Semiconductor Device

Abstract

Provided is a semiconductor device comprising: a GaN crystal substrate defining a principal, (0001) Ga face and defining a matrix, being a majority, polarity-determining domain of the GaN crystal, and inversion domains, being domains in which the polarity in the GaN crystal's [0001] direction is inverted with respect to the matrix, the GaN substrate having a ratio S.sub.t/S, of collective area S.sub.t cm.sup.2 of inversion domains to the total area S cm.sup.2 of the GaN substrate principal face, of no more than 0.5, with the density along the (0001) Ga face of inversion domains whose surface area is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more being D cm.sup.-2; and an at least single-lamina semiconductor layer on the GaN substrate principal face, the semiconductor layer defining a semiconductor-device principal face; wherein the product S.sub.c.times.D of the area S.sub.c of the semiconductor-device principal face and the inversion domain density D is less than 2.3.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to semiconductor devices including light-emitting diodes, electronic devices, and semiconductor sensors, and to methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices; in particular the present invention relates to semiconductor devices incorporating a reduced-dislocation-density GaN substrate, and to methods of manufacturing such devices.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Designing for improved characteristics in various GaN-substrate or other III-nitride-substrate employing semiconductor devices, such as light-emitting diodes, electronic devices, and semiconductor sensors, is demanding low dislocation density from the substrates.

[0005] Examples that have been proposed of how to manufacture such III-nitride substrates of low dislocation density include the following. X. Xu et al., in "Growth and Characterization of Low Defect GAN by Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy," Journal of Crystal Growth, 246, (2002), pp. 223-229 ("Non-Patent Literature 1" hereinafter) report that dislocation density decreases with increasing thickness of the grown crystal, and that, for example, growing GaN crystal to a thickness of 1 mm or more on a nonnative substrate of chemical composition different from that of GaN lowers the dislocation density to a level of 1.times.10.sup.6 cm.sup.-2 or less.

[0006] Meanwhile, A. Usui et al., "Thick GaN Epitaxial Growth with Low Dislocation Density by Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy," Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 36 (1997), pp. L899-L902 ("Non-Patent Literature 2" hereinafter) report that in growing GaN crystal onto a non-native substrate, creating facets by forming a mask layer having apertures makes it possible to control the orientation in which dislocations propagate, and thereby lower the GaN crystal dislocation density.

[0007] Nevertheless, GaN crystal, and GaN substrates obtained from the crystal, grown by the crystal growing methods of Non-Patent Literature 1 or Non-Patent Literature 2, proved to be plagued with serious defects apart from dislocations, although the density of the dislocations is in fact lowered to about 1.times.10.sup.6 cm.sup.-2. The defects were readily detected, inasmuch as the GaN substrate was etched with an alkali, leaving it pitted. In particular, when a specular-polished (0001) Ga face of a GaN substrate was etched for some tens of minutes in an aqueous KOH solution at 50.degree. C., the areas where defects were present were etched to a depth of several .mu.m, forming pits. Furthermore, etching the specular (0001) Ga face of the GaN substrate with molten KOH, molten NaOH melt, or a molten KOH/NaOH mixture, pitted the Ga face with roughly hexagonal columns, walled by N faces.

[0008] GaN is a crystal having polarity in the [0001] direction, and a characteristic trait of GaN crystal is that its (0001) Ga faces are not readily etched with alkalis, whereas its (000 1) N faces are readily alkali-etched. From this perspective, it is apparent that the GaN crystal and GaN substrate discussed above have two types of domains that differ in polarity. The two domains are defined as the principal domain (matrix), which is the majority, polarity-determining domain of GaN crystal and GaN substrates, and inversion domains, which are domains in which the polarity in the [0001] direction is inverted with respect to the matrix. This means that on a (0001) Ga face that is the principal plane of a GaN substrate, both the (0001) Ga face of the matrix as well as (000 1) N faces of inversion domains appear. Therefore, when a (0001) Ga face that is the principal plane of a GaN crystal is etched, the inversion domains become more etched than the matrix, such that approximately hexagonal columnar pits form from the inversion domains. In other words, the hexagonal columnar pits are pits that originate in the inversion domains.

