IP Library Granted Patent US 9,660,137
Granted Patent B2
US 9,660,137 · App. 14/891,924 · Granted May 23, 2017

Method for producing a nitride compound semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,660,137
App. No.
14/891,924
Granted
May 23, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is provided for producing a nitride compound semiconductor device. A growth substrate has a silicon surface. A buffer layer, which comprises Al x In y Ga 1-x-y N with 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and x+y≦1, is grown onto the silicon surface of the substrate. A semiconductor layer sequence is grown onto the buffer layer. The buffer layer includes a material composition that varies in such a way that a lateral lattice constant of the buffer layer increases stepwise or continuously in a first region and decreases stepwise or continuously in a second region, which follows the first region in the growth direction. At an interface with the semiconductor layer sequence, the buffer layer includes a smaller lateral lattice constant than a semiconductor layer of the semiconductor layer sequence adjoining the buffer layer.

Claims (26)

1. A method for producing an optoelectronic device, the method comprising:

providing a growth substrate with a silicon surface;

growing a buffer layer onto the silicon surface in a growth direction, the buffer layer comprising Al x In y Ga 1-x-y N with 0≦1, 0≦y≦1 and x+y≦1, wherein the buffer layer comprises a material composition that varies in such a way that a lateral lattice constant of the buffer layer increases stepwise or continuously in a first region and decreases stepwise or continuously in a second region that follows the first region in the growth direction; and

growing a semiconductor layer sequence that includes an active layer onto the buffer layer, wherein, at an interface with the semiconductor layer sequence, the buffer layer has a smaller lateral lattice constant than a semiconductor layer of the semiconductor layer sequence that adjoins the buffer layer,

wherein semiconductor layer sequence is a light emitting diode layer sequence.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer layer comprises Al x Ga 1-x N with 0≦x≦1.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, starting from the growth substrate, an aluminum content of the buffer layer decreases in the first region and increases in the second region, and where x represents the aluminum content.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, at the interface with the growth substrate, the buffer layer has an aluminum content of x≦0.8.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, at the interface with the growth substrate, the buffer layer has an aluminum content of x≧0.9.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer layer has a minimum aluminum content of x≦0.6.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer layer has a minimum aluminum content of x≦0.2.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer layer has an aluminum content of x≧0.6 at the interface with the semiconductor layer sequence.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer layer has an aluminum content of x≧0.8 at the interface with the semiconductor layer sequence.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor layer that adjoins the buffer layer comprises Al m In n Ga 1-m-n N, and wherein m≦0.5.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor layer that adjoins the buffer layer comprises Al m In n Ga 1-m-n N, and wherein m≦0.2.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon surface is a plane.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising detaching the growth substrate after growing the semiconductor layer sequence.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the buffer layer is at least partly removed after the growth substrate has been detached.

15. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising joining the semiconductor layer sequence to a carrier substrate on an opposite side from the growth substrate.

16. A method for producing an optoelectronic device, the method comprising:

providing a growth substrate with a silicon surface;

growing a buffer layer onto the silicon surface in a growth direction, the buffer layer comprising Al x In y Ga 1-x-y N with 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and x+y≦1, wherein the buffer layer comprises a material composition that varies in such a way that a lateral lattice constant of the buffer layer increases stepwise or continuously in a first region and decreases stepwise or continuously in a second region that follows the first region in the growth direction;

growing a semiconductor layer sequence that includes an active layer onto the buffer layer, wherein, at an interface with the semiconductor layer sequence, the buffer layer has a smaller lateral lattice constant than a semiconductor layer of the semiconductor layer sequence that adjoins the buffer layer;

detaching the growth substrate after growing the semiconductor layer sequence; and

at least partially, removing the buffer layer after the growth substrate has been detached,

wherein semiconductor layer sequence is a light emitting diode layer sequence.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2020
From: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
To: OSRAM OLED GMBH
Reel/Frame 051467/0906 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2016
From: BERGBAUER, WERNER; DRECHSEL, PHILIPP; STAUSS, PETER; RODE, PATRICK
To: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
Reel/Frame 037554/0097 →