Methods of growing single crystals using solid-solid transformation of a glass
AssigneeLehigh University
InventorsHimanshu Jain, Dmytro Savytskyy, Volkmar Dierolf
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Abstract
The present invention includes methods of promoting single crystal growth via solid-solid transformation of an appropriate glass, while avoiding the gaseous or liquid phase. In certain embodiments, in the all-solid-state glass-to-crystal transformation of the invention, extraneous nucleation is avoided relative to crystal growth via spatially localized laser heating and optional inclusion of a suitable glass former in the composition. The ability to fabricate patterned single-crystal architecture on a glass surface was demonstrated, providing a new class of micro-structured substrate for low cost epitaxial growth and active planar devices, for example.
Claims23
A method of growing a single crystal in a bulk glass material, the method comprising irradiating a first section of the bulk glass with a laser beam, wherein irradiating with the laser beam heats the first section of the bulk glass to about the bulk glass's crystallization onset temperature (Tx), and wherein bulk glass in the first section is converted to a single crystal.
A method of growing a two-dimensional single crystal in a bulk glass material, the method comprising:
- (a) irradiating a first initial section of the bulk glass with a laser beam, wherein the irradiated first initial section heats to about the bulk glass's crystallization onset temperature (Tx), whereby a single crystal is formed in the first initial section;
- (b) reorienting the laser beam in relation to the bulk glass, so that the laser irradiates a first final section of the glass, whereby in between irradiating the first initial and first final sections the laser sequentially irradiates a first plurality of intermediate sections of the bulk glass, wherein:
- each of the first plurality of intermediate sections is irradiated with the laser beam so that it is heated to about the bulk glass's Tx, wherein bulk glass in each of the first plurality of intermediate sections is converted to a single crystal,
- each of the first plurality of intermediate sections independently partially overlaps with the intermediate section that immediately precedes and the intermediate section that immediately succeeds it in the first plurality of intermediate sections,
- the last section in the first plurality of intermediate sections overlaps with the first final section, and
- a single crystal is formed in a first sub-section comprised within the combination of the first initial section, each of the first plurality of intermediate sections and first final section of bulk glass;
- (c) reorienting the laser beam in relation to the bulk glass, so that the laser irradiates a second final section of the bulk glass, whereby in between irradiating the first final and second final sections the laser sequentially irradiates a second plurality of intermediate sections of the bulk glass, wherein:
- each of the second plurality of intermediate sections is irradiated with the laser beam so that it is heated to about the bulk glass's Tx, wherein bulk glass in each of the second plurality of intermediate sections is converted to a single crystal,
- each of the second plurality of intermediate sections independently partially overlaps with the intermediate section that immediately precedes and the intermediate section that immediately succeeds it in the second plurality of intermediate sections,
- the last section in the second plurality of intermediate sections overlaps with the second final section, and
- a single crystal is formed in a second sub-section comprised within the combination of the first final section, each of second plurality of intermediate sections and second final section of bulk glass;
- wherein at least one of the first plurality of intermediate sections overlaps with at least one of the second plurality of intermediate sections, and
- wherein the first sub-section overlaps partially with the second sub-section;
- whereby a two-dimensional single crystal is formed in the bulk glass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.