[0009] Meanwhile, along the principal plane of a GaN substrate, pits originating in dislocations are not the result of etching with KOH solution at 50.degree. C. for some tens of minutes, but are the result of etching with the molten KOH/NaOH mixture. Yet since they are in the form of hexagonal pyramids having ridgelines, pits originating in dislocations are readily distinguished from pits originating in inversion domains. It should be noted that, other than by the etching mentioned above, the principal and inversion domains can be readily distinguished from each other also by cathodoluminescence (CL), or by observation under a florescence microscope, because the luminosities of the two domains differ distinctly.

[0010] In implementations in which GaN crystal is grown on a non-native substrate, a low-temperature buffer layer is generally formed on the non-native substrate, as is the case in Non-Patent Literatures 1 and 2, but in thus growing GaN crystal on a non-native substrate with a low-temperature buffer layer intervening, inversion domains inevitably form. This has meant that general GaN crystal will contain inversion domains.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Accordingly, an object of the present invention, brought about in order to resolve issues such as discussed above, is to make available semiconductor device manufacturing methods, whereby evaluating impact of the presence and sizes of the inversion domains on the properties of a semiconductor device manufactured by forming on a typical GaN crystal substrate a plurality of semiconductor layers leads to high-yield manufacturing of semiconductor devices having superior characteristics.

[0012] One aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor device manufacturing method comprising: a step of preparing a GaN substrate having a ratio S.sub.t/S, of collective area S.sub.t cm.sup.2 of inversion domains to total area S cm.sup.2 of the GaN substrate principal face, of no more than 0.5, with the density along the (0001) Ga face, being the GaN substrate principal face, of inversion domains whose surface area where the polarity in the [0001] direction is inverted with respect to the matrix is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more being D cm.sup.-2; and a step of growing on the GaN substrate principal face an at least single-lamina semiconductor layer to form a semiconductor device in which the product S.sub.c.times.D of the surface area S.sub.c of the semiconductor device principal face and the inversion-domain density D is made less than 2.3.

[0013] Furthermore, in the semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention, the ratio S.sub.t/S can be made 0.2 or less, and the product S.sub.c.times.D less than 0.7. Additionally, the ratio S.sub.t/S can be brought to 0.05 or less, and the product S.sub.c.times.D to less than 0.1. Still further, the area of the GaN substrate principal face may be made 10 cm.sup.2 or more. The GaN substrate can be manufactured also by vapor phase techniques. Herein, among vapor-phase techniques, hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) can be utilized.

[0014] The present invention in another aspect is a semiconductor device manufactured by the above manufacturing method.

[0015] According to the present invention, semiconductor device manufacturing methods whereby semiconductor devices having superior characteristics are manufactured at high yields are made available.

[0016] From the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1A, in a schematic diagram representing a GaN-substrate preparation step in a semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention, is an outline upper-surface view illustrating a GaN substrate;

[0018] FIG. 1B, in a schematic diagram representing a GaN-substrate preparation step in a semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention, is an outline sectional view taken along the line IB-IB in FIG. 1A, seen in the direction of the arrows;

[0019] FIG. 2A, in a schematic diagram representing the semiconductor-layer growth step in a semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention, is an outline upper-surface view illustrating a semiconductor wafer;

[0020] FIG. 2B, in a schematic diagram representing the semiconductor-layer growth step in a semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention, is an outline sectional view taken along the line IIB-IIB in FIG. 2A, seen in the direction of the arrows;

[0021] FIG. 3A, in a schematic diagram representing a semiconductor-device formation step in a semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention, is an outline upper-surface view illustrating a semiconductor wafer;

[0022] FIG. 3B, in a schematic diagram representing a semiconductor-device formation step in a semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention, is an outline sectional view taken along the line IIIB-IIIB in FIG. 3A;

[0023] FIG. 4 is an outline section diagram illustrating one embodiment of a semiconductor device involving the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a graph representing the relationship between the presence of an inverted polarity layer within the GaN substrate of a semiconductor device, and the device's reverse breakdown voltage; and

