Dissolution and recrystallization of GaN in molten Na

The dissolution mass of GaN in molten Na at 650-800degreesC and 3-5 MPa of N-2 was determined by weight loss of polycrystalline GaN fragments immersed in Na and by chemical analysis of the amount of Ga dissolved, in Na. The dissolution of GaN in Na was equilibrated within 100h and the dissolution mass increased with increasing temperature but decreased with increasing N-2 pressure. It was found that the addition of a small amount of Li3N into the Na melt increased the dissolution mass of GaN. Transparent platelet single crystals of GaN with sizes over 300 mum were grown from nutrient GaN powder by cooling a Na solution with a Li3N additives from 800degreesC to 700degreesC at 1degreesC/h.