Ain single crystals

Single crystals of aluminum nitride up to 1 cm long and 0.3 in diameter have been grown by a sublimation-recondensation technique at about 2250°C. The starting material is prepared by the direct reaction of aluminum and nitrogen at 1850°C. The crystals are grown at a rate of 0.03 cm/hr. in sealed tungsten crucibes in an rf heated tungsten furnace. They are amber in color and have the wurtzite structure.