IP Library Granted Patent US 8,148,178
Granted Patent B2
US 8,148,178 · App. 12/263,873 · Granted Apr 3, 2012

Method of growing nitride single crystal and method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor light emitting device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,148,178
App. No.
12/263,873
Granted
Apr 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a method of growing a nitride single crystal. A method of growing a nitride single crystal according to an aspect of the invention may include: growing a first nitride single crystal layer on a substrate; forming a dielectric pattern having an open area on the first nitride single crystal layer, the open area exposing a part of an upper surface of the first nitride single crystal layer; and growing a second nitride single crystal layer on the first nitride single crystal layer through the open area while the second nitride single crystal layer grows to be equal to or larger than a height of the dielectric pattern, wherein the height of the dielectric pattern is greater than a width of the open area so that dislocations in the second nitride single crystal layer move laterally, collide with side walls of the dielectric pattern, and are terminated.

Claims (37)

1. A method of growing a nitride single crystal, the method comprising:

growing a first nitride single crystal layer on a substrate;

forming a dielectric pattern having an open area on the first nitride single crystal layer, the open area exposing a part of an upper surface of the first nitride single crystal layer; and

growing a second nitride single crystal layer on the first nitride single crystal layer through the open area while the second nitride single crystal layer is grown to be smaller than or equal to a height of the dielectric pattern,

wherein the height of the dielectric pattern is greater than a width of the open area so that dislocations in the second nitride single crystal layer move laterally, collide with side walls of the dielectric pattern, and are terminated,

wherein the growing the second nitride single crystal layer comprises:

performing vertical growth preceding lateral growth of the second nitride single crystal; and

performing lateral growth preceding vertical growth after performing the vertical growth so that dislocations in the second nitride single crystal collide with the side walls of the dielectric pattern, and are terminated.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising growing a third nitride single crystal layer on the second nitride single crystal layer after growing the second nitride single crystal layer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein in the growing the third nitride single crystal layer, the third nitride single crystal layer is grown to be smaller than or equal to the height of the dielectric pattern.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the growing the third nitride single crystal layer comprises growing the third nitride single crystal layer over the dielectric pattern until the third nitride single crystal layer covers the dielectric pattern.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric pattern further comprises a lower pattern extending from the bottom of the side walls and covering the first nitride single crystal layer, and the lower pattern narrows the exposed area of the first nitride single crystal layer.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising growing a third nitride single crystal layer on the second nitride single crystal later after performing the lateral growth.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the forming the dielectric pattern is performed by dry etching.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the lower pattern has a uniform height.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the forming the dielectric pattern is performed by wet etching.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lower pattern has a curved surface, and opposite side walls of the lower pattern become narrower from the top to the bottom.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the growing the second nitride layer is performed using Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD).

12. A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor light emitting device, the method comprising:

growing a first nitride single crystal layer on a substrate;

forming a dielectric pattern having an open area on the first nitride single crystal layer, the open area exposing a part of an upper surface of the first nitride single crystal layer;

growing a second nitride single crystal layer on the first nitride single crystal layer through the open area while the second nitride single crystal layer is grown to be smaller than or equal to a height of the dielectric pattern; and

growing a first conductive nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive nitride semiconductor layer on the second nitride single crystal layer to form a light emitting structure,

wherein the height of the dielectric pattern is greater than a width of the open area, when the second nitride single crystal layer is grown, so that dislocations in the second nitride single crystal layer move laterally, collide with the dielectric pattern, and are terminated,

wherein the growing the second nitride single crystal layer comprises:

performing vertical growth preceding lateral growth of the second nitride single crystal; and

performing lateral growth preceding vertical growth after performing the vertical growth so that dislocations in the second nitride single crystal collide with the side walls of the dielectric pattern, and are terminated.

13. A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor light emitting device, the method comprising:

growing a first nitride single crystal layer on a substrate;

forming a dielectric pattern having an open area on the first nitride single crystal layer, the open area exposing a part of an upper surface of the first nitride single crystal layer;

growing a second nitride single crystal layer on the first nitride single crystal layer through the open area while the second nitride single crystal layer is grown to be smaller than or equal to a height of the dielectric pattern;

growing a third nitride single crystal layer on the second nitride single crystal layer over the dielectric pattern until the third nitride single crystal layer covers the dielectric pattern; and

growing a first conductive nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive nitride semiconductor layer on the third nitride single crystal layer to form a light emitting structure,

wherein the height of the dielectric pattern is greater than a width of the open area, when the second nitride single crystal layer is grown, so that dislocations in the second nitride single crystal layer move laterally, collide with side walls of the dielectric pattern, and are terminated,

wherein the growing the second nitride single crystal layer comprises:

performing vertical growth preceding lateral growth of the second nitride single crystal; and

performing lateral growth preceding vertical growth after performing the vertical growth so that dislocations in the second nitride single crystal collide with the side walls of the dielectric pattern, and are terminated.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Aug 7, 2012
From: SAMSUNG LED CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028744/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2010
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG LED CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 024723/0532 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2008
From: PAEK, HO SUN; LEE, SUNG NAM; LEE, JEONG WOOK; JUNG, IL HYUNG; SUNG, YOUN JOON
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 021778/0379 →