[0025] FIG. 6 is a graph representing the relationship between the surface area of inversion domains along the principal face of a semiconductor-device GaN substrate, and the properties of the semiconductor device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiment Mode 1

[0026] With reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, one embodiment mode of a semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention includes: a step of preparing a GaN substrate 10 having a ratio S.sub.t /S of collective area S.sub.t cm.sup.2 of inversion domains 10t to the total surface area S cm.sup.2 of the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10, of no more than 0.5, with the density along the (0001) Ga face, being principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10, of inversion domains 10t whose surface area where the polarity in the [0001] direction is inverted with respect to the matrix 10s is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more being D cm.sup.-2 (FIG. 1); and a step of growing on the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10 an at least single-lamina semiconductor layer 20 to form semiconductor devices 40, in which the product S.sub.c.times.D of the area S.sub.c of the principal faces 40m of the semiconductor devices 40 and the density D of the inversion domains 10t is made less than 2.3 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0027] Including these steps makes it possible to afford semiconductor device manufacturing methods whereby semiconductor devices having superior characteristics are manufactured at high yields. Below, these features are explained in detail.

[0028] First, a study of the relationship between the presence of the inversion domains that a GaN substrate in a semiconductor device has and the properties of the semiconductor device was made. Referring to FIG. 4, as a semiconductor layer 20, a 0.6-.mu.m thick n.sup.+-type GaN layer 22, a 7-.mu.m thick n-type GaN layer 24 (with an electron concentration of 3.times.10.sup.16 cm.sup.-3), and a 0.5-.mu.m thick p-type GaN layer 26 (with an Mg atom concentration of 7.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3) were formed on the principal face 10m of a 400-.mu.m thick n-type GaN substrate (the GaN substrate 10) in which the locations of inversion domains was comprehended. (The density of the inversion domains on the substrate principal face was 20 cm.sup.-2, and the surface area of the inversion domains was 1 to 10,000 .mu.m.sup.2). A p-n junction, being the semiconductor device principal faces 40m, was thus formed between the n-type GaN layer 24 and the p-type GaN layer 26. Next, an Ni/Au laminated electrode, serving as a p-side electrode 32, was formed onto the p-type GaN substrate 26, and a Ti/Al laminated electrode, serving as an n-side electrode 34, was formed onto the back side 10n (the side opposite from the principal face 10m) of the n-type GaN substrate (the GaN substrate 10), to produce the semiconductor devices 40, whose principal faces 40m had a surface area of 1 cm.sup.2.

[0029] As to the produced semiconductor devices 40, referring to FIG. 5, a study of the relationship between the presence of inverted polarity layers within the GaN substrate 10 and reverse breakdown voltage was made. Herein, "reverse breakdown voltage" means the voltage at which, when a voltage is applied in the reverse direction to a semiconductor device (the voltage thus applied is termed the reverse applied voltage), the semiconductor device is destroyed, and the leakage-current density rapidly increases. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents the reverse applied voltage (V), and the vertical axis represents the leakage current density (A/cm.sup.2).

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the semiconductor devices, in Group A, whose GaN substrates had inversion domains, the reverse breakdown voltage lowered remarkably, compared with that of the semiconductor devices, in Group B, whose GaN substrates did not have inversion domains. From these results it was apparent that the properties of semiconductor devices having within the GaN substrate inversion domains whose surface area along the principal face is 1 to 10,000 .mu.m.sup.2 were pronouncedly compromised.

