APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION OF CRYSTAL OF GROUP III ELEMENT NITRIDE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CRYSTAL OF GROUP III ELEMENT NITRIDE

摘要

An apparatus for production of a crystal of Group III element nitride and process for producing a crystal of Group III element nitride, by which a crystal of high quality can be produced. The crystal growth by means of this apparatus can be performed in, for example, the following manner. Raw material for crystal (131) and nitrogenous gas are introduced in reaction vessel (120) and heated by means of heater (110), and a crystal is grown in pressurized atmosphere. The above gas is delivered from gas supply unit (180) through a gas inlet of the reaction vessel into the reaction vessel (120), and discharged from a gas outlet of the reaction vessel into the interior of pressure tight vessel (102). As the above gas is directly, without passing through the pressure tight vessel (102), introduced into the reaction vessel (120), the mingling of impurities adhering to the pressure tight vessel (102), etc. into a field of crystal growth can be avoided. Further, as the above gas flows through the interior of the reaction vessel (120), there can be avoided, for example, condensation of vaporized alkali metal, etc. at the gas inlet, etc. and inflow thereof into the gas supply unit (180), etc. As a result, the quality of crystal of Group III element nitride obtained can be enhanced.