The Materials Science of Semiconductors

OBJECTIVES The primary purpose of this book is to convey insight into why semiconductors are the way they are, either because of how their atoms bond with one another, because of mistakes in their structure, or because of how they are produced or processed. The approach is to explore both the science of how atoms interact and to connect the results to real materials properties, and to show the engineering concepts that can be used to produce or improve a semiconductor by design. Along with this I hope to show some applications for the topics under discussion so that one may see how the concepts are applied in the laboratory. The intended audience of this book is senior undergraduate students and graduate students early in their careers or with limited background in the subject. I intend this book to be equally useful to those teaching in electrical engineering, materials science, or even chemical engineering or physics curricula, although the book is written for a materials science audience primarily. To try to maintain the focus on materials concepts the details of many of the derivations and equations are left out of the book. Likewise I have not delved into the details of electrical engineering topics in as much detail as an electrical engineer might wish. It is assumed that students are familiar with these topics from earlier courses.

This book describes semiconductors from a materials science perspective rather than from condensed matter physics or electrical engineering viewpoints. It includes discussion of current approaches to organic materials for electronic devices.

The book reviews the most relevant concepts of semiconductor materials and processing including condensed matter physics, electronic device theory, and materials science. It describes the development of energy bands from atomic orbitals and the effect of atomic chemistry on the semiconductor. Semiconductor alloys are described including issues of miscibility, ordering, and electronic properties. Defects in semiconductors are described with particular emphasis on point and line defects, their sources and effects. A chapter on amorphous semiconductors is included as well as a chapter on organic materials used in optical and switching devices. The book concludes with chapters on general aspects of thin film nucleation and growth, physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition methods. Examples of the application of the concepts in each chapter to specific problems or situations are included, along with recommended readings and homework problems.

An Environment of Challenges.- The Physics of Solids.- Overview of Electronic Devices.- Aspects of Materials Science.- Engineering Electronic Structure.- Semiconductor Alloys.- Defects in Semiconductors.- Amorphous Semiconductors.- Organic Semiconductors.- Thin Film Growth Processes.- Physical Vapor Deposition.- Chemical Vapor Deposition.