[0031] Next, referring to FIG. 6, a study of the relationship between the surface area of inversion domains along the GaN substrate principal face in a semiconductor device, and the semiconductor device properties was made. In FIG. 6, the horizontal axis represents the surface area of the inversion domains along the GaN substrate principal face (units: .mu.m.sup.2), the vertical axis represents the leakage-current density (A/cm.sup.2), the dot-and-dash line E represents the average leakage-current density in a semiconductor device in which the GaN substrate has no inversion domains, and the double-dot-and-dash line F represents full-scale leakage current density. Herein, the reverse applied voltage was made 100V.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the leak current density in the semiconductor device gradually rose when the surface area of the inversion domains along the GaN substrate principal face increased to 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more, and the leakage-current density rose drastically when the area increased to 5 .mu.m.sup.2 or more. The possible reason is that in growing epitaxially a semiconductor layer on the GaN substrate principal face with the area of the inversion domains being kept under 5 .mu.m.sup.2 in the semiconductor layer (not illustrated), low growth rate domains grown on the inversion domains are buried by (not-illustrated) high growth rate domains grown on the principal domain in the semiconductor layer, and thus the inversion domains are not passed to the working portion (for example, the p-n junction) of the semiconductor device.

[0033] The results of FIGS. 5 and 6 demonstrated that the presence of the inversion domains where of surface area along the semiconductor principal face of 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more adversely affected the semiconductor device properties. Accordingly, with attention being directed to the inversion domains whose surface area along the semiconductor-device principal face is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more, the following study will be carried out.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 3, the relationship between the density D (units: cm.sup.-2) of the inversion domains whose surface area along the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10 is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more, and the area Sc (units: cm.sup.2) of the principal faces 40m of the semiconductor devices 40 is believed to be as follows. Namely, the likelihood that no inversion domains are present within the principal faces 40m of any semiconductor devices 40 formed on the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10 (in other words, the yield with which semiconductor devices (products) of good physical properties are manufactured) is 10% when the product S.sub.c.times.D is 2.3, 50% when the product S.sub.c.times.D is 0.7, and 90% when the product S.sub.c.times.D is 0.1, wherein the probability depends on the product of the area S.sub.c cm.sup.2 of the principal faces 40m of the semiconductor deices 40 and the density D cm.sup.-2 of the inversion domains 10t along the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10. Herein, from the perspective of industrial applicability, the yield rate should exceed 10%. Accordingly, the product S.sub.c.times.D is necessarily 2.3, preferably less than 0.7, and more preferably less than 0.1.

[0035] What is considered for above conditions on the product S.sub.c.times.D is only the density of the inversion domains along the GaN substrate principal face, not their area. More precisely, in the situation in which the surface area of each inversion domain is small, semiconductor device yield can be governed solely by the conditions on the product S.sub.c.times.D, but in situations in which the surface area of each inversion domain is large, an evaluation of the inversion-domain surface area must be included. Herein, the diversity of surface areas is prohibitive of specifying the surface areas of the inversion domains individually.

[0036] Therefore, in calculating the likelihood that no inversion domains are present within the principal faces of any semiconductor devices formed on the GaN substrate principal face (in other words, the yield with which semiconductor devices of good physical properties are manufactured), referring to FIG. 1, the relationship between the total area S (units: cm.sup.2) of the GaN substrate principal face and the collective area S.sub.t (units: cm.sup.2), along the GaN substrate principal face, of the inversion domains 10t was taken into consideration. That is, the probability that no inversion domains are present varies depending on the ratio S.sub.t/S of the collective area S.sub.t cm.sup.2 of the inversion domains to the total area S cm.sup.2 of the GaN substrate principal face--the larger the ratio S.sub.t/S, the lower the probability, and the smaller the S.sub.t/S, the higher the probability.

[0037] In the calculation of the probability that no inversion domains are present, making the probability 10% when the product S.sub.c.times.D is 2.3 requires bringing the ratio S.sub.t/S to 0.5 or less, making the probability 50% when the product S.sub.c.times.D is 0.7 requires bringing the ratio S.sub.t/S to 0.2 or less, and raising the probability to 90% when the product S.sub.c.times.D is 0.1 requires reducing the ratio S.sub.t/S to 0.05 or less. Accordingly, the ratio S.sub.t/S is necessarily made 0.5 or less, preferably 0.2 or less, and more preferably 0.05 or less.

[0038] Hereinafter, specifically, the semiconductor device manufacturing method of this embodiment will be described, based on FIG. 1 through FIG. 3. For reference, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the alternate long and two short dashes lines represent chip-dividing lines 41 for dividing in FIG. 3 a semiconductor wafer 30 into chips.

