetty, Wei Zhang
AXT, INC., Fremont, CA (US)·Aug. 26, 2025·US
Drawings
Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2 illustrates an 8 inch GaAs ingot and head and tail end faces of the ingot, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 3
FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate etch pit density results for 8 inch gallium arsenide wafers manufactured in accordance with an 60 embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 4
FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate photoluminescence measurements of 8 inch gallium arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5
FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate resistivity maps of 8 inch gallium 65 arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodi- ment of the disclosure. B₂
FIG. 6
FIG. 6 illustrates a method for fabricating GaAs wafers using the vertical gradient freeze furnace 100 shown in
FIG. 7
FIG. 7 illustrates devices fabricated on low etch pit density 8 inch gallium arsenide wafers, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 15
FIG. 15 7, there is shown an 8 inch GaAs wafer 701 manufactured using the process described above, and further processed with electrical and/or optoelectronic …
Claims
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
2 independent · 16 dependent
1
IndependentGaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
A method for forming single crystal gallium arsenide substrates, the method comprising: sealing charge material comprising polycrystalline gal-lium arsenide (GaAs) liquid melt, B₂O₃ encapsulant, and carbon in a crucible; sealing the crucible in a quartz ampoule; performing a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth pro-cess by heating the ampoule using a multi-zone heating system to progressively melt the charge material until a portion of a seed crystal is melted, wherein each zone of the multi-zone heating system is enabled to heat the crucible at different temperatures, and wherein each zone of the multi-zone heating system includes two or more heating coils; moving a pedestal relative to the crucible through three or more zones of the multi-zone heating system, the system operable to control heating of the multi-zone heating system and movement of the pedestal; implementing controlled cooling of the multi-zone heat-ing system during growth from the partially melted seed to form a single crystal 8 inch GaAs substrate; and controlling a shape of the interface to be concave to the melt utilizing cooling rates in the multi-zone heating system to form a solidified gallium arsenide crystal, wherein the shape of the interface is concave, such that the center is 5-20 mm lower than an edge of the substrate.
2
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying a temperature gradient of between 1 and 8 C/cm at a melt-crystal interface.
3
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible relative to the multi-zone heat-ing system.
4
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal rotates the crucible relative to the multi-zone heat-ing system.
5
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible vertically relative to the multizone heating system.
6
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the multi-zone heating system or the pedestal movement to control a crystallization velocity as controlled by the cooling rate may be configured to a range from 0.1-2.0 degrees C./hour.
7
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming one or more electronic or optoelectronic devices on a first surface of the substrate.
9
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, comprising evacu-ating the crucible before sealing it into the quartz ampoule.
10
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, comprising cooling the solidified charge material at rates of 0.5 to 5 C/h, 1 to C/h and 5 to 20 C/h for different heating zones of the multi-zone heating system for the first 300 C, and then at rates of 20-50 C/h to room temperature, wherein different heating zones are cooling the charge at a different tempera-ture.
11
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising varying the temperature gradient in different zones of the multi-zone heating system by applying different currents to different heating coils.
12
IndependentGaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
A method for forming single crystal gallium arsenide substrates, the method comprising: sealing charge material comprising polycrystalline gal-lium arsenide (GaAs) liquid melt, B₂O₃ encapsulant, and carbon in a crucible; sealing the crucible in a quartz ampoule; performing a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth pro-cess by heating the ampoule using a multi-zone heating system to progressively melt the charge material until a portion of a seed crystal is melted; moving a pedestal relative to the crucible, the system operable to control heating of the multi-zone heating system and movement of the pedestal; and implementing controlled cooling of the multi-zone heat-ing system during growth from the partially melted seed; and controlling a shape of the interface to be concave to the melt utilizing cooling rates in the multi-zone heating system to form a solidified gallium arsenide crystal, wherein the shape of the interface is between 5-20 mm B₂ concave, such that the center is 5-20 mm lower than an edge of the substrate to form a single crystal 8 inch GaAs substrate.
13
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising varying the temperature gradient in different zones of the multi-zone heating system by applying different currents to different heating coils.
14
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible relative to the multi-zone heating system.
