Patent ID: 7794539

Claim:
A method for producing Group-III-element nitride crystals, comprising: a material preparation process of preparing a material solution by dissolving nitrogen in a melt containing a Group III element and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline-earth metal placed in a material preparation vessel, wherein the material preparation process is performed under an atmosphere of a nitrogen-containing gas, at least one of an ambient temperature and ambient pressure is higher than that to be applied in a crystal growth process so that the nitrogen is allowed to dissolve in the melt, and the ambient pressure in the material preparation process is 2 atm to 100 atm (2 ×1.013×10 5 Pa to 100×1.013×10 5 Pa); a material solution conveying process of conveying the material solution prepared in the material preparation process from the material preparation vessel to a crystal growth vessel; and a crystal growth process of pressurizing and heating the material solution containing the Group III element, the nitrogen, and the at least one of alkali metal and alkaline-earth metal under an atmosphere of a nitrogen-containing gas placed in the crystal growth vessel so that the nitrogen and the Group III element in the material solution react with each other and grow crystals.