[0039] First, referring to FIG. 1, the GaN substrate 10 whose principal face 10m is (0001) Ga face is prepared (a step of preparing a GaN substrate). In the GaN substrate 10, the density of the inversion domains 10t, where the extent of the area, along the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10, in which the polarity in the [0001] direction is inverted with respect to the principal domain 10s of the GaN substrate 10 is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more, is D cm.sup.-2. Furthermore, the GaN substrate 10 has a ratio S.sub.t/S, of collective area S.sub.t cm.sup.2 of the collective inversion domains 10t to the total area S cm.sup.2 of the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10, of no more than 0.5. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the inversion domains 10t comprises five inversion domains 10t.sub.1, 10t.sub.2, 10t.sub.3, 10t.sub.4, and 10t.sub.5, which have different areas S.sub.t1, S.sub.t2, S.sub.t3, S.sub.t4, and S.sub.t5. The collective area S.sub.t of the inversion domains 10t is sum of the areas S.sub.t1, S.sub.t2, S.sub.t3, S.sub.t4, and S.sub.t5 of the inversion domains 10t.sub.1, 10t.sub.2, 10t.sub.3, 10t.sub.4, and 10t.sub.5.

[0040] Because in the GaN substrate, the ratio S.sub.t/S of the collective area S.sub.t cm.sup.2 of the inversion domains 10t to the total area S cm.sup.2 of the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10 is 0.5 or less, the yield of semiconductor devices formed on this substrate can be heightened. Therein, the ratio S.sub.t/S is preferably 0.2 or less, and more preferably 0.1 or less. Furthermore, as described hereinafter, forming semiconductor devices having principal faces whose areas are ideal for density Dc of the inversion domains where the area along the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10 is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more heightens the semiconductor device yield.

[0041] From the perspective of manufacturing a large number of semiconductor devices efficiently, the area of the principal face 10m on the GaN substrate 10 is preferably 10 cm.sup.2 or more.

[0042] Methods of manufacturing such a GaN substrate are not limited particularly, wherein the examples of the manufacturing methods include HVPE, matalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and other vapor-phase techniques, and flux-growth and other liquid-phase techniques. There are not any inversion domains discernible on the GaN substrate manufactured by the liquid-phase techniques, but from the perspective of producing large size of crystals at a high growth rate, the vapor-phase techniques are preferable, and in particular HVPE is more preferable. Moreover, because the GaN substrate 10 manufactured by HVPE is often provided with the inversion domains, the present invention is characterized in that controlling the inversion domains leads to high-yield manufacturing of semiconductor devices having superior characteristics.

[0043] In manufacturing the GaN substrate by HVPE, possible procedures for reducing the inversion domains that the GaN substrate has are as follows. Among the procedures, there is a procedure in which a GaN crystal is grown by HVPE on a GaN base substrate, produced by liquid-phase techniques, having no inversion domains. In this procedure, however, a large size of GaN base substrate cannot be produced. Furthermore, there is a procedure in which mask layers are formed in the inversion domains on the GaN base substrate, and then the GaN crystal is grown by HVPE to cover the mask layers with the GaN crystal that has been laterally grown. In such a procedure, however, the mask layers are unlikely to form so as to be in correspondence with the inversion domains present randomly on the GaN base substrate.

[0044] Therefore, effective is a procedure in which after pits form as a result of etching the inversion domains on the principal face of the GaN substrate, produced by the vapor-phase techniques, having the inversion domains on its principal face, growing the GaN crystal by HVPE prompts burying of the inversion domain having low crystal growth rate in the principal domain having high crystal growth rate. Herein, from the perspective of prompting the burying of the inversion domains, the depth of the pits in the inversion domains of the GaN base substrate is preferably larger than the widths (that are the diameters of approximate circles when the inversion domains can be approximated to the circles, and that are widths of stripes when the domains are shaped into the stripes) of the inversion domains. Herein, in etch, material of etch resistance, such as Pt board, is preferably placed on the back side (the side opposite to the front side, hereinafter) in order to prevent the back side of the GaN base substrate from being etched.