15
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising controlling the multi-zone heating system or the pedestal movement to control a crystallization velocity as controlled by the cooling rate may be configured to a range from 0.1-2.0 degrees C./hour.
16
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising forming one or more electronic or optoelectronic devices on a first surface of the substrate.
17
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, comprising evacu-ating the crucible before sealing it into the quartz ampoule.
18
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, comprising cool-ing the solidified charge material at rates of 0.5 to 5 C/h, 1 to 10 C/h and 5 to 20 C/h for different heating zones of the multi-zone heating system for the first 300 C, and then at rates of 20-50 C/h to room temperature, wherein different heating zones are cooling the charge at a different tempera-ture. ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
Materials
Materials described outside the worked examples.
polycrystalline gallium arsenide
GaAs
Charge Material Precursor
Product Substrate
boron trioxide encapsulant
B₂O₃
Encapsulant
Process steps
Additional fabrication and treatment steps described in the patent.
1
Vertical Gradient Freeze Crystal Growth
Step 1
Process details
ampoule:quartz
crucible:pyrolytic boron nitride (PBN)
dopant type:n-type (silicon); p-type and semi-insulating also enabled
encapsulant:B₂O₃
interface shape:
Characterization
Measurements and analyses referenced in the patent, with their drawing references.
photoluminescence
Photoluminescence
FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate photoluminescence measurements of 8 inch gallium arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL GRADIENT FREEZE 8 INCH GALLIUM ARSENIDE SUBSTRATES
Weiguo Liu, Rajaram Shetty, Wei Zhang
AXT, INC., Fremont, CA (US)·Aug. 26, 2025·US
Drawings
Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2 illustrates an 8 inch GaAs ingot and head and tail end faces of the ingot, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 3
FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate etch pit density results for 8 inch gallium arsenide wafers manufactured in accordance with an 60 embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 4
FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate photoluminescence measurements of 8 inch gallium arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5
FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate resistivity maps of 8 inch gallium 65 arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodi- ment of the disclosure. B₂
FIG. 6
FIG. 6 illustrates a method for fabricating GaAs wafers using the vertical gradient freeze furnace 100 shown in
FIG. 7
FIG. 7 illustrates devices fabricated on low etch pit density 8 inch gallium arsenide wafers, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 15
FIG. 15 7, there is shown an 8 inch GaAs wafer 701 manufactured using the process described above, and further processed with electrical and/or optoelectronic …
Claims
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
2 independent · 16 dependent
1
IndependentGaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
A method for forming single crystal gallium arsenide substrates, the method comprising: sealing charge material comprising polycrystalline gal-lium arsenide (GaAs) liquid melt, B₂O₃ encapsulant, and carbon in a crucible; sealing the crucible in a quartz ampoule; performing a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth pro-cess by heating the ampoule using a multi-zone heating system to progressively melt the charge material until a portion of a seed crystal is melted, wherein each zone of the multi-zone heating system is enabled to heat the crucible at different temperatures, and wherein each zone of the multi-zone heating system includes two or more heating coils; moving a pedestal relative to the crucible through three or more zones of the multi-zone heating system, the system operable to control heating of the multi-zone heating system and movement of the pedestal; implementing controlled cooling of the multi-zone heat-ing system during growth from the partially melted seed to form a single crystal 8 inch GaAs substrate; and controlling a shape of the interface to be concave to the melt utilizing cooling rates in the multi-zone heating system to form a solidified gallium arsenide crystal, wherein the shape of the interface is concave, such that the center is 5-20 mm lower than an edge of the substrate.
2
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying a temperature gradient of between 1 and 8 C/cm at a melt-crystal interface.
3
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible relative to the multi-zone heat-ing system.
4
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal rotates the crucible relative to the multi-zone heat-ing system.
5
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible vertically relative to the multizone heating system.
6
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the multi-zone heating system or the pedestal movement to control a crystallization velocity as controlled by the cooling rate may be configured to a range from 0.1-2.0 degrees C./hour.
7
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming one or more electronic or optoelectronic devices on a first surface of the substrate.
9
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, comprising evacu-ating the crucible before sealing it into the quartz ampoule.
