Systems and methods for continuous sapphire growth are disclosed. One embodiment may take the form of a method including feeding a base material into a crucible located within a growth chamber, heating the crucible to melt the base material and initiating crystalline growth in the melted base material to create a crystal structure. Additionally, the method includes pulling the crystal structure away from crucible and feeding the crystal structure out of the growth chamber.

A silicon single crystal production method includes pulling up and growing a silicon single crystal from silicon melt containing red phosphorus as a dopant by Czochralski process. The silicon single crystal is intended for a 200-mm-diameter wafer. The silicon single crystal includes a straight body with a diameter in a range from 201 mm to 230 mm. The straight body includes a straight-body start portion with an electrical resistivity in a range from 0.8 mΩcm to 1.2 mΩcm. A crystal rotation speed of the silicon single crystal is controlled to fall within a range from 17 rpm to 40 rpm for at least part of a shoulder-formation step for the silicon single crystal.

A silicon single crystal production method includes pulling up and growing a silicon single crystal from silicon melt containing red phosphorus as a dopant by Czochralski process. The silicon single crystal is intended for a 200-mm-diameter wafer. The silicon single crystal includes a straight body with a diameter in a range from 201 mm to 230 mm. The straight body includes a straight-body start portion with an electrical resistivity in a range from 0.8 mΩcm to 1.2 mΩcm. A crystal rotation speed of the silicon single crystal is controlled to fall within a range from 17 rpm to 40 rpm for at least part of a shoulder-formation step for the silicon single crystal.

The present application provides an apparatus and a method for ingot growth. The apparatus for ingot growth comprises a growth furnace, a crucible, a heater, a lifting mechanism, an infrared detector, a dividing disc, a sensor and a control device. The crucible is located within the growth furnace. The lifting mechanism comprises a lifting wire and a driving device, wherein the lifting wire connects to the top of the ingot via one terminal and to the driving device via another terminal. The bottom of the ingot puts inside the crucible, and the ingot has plural crystal lines thereon. The infrared detector is located outside the growth furnace. The dividing disc is above the growth furnace, connects to the lifting mechanism, and rotates with the ingot synchronously under the driving of the lifting mechanism, and an orthographic projection of bisector of the dividing disc is between two adjacent crystal lines. The sensor is located on the periphery of the dividing disc. The control device connects to the infrared detector and the sensor in order to control the infrared detector to detect the ingot diameter while the sensor senses the bisector of the dividing disc. The present application is able to increase ingot quality and enhance product yield.

The present application provides an apparatus and a method for ingot growth. The apparatus for ingot growth comprises a growth furnace, a crucible, a heater, a lifting mechanism, an infrared detector, a dividing disc, a sensor and a control device. The crucible is located within the growth furnace. The lifting mechanism comprises a lifting wire and a driving device, wherein the lifting wire connects to the top of the ingot via one terminal and to the driving device via another terminal. The bottom of the ingot puts inside the crucible, and the ingot has plural crystal lines thereon. The infrared detector is located outside the growth furnace. The dividing disc is above the growth furnace, connects to the lifting mechanism, and rotates with the ingot synchronously under the driving of the lifting mechanism, and an orthographic projection of bisector of the dividing disc is between two adjacent crystal lines. The sensor is located on the periphery of the dividing disc. The control device connects to the infrared detector and the sensor in order to control the infrared detector to detect the ingot diameter while the sensor senses the bisector of the dividing disc. The present application is able to increase ingot quality and enhance product yield.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing an SiC single crystal includes a graphite crucible for receiving an SiC solution with first and second induction heating coils wound around it. The first induction heating coil is located higher than the surface of the SiC solution. The second induction heating coil is located lower than the first induction heating coil. A power supply supplies a first alternating current to the first induction heating coil and supplies, to the second induction heating coil, a second alternating current having the same frequency as the first alternating current and flowing in the direction opposite to that of the first alternating current. The distance between the surface of the SiC solution and the position in the portion of the side wall of the crucible in contact with the SiC solution with the strength of a magnetic field at its maximum satisfies a predetermined equation.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing an SiC single crystal includes a graphite crucible for receiving an SiC solution with first and second induction heating coils wound around it. The first induction heating coil is located higher than the surface of the SiC solution. The second induction heating coil is located lower than the first induction heating coil. A power supply supplies a first alternating current to the first induction heating coil and supplies, to the second induction heating coil, a second alternating current having the same frequency as the first alternating current and flowing in the direction opposite to that of the first alternating current. The distance between the surface of the SiC solution and the position in the portion of the side wall of the crucible in contact with the SiC solution with the strength of a magnetic field at its maximum satisfies a predetermined equation.

In a crystal manufacturing method, first, a feedstock including a tapered tip portion is disposed above a crystal growth region. Then, a side surface of the tip portion is selectively heated and melted by radiant heat traveling diagonally upward while a shape of the tip portion is maintained, and the side surface of the tip portion is physically connected to an upper surface of the crystal growth region by a material melted from the side surface. In a crystal manufacturing apparatus, the radiant heat for melting the feedstock is radiated from an electric resistance heater.

In a crystal manufacturing method, first, a feedstock including a tapered tip portion is disposed above a crystal growth region. Then, a side surface of the tip portion is selectively heated and melted by radiant heat traveling diagonally upward while a shape of the tip portion is maintained, and the side surface of the tip portion is physically connected to an upper surface of the crystal growth region by a material melted from the side surface. In a crystal manufacturing apparatus, the radiant heat for melting the feedstock is radiated from an electric resistance heater.

A pull rod for use in producing a single crystal from a molten alloy is provided that includes an elongated rod having a first end and a second end, a first cavity defined at the first end and a second cavity defined at the first end and in communication with the first cavity. The first cavity receives the molten alloy and the second cavity vents a gas from the molten alloy to thereby template a single crystal when the pull rod is dipped into and extracted from the molten alloy.