Patent ID: 6184144
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: C30B

Abstract:
A method for growing a defect-free heteroepitaxial layer on a substrate comprising the steps of:a) providing a substrate formed from a first material;b) growing a heteroepitaxial layer formed from a second material on said substrate until a plurality of islands are formed on said substrate, said second material being selected to be lattice mismatched with said first material;c) continuing the growth of said heteroepitaxial layer until misfit dislocations are formed near one or more edges of said islands, thereby relaxing strain in said islands;d) etching said heteroepitaxial layer to remove a portion thereof containing said dislocations, thereby leaving said relaxed islands on said substrate; ande) repeating steps c) and d) as necessary until the relaxed islands overlap with one another, and said heteroepitaxial layer becomes smooth and dislocation-free.