Institute of Metals Division - Effects of Crystal Orientation, Temperature, and Molten Zone Thickness in Temperature-Gradient Zone Melting

IN temperature-gradient zone-melting1 a molten zone is moved through a solid or across a solid surface by the establishment of a temperature gradient. This technique has both practical and fundamental aspects. One practical application is to make p-n junctions for semiconductive devices, particularly for devices in which the junctions are desired within the semiconductor. From a fundamental point of view, the technique is being investigated as a method for determining diffusivities in liquid alloys, and preliminary diffusivity results have been reported by the writer." In this paper, the effects of crystal orientation, temperature, and molten zone thickness in temperature-gradient zone-melting, and the bearing of these effects on diffusivity measurements and n-p-n junction formation are discussed. Experimental Procedure An effect of crystal orientation was noted in early experiments. To facilitate its study, movements of wire zones across a surface, rather than through the body of a single crystal, were observed for various surface planes and travel directions. The experirr-entai setup is illustrated in Fig. 1. The graphite end-section for the high temperature heater has an apron about 1/16 in. above the upper surface of the crystal. This apron insures that the surface temperature of the block is equal to or greater than the temperature within the block at every point, Thus, the zone does not penetrate the block and convection in the liquid is minimized. The experi-through a block is shown in Fig. 2,