Method for crystal growth of a metal-nonmetal compound using a metallophobic-metallophilic surfactant and a thin metal wetting layer
First Claim
1. A method for crystal growth from a surfactant of a metal-nonmetal (MN) compound, comprising the procedures of:
- providing a seed crystal;
setting a temperature of said seed crystal below a minimal temperature required for dissolving MN molecules in a thin liquid metal wetting layer and above a melting point of a first metal, each one of said MN molecules being formed from at least one atom of a second metal and at least one atom of a first nonmetal;
introducing atoms of said first metal to said seed crystal in order to form said thin liquid metal wetting layer on at least one surface of said seed crystal, said thin liquid metal wetting layer having at least two monolayers and being spread over substantially the whole surface of said at least one surface of said seed crystal;
introducing said MN molecules which form an MN surfactant monolayer, thereby facilitating a formation of said thin liquid metal wetting layer between said MN surfactant monolayer and said at least one surface of said seed crystal; and
regulating a thickness of said thin liquid metal wetting layer such that at least some of said MN molecules of said MN surfactant monolayer couple with said at least one surface of said seed crystal, thereby growing an epitaxial layer of said MN compound on said seed crystal,wherein said MN surfactant monolayer has a metallophilic side facing said thin liquid metal wetting layer and a metallophobic side facing away from said thin liquid metal wetting layer.
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Abstract
Method for crystal growth from a surfactant of a metal-nonmetal (MN) compound, including the procedures of providing a seed crystal, introducing atoms of a first metal to the seed crystal thus forming a thin liquid metal wetting layer on a surface of the seed crystal, setting a temperature of the seed crystal below a minimal temperature required for dissolving MN molecules in the wetting layer and above a melting point of the first metal, each one of the MN molecules being formed from an atom of a second metal and an atom of a first nonmetal, introducing the MN molecules which form an MN surfactant monolayer, thereby facilitating a formation of the wetting layer between the MN surfactant monolayer and the surface of the seed crystal, and regulating a thickness of the wetting layer, thereby growing an epitaxial layer of the MN compound on the seed crystal.
7 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for crystal growth from a surfactant of a metal-nonmetal (MN) compound, comprising the procedures of:
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providing a seed crystal; setting a temperature of said seed crystal below a minimal temperature required for dissolving MN molecules in a thin liquid metal wetting layer and above a melting point of a first metal, each one of said MN molecules being formed from at least one atom of a second metal and at least one atom of a first nonmetal; introducing atoms of said first metal to said seed crystal in order to form said thin liquid metal wetting layer on at least one surface of said seed crystal, said thin liquid metal wetting layer having at least two monolayers and being spread over substantially the whole surface of said at least one surface of said seed crystal; introducing said MN molecules which form an MN surfactant monolayer, thereby facilitating a formation of said thin liquid metal wetting layer between said MN surfactant monolayer and said at least one surface of said seed crystal; and regulating a thickness of said thin liquid metal wetting layer such that at least some of said MN molecules of said MN surfactant monolayer couple with said at least one surface of said seed crystal, thereby growing an epitaxial layer of said MN compound on said seed crystal, wherein said MN surfactant monolayer has a metallophilic side facing said thin liquid metal wetting layer and a metallophobic side facing away from said thin liquid metal wetting layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36)
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17. A method for crystal growth from a surfactant of a metal-nonmetal (MN) compound from a metal melt in a growth chamber, said growth chamber comprising a pedestal, located inside said growth chamber and a motor, coupled with said pedestal, for moving said pedestal in said growth chamber, comprising the procedures of:
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placing a seed crystal on said pedestal such that a growth surface of said seed crystal faces opposite a direction of said pedestal; filling said growth chamber with said metal melt such that said growth surface is covered by a thin layer of said metal melt, said thin layer of said metal melt having at least two monolayers; introducing a nonmetal gas into said growth chamber above a surface of said metal melt, wherein particles of said nonmetal gas and particles of said metal melt interact, thereby forming a MN surfactant monolayer; and regulating a distance between said growth surface and said MN surfactant monolayer such that molecules in said MN surfactant monolayer tunnel to said growth surface, thereby epitaxially growing at least one crystal layer on said growth surface, wherein said MN surfactant monolayer has a metallophilic side facing said thin liquid metal wetting layer and a metallophobic side facing away from said thin liquid metal wetting layer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 34)
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19. A method for epitaxial crystal growth from a surfactant of a metal-nonmetal (MN) compound from a thin film in a growth chamber, said growth chamber comprising a metal source, coupled with said growth chamber, for introducing a metal vapor into said growth chamber, and an inlet, coupled with said growth chamber, for introducing a nonmetal vapor into said growth chamber, comprising the procedures of:
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placing a seed crystal in said growth chamber; simultaneously filling said growth chamber with said metal vapor and said nonmetal vapor, such that said metal vapor and said nonmetal vapor co-deposit on a growth surface of said seed crystal, thereby forming a thin liquid metal wetting layer from said metal vapor and a MN surfactant monolayer over said thin liquid metal wetting layer, said thin liquid metal wetting layer having at least two monolayers and being spread over substantially the whole surface of said growth surface of said seed crystal; and regulating a thickness of said thin liquid metal wetting layer such that MN molecules in said MN surfactant monolayer tunnel to said growth surface, thereby epitaxially growing at least one crystal layer on said growth surface, wherein a concentration of said metal vapor is initially higher than a concentration of said nonmetal vapor such that said thin liquid metal wetting layer is formed, and wherein said MN surfactant monolayer has a metallophilic side facing said thin liquid metal wetting layer and a metallophobic side facing away from said thin liquid metal wetting layer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 35)
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Specification