10
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, comprising cooling the solidified charge material at rates of 0.5 to 5 C/h, 1 to C/h and 5 to 20 C/h for different heating zones of the multi-zone heating system for the first 300 C, and then at rates of 20-50 C/h to room temperature, wherein different heating zones are cooling the charge at a different tempera-ture.
11
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising varying the temperature gradient in different zones of the multi-zone heating system by applying different currents to different heating coils.
12
IndependentGaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
A method for forming single crystal gallium arsenide substrates, the method comprising: sealing charge material comprising polycrystalline gal-lium arsenide (GaAs) liquid melt, B₂O₃ encapsulant, and carbon in a crucible; sealing the crucible in a quartz ampoule; performing a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth pro-cess by heating the ampoule using a multi-zone heating system to progressively melt the charge material until a portion of a seed crystal is melted; moving a pedestal relative to the crucible, the system operable to control heating of the multi-zone heating system and movement of the pedestal; and implementing controlled cooling of the multi-zone heat-ing system during growth from the partially melted seed; and controlling a shape of the interface to be concave to the melt utilizing cooling rates in the multi-zone heating system to form a solidified gallium arsenide crystal, wherein the shape of the interface is between 5-20 mm B₂ concave, such that the center is 5-20 mm lower than an edge of the substrate to form a single crystal 8 inch GaAs substrate.
13
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising varying the temperature gradient in different zones of the multi-zone heating system by applying different currents to different heating coils.
14
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible relative to the multi-zone heating system.
15
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising controlling the multi-zone heating system or the pedestal movement to control a crystallization velocity as controlled by the cooling rate may be configured to a range from 0.1-2.0 degrees C./hour.
16
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising forming one or more electronic or optoelectronic devices on a first surface of the substrate.
17
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, comprising evacu-ating the crucible before sealing it into the quartz ampoule.
18
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, comprising cool-ing the solidified charge material at rates of 0.5 to 5 C/h, 1 to 10 C/h and 5 to 20 C/h for different heating zones of the multi-zone heating system for the first 300 C, and then at rates of 20-50 C/h to room temperature, wherein different heating zones are cooling the charge at a different tempera-ture. ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
Materials
Materials described outside the worked examples.
polycrystalline gallium arsenide
GaAs
Charge Material Precursor
Product Substrate
boron trioxide encapsulant
B₂O₃
Encapsulant
Process steps
Additional fabrication and treatment steps described in the patent.
1
Vertical Gradient Freeze Crystal Growth
Step 1
Process details
ampoule:quartz
crucible:pyrolytic boron nitride (PBN)
dopant type:n-type (silicon); p-type and semi-insulating also enabled
encapsulant:B₂O₃
interface shape:
Characterization
Measurements and analyses referenced in the patent, with their drawing references.
photoluminescence
Photoluminescence
FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate photoluminescence measurements of 8 inch gallium arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL GRADIENT FREEZE 8 INCH GALLIUM ARSENIDE SUBSTRATES
Weiguo Liu, Rajaram Shetty, Wei Zhang
AXT, INC., Fremont, CA (US)·Aug. 26, 2025·US
Drawings
Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2 illustrates an 8 inch GaAs ingot and head and tail end faces of the ingot, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 3
FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate etch pit density results for 8 inch gallium arsenide wafers manufactured in accordance with an 60 embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 4
FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate photoluminescence measurements of 8 inch gallium arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5
FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate resistivity maps of 8 inch gallium 65 arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodi- ment of the disclosure. B₂
FIG. 6
FIG. 6 illustrates a method for fabricating GaAs wafers using the vertical gradient freeze furnace 100 shown in
FIG. 7
FIG. 7 illustrates devices fabricated on low etch pit density 8 inch gallium arsenide wafers, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 15
FIG. 15 7, there is shown an 8 inch GaAs wafer 701 manufactured using the process described above, and further processed with electrical and/or optoelectronic …
Claims
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
2 independent · 16 dependent
1
IndependentGaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
A method for forming single crystal gallium arsenide substrates, the method comprising: sealing charge material comprising polycrystalline gal-lium arsenide (GaAs) liquid melt, B₂O₃ encapsulant, and carbon in a crucible; sealing the crucible in a quartz ampoule; performing a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth pro-cess by heating the ampoule using a multi-zone heating system to progressively melt the charge material until a portion of a seed crystal is melted, wherein each zone of the multi-zone heating system is enabled to heat the crucible at different temperatures, and wherein each zone of the multi-zone heating system includes two or more heating coils; moving a pedestal relative to the crucible through three or more zones of the multi-zone heating system, the system operable to control heating of the multi-zone heating system and movement of the pedestal; implementing controlled cooling of the multi-zone heat-ing system during growth from the partially melted seed to form a single crystal 8 inch GaAs substrate; and controlling a shape of the interface to be concave to the melt utilizing cooling rates in the multi-zone heating system to form a solidified gallium arsenide crystal, wherein the shape of the interface is concave, such that the center is 5-20 mm lower than an edge of the substrate.
