Ammonothermal Synthesis of Nitrides: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Solid State Chemistry
• Crystal Growth

Background:

• Nitrides are functional materials with diverse applications.
• The ammonothermal method has gained prominence for nitride synthesis and crystal growth over the last decade.
• This method is suitable for growing bulk III-nitride semiconductors and complex nitrides/oxonitrides.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the latest research on nitride synthesis using the ammonothermal method.
• To provide an overview of synthesis strategies, properties, and applications of various nitrides.
• To discuss advancements in autoclave technology and in situ characterization.

Main Methods:

• Ammonothermal synthesis for binary, ternary, and multinary nitrides and oxonitrides.
• High-temperature and high-pressure autoclave technologies.
• In situ methods for crystallization process investigation.
• Ultrasonic velocity experiments for solubility measurements.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of bulk III-nitride semiconductors (e.g., GaN).
• Access to a range of ternary and multinary nitrides and oxonitrides with valuable properties.
• Advancements in synthesis techniques and characterization methods.

Conclusions:

• The ammonothermal method is a powerful tool for nitride material development.
• Future research should focus on novel nitrides and improved synthesis techniques.
• Further development of autoclave technologies is crucial for advancing nitride crystal growth.