[0045] Next, referring to FIG. 2, an at least single-lamina semiconductor layer 20 is grown on the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10 (a step of growing a semiconductor layer), and referring to FIG. 3, a semiconductor devices 40 are formed so that the product S.sub.c.times.D of the area S.sub.c of the principal faces of the semiconductor devices 40 and the density D of the inversion domains is 2.3 or less (a step of forming a semiconductor device).

[0046] With this product S.sub.c.times.D being 2.3 or less, preferably 0.7 or less, and more preferably 0.1 or less, semiconductor device yields can be heightened.

[0047] Herein, in the semiconductor layer growing step in FIG. 2, a n.sup.+-type GaN layer 22, a n-type GaN layer 24 and a p-type GaN layer 26 are successively formed as the at least single-lamina semiconductor layer 20 on the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10. As a result, the p-n junction forms between the n-type GaN layer 24 and the p-type GaN layer 26. Next, a Ni/Au laminated electrode (the Ni layer contacts with the GaN layer), serving as a p-side electrode 32, is formed onto the p-type GaN substrate 26, and a Ti/Al laminated electrode (the Ti layer contacts with the n-type GaN substrate), serving as a n-side electrode 34, is formed onto a back side 10n (the side opposite to the principal face 10m) of the n-type GaN substrate (GaN substrate 10), to produce a semiconductor wafer 30.

[0048] Furthermore, in the semiconductor device forming step in FIG. 3, the p-side electrode 32, p-type GaN layer 26, and a part of the n-type GaN layer 24 undergo mesa-etching along chip dividing lines 41. Subsequently, the semiconductor wafer 30 is divided along the chip dividing lines 41 into the semiconductor devices 40, in which the areas of their principal faces are S.sub.c cm.sup.2. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the one semiconductor wafer 30 is divided into 10 chips C1 to C10 to manufacture 10 semiconductor devices 40.

[0049] Herein, the principal faces 40m on the semiconductor devices 40 mean principal faces of the main portion (functional portion) activating the function of the semiconductor devices. In the semiconductor device of this embodiment, the p-n junction corresponds to the principal faces 40m. Although with the principal faces 40m of the manufactured semiconductor devices 40 being small, the inversion domains 10t that the GaN substrate 10 has is not so much disadvantageous, the larger the principal faces 40m of the semiconductor devices 40, the more disadvantageous the inversion domains 10t. Accordingly, the present invention is useful particularly in manufacturing the large size of semiconductor devices 40 in which the areas of their principal faces 40m are 1 mm.sup.2 or more.

[0050] In this embodiment mode, the recitation has been made on the precondition that the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10 in the semiconductor devices 40 is (0001) Ga face, though in practice, the principal face 10m of the GaN substrate 10 may have a slightly misoriented angle with respect to the (0001) Ga face.

Embodiment Mode 2

[0051] Another embodiment mode of the semiconductor device involving the present invention is a semiconductor device manufactured by the manufacturing method in Embodiment Mode 1. In the semiconductor device of Embodiment Mode 2, referring to FIG. 4, the n.sup.+-type GaN layer 22, n-type GaN layer 24 and p-type GaN layer 26 are formed as the at least single-laminar semiconductor layer 20 on the GaN substrate 10. Furthermore, the Ni/Au laminated electrode, serving as the p-side electrode 32, is formed onto the p-type GaN substrate 26, and the Ti/Al laminated electrode, serving as the n-side electrode 34, is formed onto the back side 10n of the n-type GaN substrate.

