Vapour growth of bulk crystals by PVT and CVT

Basic aspects in the vapour growth technology of bulk (volume) crystals, when grown by physical vapour transport (PVT) and chemical vapour transport (CVT) are reviewed. The state of the art is presented in its principal developments without, however, any attempt to cover the very extensive literature in the field. The various experimental configurations of the PVT and CVT growth systems are first briefly described and discussed as to their advantages and drawbacks from the technological viewpoint and their ability to yield high-quality crystals. In the second part of the article the main features of the various techniques are discussed in terms of relevant thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and kinetics, emphasis being particularly given to closed-tube PVT and CVT configurations. The treatment is here, on the whole, basically phenomenological rather than atomistic. Topics especially relevant to the vapour growth of bulk crystals, such as modelling, mass-transport yield, productivity functions, interface growth stability and others, have also been reviewed and discussed in more detail.