IP Library Granted Patent US 11,616,164
Granted Patent B2
US 11,616,164 · App. 16/955,560 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Method for producing a nitride compound semiconductor component

Inventors: Philipp Drechsel (Regensburg, DE); Werner Bergbauer (Windberg, DE); Thomas Lehnhardt (Regensburg, DE); Jürgen Off (Regensburg, DE); Joachim Hertkorn (Woerth An der Donau, DE)
Assignee: OSRAM OLED GMBH
H01L33/0075H01L33/0095H01L33/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,616,164
App. No.
16/955,560
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for producing a nitride compound semiconductor component is disclosed. In an embodiment the method includes providing a growth substrate, growing a nucleation layer of an aluminum-containing nitride compound semiconductor onto the growth substrate, growing a tension layer structure for generating a compressive stress, wherein the tension layer structure comprises at least a first GaN semiconductor layer and a second GaN semiconductor layer, and wherein an Al(Ga)N interlayer for generating the compressive stress is disposed between the first GaN semiconductor layer and the second GaN semiconductor layer and growing a functional semiconductor layer sequence of the nitride compound semiconductor component onto the tension layer structure, wherein a growth of the second GaN semiconductor layer is preceded by a growth of a first 3D AlGaN layer on the Al(Ga)N interlayer in such a way that it has nonplanar structures.

Claims (41)

1. A method for producing a nitride compound semiconductor component, the method comprising:

providing a growth substrate;

growing a nucleation layer of an aluminum-containing nitride compound semiconductor onto the growth substrate;

growing a tension layer structure for generating a compressive stress,

wherein the tension layer structure comprises at least a first GaN semiconductor layer and a second GaN semiconductor layer, and

wherein an Al(Ga)N interlayer for generating the compressive stress is disposed between the first GaN semiconductor layer and the second GaN semiconductor layer; and

growing a functional semiconductor layer sequence of the nitride compound semiconductor component onto the tension layer structure,

wherein a growth of the second GaN semiconductor layer is preceded by a growth of a first 3D AlGaN layer on the Al(Ga)N interlayer such that the first 3D AlGaN layer has nonplanar structures, and

wherein the nonplanar structures form a nonplanar side of the first 3D AlGaN layer, the nonplanar side facing away from the growth substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first 3D AlGaN layer is produced by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy, and wherein a growth temperature in the growth of the first 3D AlGaN layer is less than 1000° C.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the first GaN semiconductor layer and the second GaN semiconductor layer are produced by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy,

wherein NH3 is used as reaction gas, and

wherein an NH3 gas flow rate while producing the first 3D AlGaN layer is lower than while producing the first GaN semiconductor layer and/or the second GaN semiconductor layer.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the first 3D AlGaN layer, the first GaN semiconductor layer and the second GaN semiconductor layer are produced by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy in a reaction chamber, and

wherein a pressure in the reaction chamber while producing the first 3D AlGaN layer is lower than while producing the first GaN semiconductor layer and/or the second GaN semiconductor layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tension layer structure does not have a masking layer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tension layer structure does not include silicon nitride.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a growth of the nucleation layer is followed and a growth of the first GaN semiconductor layer is preceded by a growth of a second 3D AlGaN layer such that the second 3D AlGaN layer has nonplanar structures.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleation layer is produced by sputtering.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a total thickness of the tension layer structure is less than 5 μm.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second GaN semiconductor layer is undoped, and wherein the second GaN semiconductor layer is followed by a third GaN semiconductor layer which is doped.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth substrate has a silicon surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the silicon surface is a plane.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nitride compound semiconductor component is an optoelectronic component.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the functional semiconductor layer sequence is a light-emitting diode layer sequence comprising an n-type semiconductor region, a p-type semiconductor region, and an active layer disposed between the n-type semiconductor region and the p-type semiconductor region.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth substrate is detached after a growth of the functional semiconductor layer sequence.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the functional semiconductor layer sequence is bonded to a carrier substrate on an opposite side from the growth substrate.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second GaN semiconductor layer is grown directly on the nonplanar structures of the first 3D AlGaN layer.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first 3D AlGaN layer is directly disposed on the Al(Ga)N interlayer.

19. The method of claim 7 , wherein the nonplanar structures of the second 3D AlGaN layer form a nonplanar side of the second 3D AlGaN layer, the nonplanar side of the second 3D AlGaN layer facing away from the growth substrate.

20. A method for producing a nitride compound semiconductor component, the method comprising:

providing a growth substrate;

growing a nucleation layer of an aluminum-containing nitride compound semiconductor onto the growth substrate;

growing a tension layer structure for generating a compressive stress,

wherein the tension layer structure comprises at least a first GaN semiconductor layer and a second GaN semiconductor layer, and

wherein an Al(Ga)N interlayer for generating the compressive stress is disposed between the first GaN semiconductor layer and the second GaN semiconductor layer; and

growing a functional semiconductor layer sequence of the nitride compound semiconductor component onto the tension layer structure,

wherein a growth of the second GaN semiconductor layer is preceded by a growth of a first 3D AlGaN layer on the Al(Ga)N interlayer such that the first 3D AlGaN layer has nonplanar structures, and

wherein the first 3D AlGaN layer has crystal faces that are predominantly not oriented in a c plane.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Feb 17, 2026
From: OSRAM OLED GMBH
To: AMS-OSRAM INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 074881/0104 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2021
From: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
To: OSRAM OLED GMBH
Reel/Frame 056338/0160 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2021
From: DRECHSEL, PHILIPP; BERGBAUER, WERNER; LEHNHARDT, THOMAS; OFF, JÜRGEN; HERTKORN, JOACHIM
To: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
Reel/Frame 055787/0680 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2018 101 558.5 · Jan 24, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200335658A1 · Oct 22, 2020