IP Library Granted Patent US 10,312,401
Granted Patent B2
US 10,312,401 · App. 15/115,242 · Granted Jun 4, 2019

Method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor chip and optoelectronic semiconductor chip

Inventors: Werner Bergbauer (Windberg, DE); Thomas Lehnhardt (Regensburg, DE); Jürgen Off (Regensburg, DE); Joachim Hertkorn (Wörth an der Donau, DE)
Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
H01L31/1852H01L21/0243H01L21/0254H01L21/02458H01L21/02639H01L21/02647H01L31/03044H01L31/1856H01L33/007H01L33/0066H01L33/0075H01L33/12H01L33/22H01L33/32H01L21/02488H01L2933/0033
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,312,401
App. No.
15/115,242
Granted
Jun 4, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for producing an electronic semiconductor chip and a semiconductor chip are disclosed. In embodiments, the method includes providing a growth substrate having a growth surface formed by a flat region having a plurality of three-dimensional surface structures on the flat region, directly applying a nucleation layer of oxygen-containing AlN over a large area to the growth surface and growing a nitride-based semiconductor layer sequence on the nucleation layer, wherein growing the semiconductor layer sequence includes selectively growing the semiconductor layer sequence upwards from the flat region.

Claims (26)

1. A method for producing an electronic semiconductor chip, the method comprising:

providing a growth substrate comprising a growth surface formed by a planar region having a plurality of three-dimensional surface structures on the planar region;

directly applying a nucleation layer of oxygen-containing AlN over a large area to the growth surface;

growing a nitride-based semiconductor layer sequence on the nucleation layer, wherein growing the semiconductor layer sequence comprises selectively growing the semiconductor layer sequence upwards from the planar region such that a growth of the semiconductor layer sequence on the whole surfaces of the three-dimensional surface structures is reduced or non-existent compared to a growth on the planar region; and

directly applying a nucleation layer of oxygen-containing AlN in such a way that the entire growth surface, the entire planar region and the surface structures are covered by the nucleation layer, wherein an oxygen content of the nucleation layer is more than 10 19 cm −3 , and wherein a selectivity of the growth of the semiconductor layer sequence on the planar region is targetedly adjusted by the oxygen content of the nucleation layer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional surface structures are substantially covered by the semiconductor layer sequence while growing the semiconductor layer sequence.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein applying the nucleation layer is ensued by a metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein applying the nucleation layer is ensued by sputtering.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional surface structures comprise conical or pyramidal elevations on the planar region.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the growth substrate comprises aluminum oxide.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the planar region is a crystallographic c surface.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor layer sequence is grown with an optoelectronic active layer, which is provided for emitting or detecting light during operation of the semiconductor chip.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the semiconductor chip is designed as a light-emitting or light-detecting diode.

10. An electronic semiconductor chip comprising:

a growth substrate with a growth surface, which is formed by a planar region having a plurality of three-dimensional surface structures on the planar region;

a nucleation layer composed of oxygen-containing AlN directly disposed on the growth surface;

a nitride-based semiconductor layer sequence disposed on the nucleation layer, wherein the semiconductor layer sequence is selectively grown from the planar region such that a growth of the semiconductor layer sequence on the whole surfaces of the three-dimensional surface structures is reduced or non-existent compared to a growth on the planar region; and

a nucleation layer of oxygen-containing AlN is directly applied in such a way that the entire growth surface, the entire planar region and the surface structures are covered by the nucleation layer, wherein an oxygen content of the nucleation layer is more than 10 19 cm −3 , and wherein a selectivity of the growth of the semiconductor layer sequence on the planar region is targetedly adjusted by the oxygen content of the nucleation layer.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleation layer is applied to the growth surface with a thickness of greater than or equal to 1 nm, and wherein the nucleation layer is applied by sputtering or MOVPE.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the nucleation layer is applied to the growth surface with a thickness of greater than or equal to 5 nm.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a weight proportion of oxygen in the nucleation layer is greater than or equal to 0.1%.

14. A method for producing an electronic semiconductor chip, the method comprising:

providing a growth substrate comprising a growth surface formed by a planar region having a plurality of three-dimensional surface structures on the planar region;

directly applying a nucleation layer of oxygen-containing AlN over a large area to the growth surface;

growing a nitride-based semiconductor layer sequence on the nucleation layer, wherein growing the semiconductor layer sequence comprises selectively growing the semiconductor layer sequence upwards from the planar region such that a growth of the semiconductor layer sequence on the whole surfaces of the three-dimensional surface structures is reduced or non-existent compared to a growth on the planar region; and

directly applying a nucleation layer of oxygen-containing AlN in such a way that the entire growth surface, the entire planar region and the surface structures are covered by the nucleation layer, wherein an oxygen content of the nucleation layer is more than 10 19 cm −3 , and wherein the oxygen content of the nucleation layer is adjusted in such a way that the semiconductor layer sequence is predominantly grown from the planar region, whereas very little or no growth at all of the semiconductor layer sequence takes place on the three-dimensional surface structures.

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 Nov 3, 2016
From: BERGBAUER, WERNER; LEHNHARDT, THOMAS; OFF, JÜRGEN; HERTKORN, JOACHIM
To: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
Reel/Frame 040211/0041 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2014 101 966 · Feb 17, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170005223A1 · Jan 5, 2017