Cree Research Inc.

Vladimir A Dmitriev

John Adam Edmond

Hua-shuang Kong

Gary E Bulman

Calvin H Carter, Jr

Kenneth Irvine

Vladimir A Ivantsov

Svetlana V Rendakova

A method is disclosed for producing epitaxial layers of silicon carbide that are substantially free of micropipe defects. The method comprises growing an epitaxial layer of silicon carbide on a silicon carbide substrate by liquid phase epitaxy from a melt of silicon carbide in silicon and an element that enhances the solubility of silicon carbide in the melt. The atomic percentage of that element predominates over the atomic percentage of silicon in the melt. Micropipe defects propagated by the substrate into the epitaxial layer are closed by continuing to grow the epitaxial layer under the proper conditions until the epitaxial layer has a thickness at which micropipe defects present in the substrate are substantially no longer reproduced in the epitaxial layer, and the number of micropipe defects in the epitaxial layer is substantially reduced.

Method for reducing micropipe formation in the epitaxial growth of

A light emitting diode emits in the blue portion of the visible spectrum and is characterized by an extended lifetime. The light emitting diode comprises a conductive silicon carbide substrate; an ohmic contact to the silicon carbide substrate; a conductive buffer layer on the substrate and selected from the group consisting of gallium nitride, aluminum nitride, indium nitride, ternary Group III nitrides having the formula A.sub.x B.sub.1-x N, where A and B are Group III elements and where x is zero, one, or a fraction between zero and one, and alloys of silicon carbide with such ternary Group III nitrides; and a double heterostructure including a p-n junction on the buffer layer in which the active and heterostructure layers are selected from the group consisting of binary Group III nitrides and ternary Group III nitrides.

Vertical geometry light emitting diode with group III nitride active

A transition crystal structure is disclosed for providing a good lattice and thermal match between a layer of single crystal silicon carbide and a layer of single crystal gallium nitride. The transition structure comprises a buffer formed of a first layer of gallium nitride and aluminum nitride, and a second layer of gallium nitride and aluminum nitride adjacent to the first layer. The mole percentage of aluminum nitride in the second layer is substantially different from the mole percentage of aluminum nitride in the first layer. A layer of single crystal gallium nitride is formed upon the second layer of gallium nitride. In preferred embodiments, the buffer further comprises an epitaxial layer of aluminum nitride upon a silicon carbide substrate.

Buffer structure between silicon carbide and gallium nitride and

A light emitting diode is disclosed that emits light in the blue region of the visible spectrum with increased brightness and efficiency. The light emitting diode comprises an n-type silicon carbide substrate; an n-type silicon carbide top layer; and a light emitting p-n junction structure between the n-type substrate and the n-type top layer. The p-n junction structure is formed of respective portions of n-type silicon carbide and p-type silicon carbide. The diode further includes means between the n-type top layer and the n-type substrate for coupling the n-type top layer to the light-emitting p-n junction structure while preventing n-p-n behavior between the n-type top layer, the p-type layer in the junction structure, and the n-type substrate.

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Fuquay-Varina, NC, United States of America

Vladimir A Dmitriev