SBIR-STTR Award

Producibility of Gallium Nitride Semiconductor Materials
Award last edited on: 4/19/2019

Sponsored Program
STTR
Awarding Agency
DOD : MDA
Total Award Amount
$1,099,995
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
MDA09-T001
Principal Investigator
Robert Metzger

Company Information

Inlustra Technologies LLC

5385 Hollister Avenue Suuite 113
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
   (805) 451-3556
   fini@inlustra.com
   www.inlustra.com

Research Institution

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Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2010
Phase I Amount
$100,000
Inlustra Technologies and the University of Notre Dame propose a Phase I STTR program that, combined with a subsequent Phase II effort, will result in methods for the scalable production of semi-insulating non-polar GaN substrates. These substrates will be utilized in the fabrication of high-power/high-frequency AlGaN-GaN electronic devices capable of reliable operation under high thermal load. In Phase I, Inlustra will demonstrate the feasibility of reproducible doping conditions needed for the growth of semi-insulating non-polar (a-plane and m-plane) GaN boules. Concurrently, Notre Dame will perform detailed electrical characterization (for example, temperature-dependent Hall measurements) of Inlustra’s semi-insulating GaN material. These measurements will provide frequent feedback required for Inlustra’s GaN boule growth effort. The proposed program will lay a solid foundation for further work in Phase II, focusing on commercially practical growth of semi-insulating GaN boules and benefits for (Al,Ga)N high-power/high-frequency devices.

Keywords:
Gallium Nitride, Gan, Non-Polar, Semi-Insulating, Boule, Crystal Growth, Substrates

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2011
Phase II Amount
$999,995
The overall objective of this program is to improve the producibility of HVPE GaN through the use of in-situ monitoring during the growth process. Various in-situ monitoring devices will be used: a UV absorption technique to monitor the GaCl concentration above the growing GaN wafer; a commercial BandiT system capable of measuring optical emission from the growing wafer in order to measure the substrate temperature; a commericial MOSS system to measure wafer bow during growth; an acoustic emission monitor to understand wafer cracking; and a differentially pumped mass spectrometer to measure the concentrations of various species in the exhaust of the reactor. In conjunction with thermal, gas flow, and chemical reaction simulation, these in-situ monitoring devices will allow for better control of key growth variables, which in turn will lead to the development of a robust, producible growth processes. The aim of these in-situ monitor defined growth processes is to give maximum process latitude in the development of optimized and reproducible growth parameters, specifically tuned to improve yield in large area wafers and thicker boules, whose quality will be verified by demonstrating high quality homoepitaxy, as evidenced by high mobility and high sheet density 2DEGs with the University partner.

Keywords:
Hvpe, Freestanding Gan, Semi-Insulating Gan Wafers, In-Situ Monitoring, Reactor Modeling, Homoepitax