To provide an apparatus and a method for refining and supplying inexpensively sodium functioning as a flux for promoting crystal growth of gallium nitride (GaN).
This apparatus includes: a filtering container 1 storing solid sodium s1 which is a raw material, and having a filtering function for removing, by blocking passage, a sodium compound contained inevitably in the solid sodium s1, while allowing passage of liquid sodium m1; a heating heat-retaining part 15 for heating the solid sodium s1 up to a temperature at which the solid sodium s1 is melted and the sodium compound is not melted; a supply means for supplying liquid sodium m1 overflowing from the filtering container 1 based on the filtering function into a crucible B; and a chamber 16 for keeping the filtering container 1, the heating heat-retaining part 15 and the supply means in a non-oxidative atmosphere.
MURAMOTO TOMOYA
Masatake Shiga
Kazuya Nishi
Hisanori Takahashi