Patent ID: 8945302
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: C30B

Abstract:
1. A method for crystal growth from a surfactant of a metal-nonmetal (MN) compound, comprising the procedures of: providing a seed crystal; setting a temperature of said seed crystal below a minimal temperature required for dissolving MN molecules in a thin liquid metal wetting layer and above a melting point of a first metal, each one of said MN molecules being formed from at least one atom of a second metal and at least one atom of a first nonmetal; introducing atoms of said first metal to said seed crystal in order to form said thin liquid metal wetting layer on at least one surface of said seed crystal, said thin liquid metal wetting layer having at least two monolayers and being spread over substantially the whole surface of said at least one surface of said seed crystal; introducing said MN molecules which form an MN surfactant monolayer, thereby facilitating a formation of said thin liquid metal wetting layer between said MN surfactant monolayer and said at least one surface of said seed crystal; and regulating a thickness of said thin liquid metal wetting layer such that at least some of said MN molecules of said MN surfactant monolayer couple with said at least one surface of said seed crystal, thereby growing an epitaxial layer of said MN compound on said seed crystal, wherein said MN surfactant monolayer has a metallophilic side facing said thin liquid metal wetting layer and a metallophobic side facing away from said thin liquid metal wetting layer.