Editing Czochralski method (section)

=== Early Developments (1915–1930s) ===
Jan Czochralski invented his method in 1916 at [[AEG (German company)|AEG]] in Germany while investigating the crystallization velocities of metals.<ref name=":2" /> His technique—originally reported in 1918—formed the basis for growing single crystals by pulling material from the melt. Until 1923, modifications to the method were confined mainly to Berlin‐based groups.<ref name="Uecker2014" />

Shortly thereafter, in 1925, E.P.T. Tyndall's group at the [[University of Iowa]] grew [[zinc]] crystals using the Czochralski method for nearly a decade; these early crystals reached maximum diameters of about 3.5 mm and lengths of up to 35 cm.

The development of the fundamental process would be completed in 1937 by Henry Walther at [[Bell Labs|Bell Telephone Laboratories]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Feigelson |first=R.S. |title=Handbook of Crystal Growth |date=December 2015 |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-444-63303-3 |pages=20–25|publisher=Elsevier Science }}</ref> Walther introduced crystal rotation—a technique that compensates for thermal asymmetries—and implemented dynamic cooling control via an adjustable gas stream. His innovations enabled precise control over crystal shape and diameter and allowed the first growth of true bulk crystals, including high-melting-point materials such as sodium chloride. Walther’s work laid the foundation for the modern Czochralski process.<ref name="Uecker2014">
{{cite journal |last=Uecker |first=R. |title=The historical development of the Czochralski method |journal=Journal of Crystal Growth |year=2014 |volume=401 |pages=7–24 |doi=10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2013.11.095|bibcode=2014JCrGr.401....7U }}</ref>