| abstract |
A process for producing light emitting diodes is disclosed. In the process a major planar surface of a single crystal silicon wafer is modified to acceptably match the crystallographic lattice constant of a preselected electroluminescent single crystal semiconductor, such as gallium phosphide. The preselected electroluminescent semiconductor material is then epitaxially deposited in single crystal form on the modified surface of the silicon wafer, a step which is not feasible without the modification of the silicon wafer surface. Preferably, the modification is achieved by epitaxially depositing a thin layer of semiconductor material whose lattice structure offers a substantially smaller disparity with the structure of the electroluminescent material than the existing disparity between the silicon wafer and the electroluminescent material. |