[0052] With reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, semiconductor devices of this embodiment are the semiconductor devices 40, in which the areas of their principal faces 40m are S.sub.c cm.sup.-2, formed employing the GaN substrate 10 in which the density of the inversion domains 10t, where the area along the principal face 10m is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more, is D cm.sup.-2, the total area of the principal face 10m is S cm.sup.2, and the collective area of the inversion domains 10t is S.sub.t cm.sup.-2. Because the ratio S.sub.t/S is 0.5 or less, and the product S.sub.c.times.D is less than 2.3, the properties of semiconductor devices can be enhanced. Therein, preferably, the ratio S.sub.t/S is 0.2 or less, and the product S.sub.c.times.D is less than 0.7, and more preferably, the ratio S.sub.t/S is 0.05 or less, and the product S.sub.c.times.D is less than 0.1.

EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment 1

1. Preparation of GaN Substrate

[0053] As a base substrate, the GaN substrate in which (0001) Ga face, whose diameter was 2 inches (50.8 mm), and whose depth was 400 .mu.m, was the principal face was employed. As a result of etching for 30 minutes the principal face of the base substrate with a mixture of KOH and NaOH (mass ratio: 1:1) at 300.degree. C., 352 pits in hexagonal cylinder shape formed in the inversion domains on the principal face. During etch, keeping a Pt board in close contact with the back side (the side opposite to the front side) of the base substrate prevented etching solution from running into the back side of the base substrate. The hexagonal-cylinder-shaped pits caused by the etching were 20 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m in width (diameter of the approximate circles), and 20 .mu.m to 250 .mu.m in depth.

[0054] A GaN crystal layer 10 mm in thickness was grown by HVPE on the base substrate principal face in which the hexagonal-cylinder-shaped pits had formed. Herein, the temperature at which Ga source gas was generated was made 850.degree. C., and the temperature at which a GaN crystal was grown was 1200.degree. C. An added feature of the experimental design was to make the GaN substrate growing temperature 1000.degree. C. or more, which reduced the inversion domains as the GaN crystal grew.

[0055] The grown GaN crystal layer was sliced paralleling the base substrate principal face to a thickness of 500 .mu.m to produce 10 GaN substrates whose principal faces are (0001) Ga faces. These substrates were defined as S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, and S10 from the substrate side. In all the GaN substrates, the diameter of their principal faces was 2 inches (5.08 cm), and the area S of their principal faces was 20 cm.sup.2.

[0056] The produced GaN substrates were etched for 30 minutes with 2N KOH solution at 50.degree. C., and the number of the pits (corresponding to the inversion domains) formed on the principal faces was counted, to calculate the density D cm.sup.-2 of the inversion domains on the principal faces. The density D cm.sup.-2 of the inversion domain on the principal faces of the more distant GaN substrates (the substrates produced from a further grown part of the crystal) from the base substrate side further lowered. Herein, as to each of the GaN substrates, the precise collective area of the inversion domains was not measured. The collective area S.sub.t cm.sup.2 of the inversion domains was calculated, letting the area of each of the inversion domains was 0.196 cm.sup.2 of less, because the width of each of the inversion domains (the diameter of the approximate circle) was 500 .mu.m or less (the area was 0.196 cm.sup.2 of less). The results are set forth in the table.

2. Semiconductor Layer Growth

[0057] Referring to FIG. 2, the principal faces 10m of the GaN substrates 10 were polished again, and then the 0.6-.mu.m thick n.sup.+-type GaN layer 22, 7-.mu.m thick n-type GaN layer 24 (electron concentration was 3.times.10.sup.16 cm.sup.-3), and 0.5-.mu.m thick p-type GaN layer 26 (Mg atomic concentration was 7.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3) were formed by MOCVD as the semiconductor layer 20 on the principal faces 10 that had been polished again. As a result, the p-n junction formed between the n-type GaN layer 24 and the p-type GaN layer 26. Subsequently, a Ni layer and an Au layer were formed successively by vapor-deposition techniques to form a Ni/Au laminated electrode, serving as the p-side electrode 32, on the p-type GaN layer 26. As a result, a semiconductor wafer 30 was produced for each of the GaN substrates 10.

