Seeded growth of AlN crystals on nonpolar seeds via physical vapor transport

Seeded growth of AlN single crystals was demonstrated in an induction-heated, high-temperature reactor via a physical vapor transport (PVT) process. AlN seeds were prepared from a self-seeded boule containing large single-crystalline grains. Seeded growth was interrupted several times in order to refill the AlN powder source, and a dedicated process scheme was used to ensure epitaxial growth on the seed surface, after prior exposure to air. The growth temperatures were in the range of 2200–2300°C, and the reactor pressure was in the range of 500–900 torr of UHP-grade nitrogen during each growth run. Under these growth conditions, a seed (10 mm diameter) expanded at an angle of 45°, and a larger single crystal up to 18 mm in diameter was obtained. The as-grown surface had three facets, of which facet (1120) was smooth and featureless while the other two, (4150) and (2570), showed serrated morphologies. The double-crystal x-ray rocking curve and glow discharge mass spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the grown crystal was of high crystalline quality with low impurity incorporation.