Provided are a metal nitride material for a thermistor, which has a high reliability and a high heat resistance and can be directly deposited on a film or the like without firing, a method for producing the same, and a film type thermistor sensor. The metal nitride material for a thermistor consists of a metal nitride represented by the general formula: Cr.sub.xAl.sub.y(N.sub.1-wO.sub.w).sub.z (where 0.70≦y/(x+y)≦0.95, 0.45≦z≦0.55, 0<w≦0.35, and x+y+z=1), wherein the crystal structure thereof is a hexagonal wurtzite-type single phase.

Provided is a lift pin for an epitaxial growth apparatus, which can prevent the back surface of a silicon wafer from being damaged by the lift pin, reduce emission of dust due to the rubbing of the lift pin against the wall surface of a through hole in a susceptor, and prevent peeling of glassy carbon. The lift pin has a straight trunk part to be inserted through the through hole; a head part to be made to abut a silicon wafer; and a cover part covering at least a top of the head part. The straight trunk part and the head part are made of a porous body, the cover part is made of a carbon-based covering material, and at least part of voids of the porous body of the head part is filled with the cover part.

Provided is a lift pin for an epitaxial growth apparatus, which can prevent the back surface of a silicon wafer from being damaged by the lift pin, reduce emission of dust due to the rubbing of the lift pin against the wall surface of a through hole in a susceptor, and prevent peeling of glassy carbon. The lift pin has a straight trunk part to be inserted through the through hole; a head part to be made to abut a silicon wafer; and a cover part covering at least a top of the head part. The straight trunk part and the head part are made of a porous body, the cover part is made of a carbon-based covering material, and at least part of voids of the porous body of the head part is filled with the cover part.

The present invention provides an epitaxial film forming method for epitaxially growing a high-quality group III nitride semiconductor thin film on an α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 substrate by a sputtering method. In the epitaxial film forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention, when an epitaxial film of a group III nitride semiconductor thin film is to be formed on the α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 substrate arranged on a substrate holder provided with a heater electrode and a bias electrode of a sputtering apparatus, in a state where the α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 substrate is maintained at a predetermined temperature by the heater electrode, high-frequency power is applied to a target electrode and high-frequency bias power is applied to a bias electrode and at that time, the powers are applied so that frequency interference between the high-frequency power and the high-frequency bias power does not occur.

The present invention provides an epitaxial film forming method for epitaxially growing a high-quality group III nitride semiconductor thin film on an α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 substrate by a sputtering method. In the epitaxial film forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention, when an epitaxial film of a group III nitride semiconductor thin film is to be formed on the α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 substrate arranged on a substrate holder provided with a heater electrode and a bias electrode of a sputtering apparatus, in a state where the α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 substrate is maintained at a predetermined temperature by the heater electrode, high-frequency power is applied to a target electrode and high-frequency bias power is applied to a bias electrode and at that time, the powers are applied so that frequency interference between the high-frequency power and the high-frequency bias power does not occur.

Thin freestanding nitride veneers can be used for the fabrication of semiconductor devices. These veneers are typically less than 100 microns thick. The use of thin veneers also eliminates the need for subsequent wafer thinning for improved thermal performance and 3D packaging.

Thin freestanding nitride veneers can be used for the fabrication of semiconductor devices. These veneers are typically less than 100 microns thick. The use of thin veneers also eliminates the need for subsequent wafer thinning for improved thermal performance and 3D packaging.

Disclosed herein is a suspension plasma spray process that comprises suspending metal oxide particles in a carrier fluid to produce a suspension. The suspension is ejected onto a substrate via a plasma flame. The particles are evaporated in the plasma flame to form a gaseous ceramic during their travel to the substrate. The gaseous ceramic is deposited on the substrate to form columnar grains.

Disclosed herein is a suspension plasma spray process that comprises suspending metal oxide particles in a carrier fluid to produce a suspension. The suspension is ejected onto a substrate via a plasma flame. The particles are evaporated in the plasma flame to form a gaseous ceramic during their travel to the substrate. The gaseous ceramic is deposited on the substrate to form columnar grains.

A method for making LNO film, including the steps of identifying a substrate, identifying a deposition target, placing the substrate and deposition target in a deposition environment, evolving target material into the deposition environment, and depositing evolved target material onto the substrate to yield an LNO film. The deposition environment defines a temperature of between 500 degrees Celsius and 750 degrees Celsius and a pressure of about 10.sup.−6 Torr. A seed or buffer layer may be first deposited onto the substrate, wherein the seed layer is about 30 mole percent gold and about 70 LiNbO.sub.3.