Thermal expansion engineering for polycrystalline aluminum nitride sintered bodies

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and materials useful in the preparation of semiconductor devices. In particular embodiments, disclosed are methods for engineering polycrystalline aluminum nitride substrates that are thermally matched to further materials that can be combined therewith. For example, the polycrystalline aluminum nitride substrates can be engineered to have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is closely matched to the CTE of a semiconductor material and/or to a material that can be used as a growth substrate for a semiconductor material. The invention also encompasses devices incorporating such thermally engineered substrates and semiconductor materials grown using such thermally engineered substrates. The thermally engineered substrates are advantageous for overcoming problems caused by damage arising from CTE mismatch between component layers in semiconductor preparation methods and materials.