| abstract |
Methods for vapor phase growth of relatively large bulk single crystals free (or nearly free) of extended structural crystal defects are disclosed. In one embodiment, an initial seed crystal is produced on an atomically-flat crystal surface which does not have to be of the same crystal structure and material as the seed crystal. For the bulk crystal growth, the methods of the present invention primarily utilize a growth mechanism based on crystal nucleation at the edge and corners of crystal facets of the growing crystal. The invention has application in growth of single crystals of wide bandgap semiconducting materials for use in harsh-environment and/or high power electronics and micromechanical systems. |