https://sj.jst.go.jp/news/202602/n0205-01k.html
NEDO project achieves crucible-free crystal growth, reducing gallium oxide substrate costs by 90%
Novel Crystal Technology, a company engaged in the development of gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) wafers, power devices, and power modules, has developed a less expensive crystal growth method This new method has been named the “drop-fed growth” (DG) method, reflecting its characteristic of supplying raw material melt in droplet form.
Compared with conventional edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) methods, the DG method significantly reduces the amount of iridium, which is an extremely expensive precious metal required in the growth process. This enables the manufacturing cost of gallium oxide substrates to be reduced to one-tenth of the conventional cost.
The project was supported by NEDO.