Patent ID: 6030453
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of protecting the surface of a compound semiconductor wafer structure including the steps of:providing a compound semiconductor wafer structure with a surface;positioning a crystalline, high purity Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 evaporation source consisting essentially of only Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 into an oxide crucible wherein the Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 -oxide crucible system is stable at the Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 evaporation temperature; andforming a Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer on the surface of the wafer structure by thermally evaporating gallium oxide molecules from the crystalline, high purity Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 evaporation source onto the surface of the compound semiconductor wafer structure.