2
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying a temperature gradient of between 1 and 8 C/cm at a melt-crystal interface.
3
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible relative to the multi-zone heat-ing system.
4
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal rotates the crucible relative to the multi-zone heat-ing system.
5
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible vertically relative to the multizone heating system.
6
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the multi-zone heating system or the pedestal movement to control a crystallization velocity as controlled by the cooling rate may be configured to a range from 0.1-2.0 degrees C./hour.
7
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming one or more electronic or optoelectronic devices on a first surface of the substrate.
9
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, comprising evacu-ating the crucible before sealing it into the quartz ampoule.
10
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, comprising cooling the solidified charge material at rates of 0.5 to 5 C/h, 1 to C/h and 5 to 20 C/h for different heating zones of the multi-zone heating system for the first 300 C, and then at rates of 20-50 C/h to room temperature, wherein different heating zones are cooling the charge at a different tempera-ture.
11
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising varying the temperature gradient in different zones of the multi-zone heating system by applying different currents to different heating coils.
12
IndependentGaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
A method for forming single crystal gallium arsenide substrates, the method comprising: sealing charge material comprising polycrystalline gal-lium arsenide (GaAs) liquid melt, B₂O₃ encapsulant, and carbon in a crucible; sealing the crucible in a quartz ampoule; performing a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth pro-cess by heating the ampoule using a multi-zone heating system to progressively melt the charge material until a portion of a seed crystal is melted; moving a pedestal relative to the crucible, the system operable to control heating of the multi-zone heating system and movement of the pedestal; and implementing controlled cooling of the multi-zone heat-ing system during growth from the partially melted seed; and controlling a shape of the interface to be concave to the melt utilizing cooling rates in the multi-zone heating system to form a solidified gallium arsenide crystal, wherein the shape of the interface is between 5-20 mm B₂ concave, such that the center is 5-20 mm lower than an edge of the substrate to form a single crystal 8 inch GaAs substrate.
13
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising varying the temperature gradient in different zones of the multi-zone heating system by applying different currents to different heating coils.
14
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible relative to the multi-zone heating system.
15
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising controlling the multi-zone heating system or the pedestal movement to control a crystallization velocity as controlled by the cooling rate may be configured to a range from 0.1-2.0 degrees C./hour.
16
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising forming one or more electronic or optoelectronic devices on a first surface of the substrate.
17
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, comprising evacu-ating the crucible before sealing it into the quartz ampoule.
18
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, comprising cool-ing the solidified charge material at rates of 0.5 to 5 C/h, 1 to 10 C/h and 5 to 20 C/h for different heating zones of the multi-zone heating system for the first 300 C, and then at rates of 20-50 C/h to room temperature, wherein different heating zones are cooling the charge at a different tempera-ture. ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
Materials
Materials described outside the worked examples.
polycrystalline gallium arsenide
GaAs
Charge Material Precursor
Product Substrate
boron trioxide encapsulant
B₂O₃
Encapsulant
Process steps
Additional fabrication and treatment steps described in the patent.
