Crystal growth of bulk ternary semiconductors: Comparison of GaInSb growth by horizontal Bridgman and horizontal traveling heater method

Results from the growth of bulk Ga(1-x)In(x)Sb crystals are presented. The primary challenge for ternary crystal growth is to control the composition and electrical resistivity while also reducing the concentration of defects. A modified horizontal traveling heater method (HTHM) growth process is described which accomplishes these goals. This method uses excess indium as a solvent, allowing growth of the ternary crystal at a given composition, below the liquidus temperature of the desired alloy. Lower temperature growth reduces the density of native defects such as gallium vacancies. The horizontal traveling heater method produces a zone-leveling effect on the alloy composition, so that a uniform composition crystal is obtained. The solute distribution achieved by HTHM is compared with a crystal grown by the horizontal Bridgman method. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.