Method for Producing III-N Substrates

Crystallography, the scientific study of crystals and crystal formation, involves precise control over the growth and manipulation of crystals. Crystallography is used in various fields, including semiconductors, electronics, and photonics, where creating free-standing layers of crystalline materials with predefined symmetry is crucial to the performance of devices. Traditional approaches lack specific control in the formation of crystalline layers, often resulting in haphazard crystal growth and inconsistent symmetry. The control over crystal formation through the mechanical strength of the substrate used for growth is a significant challenge. There has been difficulty with attaining regular arrangements of apertures to allow unhindered consistent growth, thus leading to inconsistency in the performance of devices that use such crystals.

Technology Description

This technology is a growth structure designed to facilitate the formation of a free-standing layer of crystalline material exhibiting one or more crystallographic symmetries. This growth structure comprises a host substrate and a mechanically weaker separation layer, providing a base for the growth of the crystalline material. An array of apertures is incorporated into the separation layer which traverses the thickness of the separation layer. What sets this technology apart from others is its unique usage of a mechanically weaker separation layer. This weaker separation layer allows the robust crystalline material to develop unhindered, maintaining its embedded crystallographic symmetry. Its design brings about the formation of apertures throughout the separation layer, enabling controlled growth of the crystalline material through these openings, ensuring a successful free-standing crystalline layer.