1
Vertical Gradient Freeze Crystal Growth
Step 1
Process details
ampoule:quartz
crucible:pyrolytic boron nitride (PBN)
dopant type:n-type (silicon); p-type and semi-insulating also enabled
encapsulant:B₂O₃
interface shape:
Characterization
Measurements and analyses referenced in the patent, with their drawing references.
photoluminescence
Photoluminescence
FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate photoluminescence measurements of 8 inch gallium arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL GRADIENT FREEZE 8 INCH GALLIUM ARSENIDE SUBSTRATES
Weiguo Liu, Rajaram Shetty, Wei Zhang
AXT, INC., Fremont, CA (US)·Aug. 26, 2025·US
Drawings
Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2 illustrates an 8 inch GaAs ingot and head and tail end faces of the ingot, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 3
FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate etch pit density results for 8 inch gallium arsenide wafers manufactured in accordance with an 60 embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 4
FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate photoluminescence measurements of 8 inch gallium arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5
FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate resistivity maps of 8 inch gallium 65 arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodi- ment of the disclosure. B₂
FIG. 6
FIG. 6 illustrates a method for fabricating GaAs wafers using the vertical gradient freeze furnace 100 shown in
FIG. 7
FIG. 7 illustrates devices fabricated on low etch pit density 8 inch gallium arsenide wafers, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 15
FIG. 15 7, there is shown an 8 inch GaAs wafer 701 manufactured using the process described above, and further processed with electrical and/or optoelectronic …
Claims
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
2 independent · 16 dependent
1
IndependentGaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
A method for forming single crystal gallium arsenide substrates, the method comprising: sealing charge material comprising polycrystalline gal-lium arsenide (GaAs) liquid melt, B₂O₃ encapsulant, and carbon in a crucible; sealing the crucible in a quartz ampoule; performing a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth pro-cess by heating the ampoule using a multi-zone heating system to progressively melt the charge material until a portion of a seed crystal is melted, wherein each zone of the multi-zone heating system is enabled to heat the crucible at different temperatures, and wherein each zone of the multi-zone heating system includes two or more heating coils; moving a pedestal relative to the crucible through three or more zones of the multi-zone heating system, the system operable to control heating of the multi-zone heating system and movement of the pedestal; implementing controlled cooling of the multi-zone heat-ing system during growth from the partially melted seed to form a single crystal 8 inch GaAs substrate; and controlling a shape of the interface to be concave to the melt utilizing cooling rates in the multi-zone heating system to form a solidified gallium arsenide crystal, wherein the shape of the interface is concave, such that the center is 5-20 mm lower than an edge of the substrate.
2
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying a temperature gradient of between 1 and 8 C/cm at a melt-crystal interface.
3
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible relative to the multi-zone heat-ing system.
4
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal rotates the crucible relative to the multi-zone heat-ing system.
5
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible vertically relative to the multizone heating system.
6
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the multi-zone heating system or the pedestal movement to control a crystallization velocity as controlled by the cooling rate may be configured to a range from 0.1-2.0 degrees C./hour.
7
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming one or more electronic or optoelectronic devices on a first surface of the substrate.
9
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, comprising evacu-ating the crucible before sealing it into the quartz ampoule.
10
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, comprising cooling the solidified charge material at rates of 0.5 to 5 C/h, 1 to C/h and 5 to 20 C/h for different heating zones of the multi-zone heating system for the first 300 C, and then at rates of 20-50 C/h to room temperature, wherein different heating zones are cooling the charge at a different tempera-ture.
11
Dependent← claim 1
The method according to claim 1, further comprising varying the temperature gradient in different zones of the multi-zone heating system by applying different currents to different heating coils.
12
IndependentGaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
A method for forming single crystal gallium arsenide substrates, the method comprising: sealing charge material comprising polycrystalline gal-lium arsenide (GaAs) liquid melt, B₂O₃ encapsulant, and carbon in a crucible; sealing the crucible in a quartz ampoule; performing a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth pro-cess by heating the ampoule using a multi-zone heating system to progressively melt the charge material until a portion of a seed crystal is melted; moving a pedestal relative to the crucible, the system operable to control heating of the multi-zone heating system and movement of the pedestal; and implementing controlled cooling of the multi-zone heat-ing system during growth from the partially melted seed; and controlling a shape of the interface to be concave to the melt utilizing cooling rates in the multi-zone heating system to form a solidified gallium arsenide crystal, wherein the shape of the interface is between 5-20 mm B₂ concave, such that the center is 5-20 mm lower than an edge of the substrate to form a single crystal 8 inch GaAs substrate.