3. Semiconductor Device Formation

[0058] Referring to FIG. 3, in the semiconductor wafer 30, the p-side electrode 32, p-type GaN layer 26, and a part of the n-type GaN layer 24 undergone mesa-etching along the chip dividing lines 41. Subsequently, the semiconductor wafer was divided along the chip dividing lines 41 into 10 chips C1 to C10 to produce from the wafer 30 10 semiconductor devices 40, in which the area of the principal faces 40m (the p-n junction in this embodiment) was 1 cm.sup.2. The produced 10 semiconductor devices undergone reverse breakdown voltage test, and the semiconductor device yield (units: %) was evaluated on the preconditions that semiconductor devices with reverse breakdown voltage of 500 V or more were products. The results are set forth in the table.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE GaN substrate Density of Collective area Semiconductor principal face Number of inversion of inversion device principal Semiconductor GaN surface area inversion domains domains Ratio face surface area Product device yield substrate S (cm.sup.2) domains D (cm.sup.-2) St (cm.sup.2) S.sub.t/S Sc (cm.sup.2) S.sub.c .times. D (%) S1 20 51 2.55 .ltoreq.10.0 .ltoreq.0.50 1 2.55 0 S2 20 45 2.25 .ltoreq.8.8 .ltoreq.0.44 1 2.25 10 S3 20 35 1.75 .ltoreq.6.9 .ltoreq.0.35 1 1.75 20 S4 20 16 0.80 .ltoreq.3.1 .ltoreq.0.16 1 0.80 40 S5 20 12 0.60 .ltoreq.2.4 .ltoreq.0.12 1 0.60 60 S6 20 5 025 .ltoreq.0.98 .ltoreq.0.05 1 0.25 80 S7 20 4 0.20 .ltoreq.0.78 .ltoreq.0.04 1 0.20 80 S8 20 3 0.15 .ltoreq.0.59 .ltoreq.0.03 1 0.15 90 S9 20 1 0.05 .ltoreq.0.20 .ltoreq.0.01 1 0.05 100 S10 20 0 0 0 0 1 0 100

[0059] As is clear from the table, in the semiconductor device manufacturing method involving the present invention, making the ratio S.sub.t/S 0.5 or less and the product S.sub.c.times.D less than 2.3 could bring the semiconductor device yield to 10% or more. Furthermore, making the ratio S.sub.t/S 0.2 or less and the product S.sub.c.times.D less than 0.7 could bring the semiconductor device yield to 50% or more. Moreover, lowering the ratio S.sub.t/S to 0.05 or less and the product S.sub.c.times.D to less than 0.1 could raise the semiconductor device yield to 90% or more.

[0060] The presently disclosed embodiments and implementation examples should in all respects be considered to be illustrative and not limiting. The scope of the present invention is set forth not by the foregoing description but by the scope of the scope of the patent claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of the patent claims and all modifications within the scope.

Claims

1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a GaN crystal substrate defining a principal, (0001) Ga face and defining a matrix, being a majority, polarity-determining domain of the GaN crystal, and inversion domains, being domains in which the polarity in the GaN crystal's [0001] direction is inverted with respect to the matrix, the GaN substrate having a ratio S.sub.t/S, of collective area S.sub.t cm.sup.2 of inversion domains to the total area S cm.sup.2 of the GaN substrate principal face, of no more than 0.5, with the density along the (0001) Ga face of inversion domains whose surface area is 1 .mu.m.sup.2 or more being D cm.sup.-2; and an at least single-lamina semiconductor layer on the GaN substrate principal face, the semiconductor layer defining a semiconductor-device principal face; wherein the product S.sub.c.times.D of the area S.sub.c of the semiconductor-device principal face and the inversion domain density D is less than 2.3.

2. A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ratio S.sub.t/S is 0.2 or less, and the product S.sub.c.times.D is less than 0.7.

3. A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ratio S.sub.t/S is 0.05 or less, and the product S.sub.c.times.D is less than 0.1.

4. A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the area of the GaN substrate principal face is 10 cm.sup.2 or more.

5. A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the GaN substrate is a product of vapor-phase deposition.

6. A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the GaN substrate is a product of hydride vapor-phase epitaxy.

7. A semiconductor device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said semiconductor layer comprises a plurality of laminae whereby a p-n junction interface is constituted between the semiconductor laminae.