A method of making a component includes: depositing a metallic powder on a workplane; directing a beam from a directed energy source to fuse the powder in a pattern corresponding to a cross-sectional layer of the component; repeating in a cycle the steps of depositing and fusing to build up the component in a layer-by layer fashion; and during the cycle of depositing and melting, using an external heat control apparatus separate from the directed energy source to maintain a predetermined temperature profile of the component, such that the resulting component has a directionally-solidified or single-crystal microstructure.

An object of this invention is to provide a crucible for growing a sapphire single crystal, which is optimized for providing a sapphire single crystal and is reusable. A crucible for growing a sapphire single crystal of this invention includes: a base material (3) containing molybdenum as a main component and having a crucible shape; and a coating layer (5) with which only an inner periphery of the base material (3) is coated and which is formed of tungsten and inevitable impurities, in which the coating layer (5) has a surface roughness Ra of 5 μm or more and 20 μm or less.

A biomedical implant (16, 18) is formed from magnesium (Mg) single crystal (10). The biomedical implant (16, 18) may be biodegradable. The biomedical implant (16, 18) may be post treated to control the mechanical properties and/or corrosion rate thereof said Mg single crystal (10) without changing the chemical composition thereof. A method of making a Mg single crystal (10) for biomedical applications includes filling a single crucible (12) with more than one chamber with polycrystalline Mg, melting at least a portion of said polycrystalline Mg, and forming more than one Mg single crystal (10) using directional solidification.

A biomedical implant (16, 18) is formed from magnesium (Mg) single crystal (10). The biomedical implant (16, 18) may be biodegradable. The biomedical implant (16, 18) may be post treated to control the mechanical properties and/or corrosion rate thereof said Mg single crystal (10) without changing the chemical composition thereof. A method of making a Mg single crystal (10) for biomedical applications includes filling a single crucible (12) with more than one chamber with polycrystalline Mg, melting at least a portion of said polycrystalline Mg, and forming more than one Mg single crystal (10) using directional solidification.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor for a solar cell and other applications is disclosed. A separating layer may be introduced into a mold having an interior defining a shape of a solar cell or other substantially planer object. A silicon nitride coating may be applied onto one or more interior surfaces of the mold. A planar capillary space is formed along the conductive layer. The silicon is melted under an ultra-low oxygen content cover atmosphere and allowed to flow into the capillary space. The melted silicon is then cooled within the capillary space such that the silicon forms one part of a P-N junction in the body of the semiconductor.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for directional solidification of silicon. The apparatus can use a cooling platform to cool a portion of a bottom of a directional solidification crucible. The apparatus and method of the present invention can be used to make silicon crystals for use in solar cells.

An indium phosphide crystal substrate has a diameter of 100-205 mm and a thickness of 300-800 μm and includes any of a flat portion and a notch portion. In any of a first flat region and a first notch region, when an atomic concentration of sulfur is from 2.0×10.sup.18 to 8.0×10.sup.18 cm.sup.−3, the indium phosphide crystal substrate has an average dislocation density of 10-500 cm.sup.−2, and when am atomic concentration of tin is from 1.0×10.sup.18 to 4.0×10.sup.18 cm.sup.−3 or an atomic concentration of iron is from 5.0×10.sup.15 to 1.0×10.sup.17 cm.sup.−3, the indium phosphide crystal substrate has an average dislocation density of 500-5000 cm.sup.−2.

A germanium single-crystal wafer comprises silicon with an atomic concentration of from 3×10.sup.14 atoms/cc to 10×10.sup.13 atoms/cc, boron with an atomic concentration of from 1×10.sup.16 atoms/cc to 10×10.sup.18 atoms/cc, and gallium with an atomic concentration of from 1×10.sup.16 atoms/cc to 10×10.sup.19 atoms/cc. Further provided are a method for preparing the germanium single-crystal wafer, a method for preparing a germanium single-crystal ingot, and the use of the germanium single-crystal wafer for increasing the open-circuit voltage of a solar cell. The germanium single-crystal wafer has an improved electrical property in that it has a smaller difference in resistivity and carrier concentration.

Disclosed in the present invention is a nonlinear optical crystal. The chemical formula of the nonlinear optical crystal is MHgGeSe.sub.4, M being selected from Ba or Sr. The nonlinear optical crystal has no symmetrical center, belongs to an orthorhombic crystal system, and has a space group Ama2. The nonlinear optical crystal is an infrared nonlinear optical crystal, and has the advantages of great nonlinear optical effect, wide light transmitting band, high hardness, good mechanical properties, breakage resistance, deliquescence resistance, easiness in processing and preserving, etc. Also disclosed in the present invention are a method for preparing the nonlinear optical crystal and application thereof.

Disclosed in the present invention is a nonlinear optical crystal. The chemical formula of the nonlinear optical crystal is MHgGeSe.sub.4, M being selected from Ba or Sr. The nonlinear optical crystal has no symmetrical center, belongs to an orthorhombic crystal system, and has a space group Ama2. The nonlinear optical crystal is an infrared nonlinear optical crystal, and has the advantages of great nonlinear optical effect, wide light transmitting band, high hardness, good mechanical properties, breakage resistance, deliquescence resistance, easiness in processing and preserving, etc. Also disclosed in the present invention are a method for preparing the nonlinear optical crystal and application thereof.