TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The method involves carrying out steps (a) and (b); providing at least a first seed plate and a second seed plate, the first seed plate having a first side having a first crystallographic orientation and a second side having a second crystallographic orientation, the second seed plate having a first side having a first crystallographic orientation and a second side having a second crystallographic orientation, where the second side of the first seed plate and the second side of the second seed plate have an equivalent crystallographic orientation to within five degrees and have a minimum lateral dimension of at least 1 centimeter; supporting the first seed plate and the second seed plate such that the first side of the first seed crystal faces the first side of the second seed crystal and spaced by a gap between the first side of the first seed crystal and the first side of the second seed crystal; and carrying out steps (e)-(g). The method further involves increasing the thickness of at least one of the seed plates by at least 1 (preferably at least 2) mm. The method further involves slicing a boule derived from either the first seed plate or the second seed plate to prepare at least one of m-plane, a-plane, c-plane or semi-polar substrates. Preferred Components: Each of the first seed plate and the second seed plate comprise a first side and second side, the first side and the second side having the equivalent crystallographic orientation to within five degrees. Either the first seed plate or the second seed plate is characterized by a maximum lateral dimension of at least two centimeters and a minimum lateral dimension of at least one centimeter. At least one of the surfaces of at least one of the seed plates has a crystallographic orientation within five degrees of the (1 -1 0 0) m-plane. At least one of the surfaces of at least one of the seed plates has a crystallographic orientation within five degrees of the (1 -1 0 plus minus 1) semi-polar plane. The seed plate has a substantially rectangular shape. The large-area surfaces of the seed plates have a crystallographic orientation within five degrees of the (0 0 0 1) Ga-polar c-plane. The large-area surfaces of the seed plates have a crystallographic orientation within five degrees of the (0 0 0 -1) N-polar c-plane. Either the first side or the second side of respective first seed plate or second seed plate has a maximum lateral dimension of at least two centimeters and a minimum lateral dimension of at least one centimeter. Each of the second sides, which is outward facing, has a crystallographic orientation within five degrees of the (0 0 0 1) Ga-polar c-plane. Each of the second sides, which is outward facing, has a crystallographic orientation within five degrees of the (0 0 0 -1) N-polar c-plane. Each of the second sides, which is outward facing, has a crystallographic orientation within five degrees of the (1 -10-1) semi-polar plane. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.