Advances In Amorphous Semiconductors

Amorphous materials differ significantly from their crystalline counterparts in several ways that create unique issues in their use. This book explores these issues and their implications, and provides a full treatment of both experimental and theoretical studies in the field. Advances in Amorphous Semiconductors covers a wide range of studies on hydrogenated amorphous silicon, amorphous chalcogenides, and some oxide glasses. It reviews structural properties, properties associated with the charge carrier-phonon interaction, defects, electronic transport, photoconductivity, and some applications of amorphous semiconductors. The book explains a number of recent advances in semiconductor research, including some of the editors' own findings. It addresses some of the problems associated with the validity of the effective mass approximation, whether K is a good quantum number, and the concepts of phonons and excitons. It also discusses recent progress made in understanding light-induced degradations in amorphous semiconductors, which is seen as the most limiting problem in device applications. The book presents a comprehensive review of both experimental and theoretical studies on amorphous semiconductors, which will be useful to students, researchers, and instructors in the field of amorphous solids.

This book presents the most recent important ideas and developments in the field of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon and related materials. Each contribution is authored by an outstanding expert in that particular area. Contents:Structural Aspects:Structural Heterogeneities in Device-Quality Amorphous Hydrogenated Semiconductors (J A Reimer & M A Petrich)Local Structure of Dopants in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (J B Boyce & S E Ready)Plasma Deposition of Amorphous and Crystalline Silicon: The Effect of Hydrogen on the Growth, Structure Electronic Properties (C C Tsai)Defects and Defect Dynamics:Thermal Equilibrium Effects in Doped Hydro-genated Amorphous Silicon (J Kakalios & R A Street)Kinetics of Carrier-Induced Metastable Defect Formation in Hydrogen Amorphous Silicon (W B Jackson & J Kakalios)Transient Photocapacitance Studies of Deep Defect Transitions in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (J D Cohen & A V Gelatos)The Microscopic Structure of Defects in a-Si:H and Related Materials (M Stutzmann & D K Biegelsen)Electronic Transport, Trapping and Recombination:Transport and Tail State Interactions in Amorphous Silicon (W E Spear)Recombination in a-Si:H — Temperature and Field Quenching of the Photoluminescence (W Fuhs & K Jahn)Photo-luminescence in a-Si:H Films and Multilayers (W-C Wang & H Fritzsche)Amorphous Si-Ge Alloys:Optoelectronic Properties and the Gap State Distribution in a-Si, Ge Alloys (S Aljishi et al.)Multilayers and Interfaces:Differential Absorption Spectroscopy on Amorphous Silicon Quantum Well Structures (K Hattori et al.)Growth and Structure of Interfaces in a-Si:H/a-SiOx and a-Si:H/a-SiNx:H Multilayers and Heterojunctions (L Yang & B Abeles)and others Readership: Solid state physicists and electrical engineers.

Amorphous semiconductors are subtances in the amorphous solid state that have the properties of a semiconductor and which are either covalent or tetrahedrally bonded amorphous semiconductors or chelcogenide glasses. Developed from both a theoretical and experimental viewpoint Deals with, amongst others, preparation techniques, structural, optical and electronic properties, and light induced phenomena Explores different types of amorphous semiconductors including amorphous silicon, amorphous semiconducting oxides and chalcogenide glasses Applications include solar cells, thin film transistors, sensors, optical memory devices and flat screen devices including televisions

This comprehensive, detailed treatise on the physics and applications of the new emerging technology of amorphous semiconductors focuses on specific device research problems such as the optimization of device performance. The first part of the book presents hydrogenated amorphous silicon type alloys, whose applications include inexpensive solar cells, thin film transistors, image scanners, electrophotography, optical recording and gas sensors. The second part of the book discusses amorphous chalcogenides, whose applications include electrophotography, switching, and memory elements. This book will serve as an excellent reference source for solid state scientists and engineers, and as a useful self-contained introduction to the field for graduate students.

This book, Condensed Matter and Material Physics, incorporates the work of multiple authors to enhance the theoretical as well as experimental knowledge of materials. The investigation of crystalline solids is a growing need in the electronics industry. Micro and nano transistors require an in-depth understanding of semiconductors of different groups. Amorphous materials, on the other hand, as non-equilibrium materials are widely applied in sensors and other medical and industrial applications. Superconducting magnets, composite materials, lasers, and many more applications are integral parts of our daily lives. Superfluids, liquid crystals, and polymers are undergoing active research throughout the world. Hence profound information on the nature and application of various materials is in demand. This book bestows on the reader a deep knowledge of physics behind the concepts, perspectives, characteristic properties, and prospects. The book was constructed using 10 contributions from experts in diversified fields of condensed matter and material physics and its technology from over 15 research institutes across the globe.

"Amorphous Chalcogenide Semiconductors and Glasses" describes developments in the science and technology of this class of materials. This book offers an up-to-date treatment of chalcogenide glasses and amorphous semiconductors from basic principles to applications while providing the reader with the necessary theoretical background to understanding the material properties technology of this class of materials. This book offers an up-to-date treatment of chalcogenide glasses and amorphous semiconductors from basic principles to applications while providing the reader with the necessary theoretical background to understanding the material properties. Chalcogenides form a special class of materials, which have one or more of the elements from the chalcogen group, Group VI in the Periodic Table (S, Se. or Te) as a constituent; the chalcogen is mixed with other elements to form various "new" compounds and alloys. Chalcogenides are noncrystalline solids because their structure is "amorphous" or "glassy". Such structures have totally different properties than crystalline solids. Chalcogenide glasses have a number of very interesting and useful properties, which have been already exploited in the commercialization of new devices.

A review summarising the current state of research in the field, bridging the gaps in the existing literature. All the chapters are written by world leaders in research and development and guide readers through the details of photo-induced metastability and the results of the latest experiments and simulations not found in standard monographs on this topic. A useful reference not only for graduates but also for scientific and industrial researchers. With a foreword of Kazunobu Tanaka