Patent ID: 7176115

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a Group III nitride substrate comprising: (i) preparing a Group III nitride semiconductor layer that is expressed by a composition formula of Al u Ga v In 1−u−v N (where 0≦u≦1, 0≦v≦1, and u+v≦1); (ii) forming a patterned mask film on the Group III nitride semiconductor layer; and (iii) in an atmosphere including nitrogen, bringing a surface of the Group III nitride semiconductor layer whose surface is partially exposed into contact with a melt containing the nitrogen, alkali metal, and at least one Group III element selected from the group consisting of gallium, aluminum, and indium, and thereby generating or growing Group III nitride crystals on the Group III nitride semiconductor layer, with portions of the Group III nitride semiconductor layer that are not covered with the mask film serving as seed crystals.