Patent ID: 6830995
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of diffusing zinc into an article having a surface of a III-V compound semiconductor containing phosphorus as a group V constituent element, the method comprising the steps of:providing the article, an alloy, and a material source containing zinc and phosphorus in a heating furnace, the alloy including tin, indium and phosphorus as main constituents, the alloy being provided in a first container having a bottom portion thereof, the first container having a plurality of through holes in the bottom portion, the first container being provided in the heating furnace such that the bottom portion faces the surface of the article, and the material source being provided in a second container having a bottom portion thereof in the heating furnace, the second container having an opening in the bottom portion thereof; increasing a temperature of the article in an atmosphere containing vapor of phosphorus supplied from the alloy, the first container being provided such that the bottom portion of the first container faces the article; and exposing a surface of the article in an atmosphere containing vapor of zinc and phosphorus from the material source to diffuse zinc into the article, the second container being provided over the article.