13
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising varying the temperature gradient in different zones of the multi-zone heating system by applying different currents to different heating coils.
14
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, wherein moving the pedestal moves the crucible relative to the multi-zone heating system.
15
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising controlling the multi-zone heating system or the pedestal movement to control a crystallization velocity as controlled by the cooling rate may be configured to a range from 0.1-2.0 degrees C./hour.
16
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, further comprising forming one or more electronic or optoelectronic devices on a first surface of the substrate.
17
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, comprising evacu-ating the crucible before sealing it into the quartz ampoule.
18
Dependent← claim 12
The method according to claim 12, comprising cool-ing the solidified charge material at rates of 0.5 to 5 C/h, 1 to 10 C/h and 5 to 20 C/h for different heating zones of the multi-zone heating system for the first 300 C, and then at rates of 20-50 C/h to room temperature, wherein different heating zones are cooling the charge at a different tempera-ture. ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
Materials
Materials described outside the worked examples.
polycrystalline gallium arsenide
GaAs
Charge Material Precursor
Product Substrate
boron trioxide encapsulant
B₂O₃
Encapsulant
Process steps
Additional fabrication and treatment steps described in the patent.
1
Vertical Gradient Freeze Crystal Growth
Step 1
Process details
ampoule:quartz
crucible:pyrolytic boron nitride (PBN)
dopant type:n-type (silicon); p-type and semi-insulating also enabled
encapsulant:B₂O₃
interface shape:
Characterization
Measurements and analyses referenced in the patent, with their drawing references.
photoluminescence
Photoluminescence
FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate photoluminescence measurements of 8 inch gallium arsenide substrates, in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosure.
multi zone heating:multiple zones, each with two or more heating coils
ingot diameter inches:8
minimum crystal length mm:90
post solidification cooling zones:0.5-5 C/h, 1-20 C/h, 5-20 C/h in different zones for first ~300 C, then 20-50 C/h to room temperature
temperature gradient at interface C per cm:1-10
crystallization velocity cooling rate C per hour:0.1-1.0
Materials:GaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
Fet Electrical
FIG. 15 7, there is shown an 8 inch GaAs wafer 701 manufactured using the process described above, and further processed with electrical and/or optoelectronic …
multi zone heating:multiple zones, each with two or more heating coils
ingot diameter inches:8
minimum crystal length mm:90
post solidification cooling zones:0.5-5 C/h, 1-20 C/h, 5-20 C/h in different zones for first ~300 C, then 20-50 C/h to room temperature
temperature gradient at interface C per cm:1-10
crystallization velocity cooling rate C per hour:0.1-1.0
Materials:GaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
Fet Electrical
FIG. 15 7, there is shown an 8 inch GaAs wafer 701 manufactured using the process described above, and further processed with electrical and/or optoelectronic …
multi zone heating:multiple zones, each with two or more heating coils
ingot diameter inches:8
minimum crystal length mm:90
post solidification cooling zones:0.5-5 C/h, 1-20 C/h, 5-20 C/h in different zones for first ~300 C, then 20-50 C/h to room temperature
temperature gradient at interface C per cm:1-10
crystallization velocity cooling rate C per hour:0.1-1.0
Materials:GaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
Fet Electrical
FIG. 15 7, there is shown an 8 inch GaAs wafer 701 manufactured using the process described above, and further processed with electrical and/or optoelectronic …
multi zone heating:multiple zones, each with two or more heating coils
ingot diameter inches:8
minimum crystal length mm:90
post solidification cooling zones:0.5-5 C/h, 1-20 C/h, 5-20 C/h in different zones for first ~300 C, then 20-50 C/h to room temperature
temperature gradient at interface C per cm:1-10
crystallization velocity cooling rate C per hour:0.1-1.0
Materials:GaAsB₂O₃CGaAs
Fet Electrical
FIG. 15 7, there is shown an 8 inch GaAs wafer 701 manufactured using the process described above, and further processed with electrical and/or optoelectronic …