Control of crystal–melt interface shape during horizontal Bridgman growth of InSb crystal using solutal Marangoni convection

Abstract

In order to control the shape of the crystal–melt (C–M) interface, InSb crystal growth experiments using the horizontal Bridgman method have been carried out to clarify the effects of temperature gradient, cooling rate, and Sb composition of the initial melt. The shape of the C–M interface was almost flat at the initial stage of crystal growth. With progressing growth, the degree of distortion of the C–M interface shape, “concavity”, increased and reached a constant value. In the case of a uniform concentration distribution in the melt, the terminal concavity decreased with the decrease of temperature gradient. The terminal concavity decreased with the increase of cooling rate, but it saturated at a high cooling rate. Solutal Marangoni convection was intentionally induced by changing the initial Sb composition. The concavity could be controlled via solutal Marangoni convection without the change of temperature gradient or cooling rate. A flat interface was obtained when the solutal Marangoni convection decelerated the thermal Marangoni convection.