IP Library Granted Patent US 12,104,279
Granted Patent B2
US 12,104,279 · App. 17/649,983 · Granted Oct 1, 2024

Nitride crystal substrate and method for manufacturing the same

Inventor: Fumimasa Horikiri (Ibaraki, JP)
Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
C30B29/406C01B21/0632G01N21/95H01L21/02389C01P2002/82C01P2006/40C30B25/02G01N2021/8477
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,104,279
App. No.
17/649,983
Granted
Oct 1, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a nitride crystal substrate constituted by group-III nitride crystal, containing n-type impurities, with an absorption coefficient α being approximately expressed by equation (1) by a least squares method in a wavelength range of at least 1 μm or more and 3.3 μm or less. α = N e ⁢ K ⁢ λ a ⁢ ( where 1.5 × 10 - 19 ≤ K ≤ 6. × 10 - 19 , a = 3 ) , ( 1 ) here, a wavelength is λ (μm), an absorption coefficient of the nitride crystal substrate at 27° C. is α (cm −1 ), a carrier concentration in the nitride crystal substrate is N e (cm −3 ), and K and a are constants, wherein an error of an actually measured absorption coefficient with respect to the absorption coefficient α obtained from equation (1) at a wavelength of 2 μm is within +0.1α, and in a reflection spectrum measured by irradiating the nitride crystal substrate with infrared light, there is no peak with a peak top within a wavenumber range of 1,200 cm −1 or more and 1,500 cm −1 or less.

Claims (48)

1. A GaN free-standing substrate comprising GaN single crystal, containing n-type impurities, with an absorption coefficient α being approximated by equation (1) by a method of least squares in a wavelength range of at least 1 μm or more and 3.3 μm or less:

α

=

N

e

K

λ

a

,

equation

(

1

)

where 1.5×10 −19 ≤K≤6.0×10 −19 , a=3,

a wavelength being λ(μm), an absorption coefficient of the GaN free-standing substrate at 27° C. being α(cm −1 ), a carrier concentration in the GaN free-standing substrate being N e (cm −3 ), and K and a being constants,

wherein an error of an actually measured absorption coefficient with respect to the absorption coefficient α obtained from equation (1) at a wavelength of 2 μm is within ±0.1α, and

in a reflection spectrum measured by irradiating the GaN free-standing substrate with infrared light, there is a peak within a wavenumber range of 1,200 cm −1 or more and 1,500 cm −1 or less, and a peak height which is a difference between an intensity reflectance of the peak and an intensity reflectance of a baseline of the reflection spectrum is 35% or less, the baseline of the reflection spectrum is a reflection spectrum in a case where there is no point defect in the GaN free-standing substrate.

2. The GaN free-standing substrate according to claim 1 , where Δα represents a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the absorption coefficient α, when analyzed in a main surface of the GaN free-standing substrate by irradiation, the value of Δα≤1.0 and the wavelength range is 1 μm or more and 3.3 μm or less.

3. A method for manufacturing a GaN free-standing substrate, comprising:

preparing a GaN free-standing substrate constituted by GaN single crystal, containing n-type impurities, with an absorption coefficient α being approximated by equation (1) by a method of least squares in a wavelength range of at least 1 μm or more and 3.3 μm or less:

α

=

N

e

K

λ

a

,

equation

(

1

)

where 1.5×10 −19 ≤K≤6.0×10 −19 , a=3,

a wavelength being λ(μm), an absorption coefficient of the GaN free-standing substrate at 27° C. being α(cm −1 ), a carrier concentration in the GaN free-standing substrate being N e (cm −3 ), and K and a being constants,

wherein an error of an actually measured absorption coefficient is within ±0.1α with respect to the absorption coefficient α obtained from equation (1) at a wavelength of 2 μm; and

measuring a reflection spectrum by irradiating the GaN free-standing substrate with infrared light, and inspecting whether there is a peak within a wavenumber range of 1,200 cm −1 and 1,500 cm −1 or less and a peak height which is a difference between an intensity reflectance of the peak and an intensity reflectance of a baseline of the reflection spectrum is 35% or less, the baseline of the reflection spectrum is a reflection spectrum in a case where there is no point defect in the GaN free-standing substrate.

4. The method for manufacturing a GaN free-standing substrate according to claim 3 , comprising: measuring the reflection spectrum for each of a plurality of positions in a main surface of the GaN free-standing substrate; obtaining a peak height, which is a difference between an intensity reflectance of the detected peak and an intensity reflectance of a baseline of the reflection spectrum; and comparing the peak heights obtained for each of the plurality of positions.

5. The method for manufacturing a GaN free-standing substrate according to claim 3 , wherein a point defect density of the GaN free-standing substrate is estimated based on a peak height, which is a difference between an intensity reflectance of the detected peak and an intensity reflectance of a baseline of the reflection spectrum.

Assignments (1)
MERGER Recorded Dec 16, 2022
From: SCIOCS COMPANY LIMITED
To: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 062142/0384 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-112844 · Jun 13, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16435628 · Jun 10, 2019
Related Publication 20220154367A1 · May 19, 2022