Hydrothermal and Ammonothermal Growth of ZnO and GaN

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and gallium nitride (GaN) are wide-bandgap semiconductors with a wide array of applications in optoelectronic and electronics. The lack of low-cost, low-defect ZnO and GaN substrates has slowed development and hampered performance of devices based on these two materials. Their anisotropic crystal structure allows the polar solvents, water and ammonia, to dissolve and crystallize ZnO and GaN at high pressure. Applying the techniques used for hydrothermal production of industrial single-crystal quartz to ZnO and GaN opens a pathway for the inexpensive growth of relatively larger crystals that can be processed into semiconductor wafers. This chapter will focus on the specifics of the hydrothermal growth of ZnO and the ammonothermal growth of GaN, emphasizing requirements for industrial scale growth of large crystals. Phase stability and solubility of hydrothermal ZnO and ammonothermal GaN is covered. Modeling of thermal and fluid flow gradients is discussed and simulations of thermal and temperature profiles in research-grade pressure systems are shown. Growth kinetics for ZnO and GaN respectively are reviewed with special interest in the effects of crystalline anisotropy on thermodynamics and kinetics. Finally, the incorporation of dopants and impurities in ZnO and GaN and how their incorporation modifies electrical and optical properties are discussed.