New Research on Silicon


Book Description

The knowledge of fundamental silicon questions and all aspects of silicon technology gives the possibility of improvement to both initial silicon material and devices on silicon basis. The articles for this book have been contributed by the much respected researchers in this area and cover the most recent developments and applications of silicon technology and some fundamental questions. This book provides the latest research developments in important aspects of silicon including nanoclusters, solar silicon, porous silicon, some technological processes, and silicon devices and also fundamental question about silicon structural perfection. This book is of interest both to fundamental research and to practicing scientists and also will be useful to all engineers and students in industry and academia.




Coatings and Thin-Film Technologies


Book Description

The field of coatings and thin-film technologies is rapidly advancing to keep up with new uses for semiconductor, optical, tribological, thermoelectric, solar, security, and smart sensing applications, among others. In this sense, thin-film coatings and structures are increasingly sophisticated with more specific properties, new geometries, large areas, the use of heterogeneous materials and flexible and rigid coating substrates to produce thin-film structures with improved performance and properties in response to new challenges that the industry presents. This book aims to provide the reader with a complete overview of the current state of applications and developments in thin-film technology, discussing applications, health and safety in thin films, and presenting reviews and experimental results of recognized experts in the area of coatings and thin-film technologies.




Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) Nanostructures


Book Description

Nanostructured silicon-germanium (SiGe) opens up the prospects of novel and enhanced electronic device performance, especially for semiconductor devices. Silicon-germanium (SiGe) nanostructures reviews the materials science of nanostructures and their properties and applications in different electronic devices.The introductory part one covers the structural properties of SiGe nanostructures, with a further chapter discussing electronic band structures of SiGe alloys. Part two concentrates on the formation of SiGe nanostructures, with chapters on different methods of crystal growth such as molecular beam epitaxy and chemical vapour deposition. This part also includes chapters covering strain engineering and modelling. Part three covers the material properties of SiGe nanostructures, including chapters on such topics as strain-induced defects, transport properties and microcavities and quantum cascade laser structures. In Part four, devices utilising SiGe alloys are discussed. Chapters cover ultra large scale integrated applications, MOSFETs and the use of SiGe in different types of transistors and optical devices.With its distinguished editors and team of international contributors, Silicon-germanium (SiGe) nanostructures is a standard reference for researchers focusing on semiconductor devices and materials in industry and academia, particularly those interested in nanostructures. - Reviews the materials science of nanostructures and their properties and applications in different electronic devices - Assesses the structural properties of SiGe nanostructures, discussing electronic band structures of SiGe alloys - Explores the formation of SiGe nanostructuresfeaturing different methods of crystal growth such as molecular beam epitaxy and chemical vapour deposition







Thermoelectrics


Book Description

This book provides a concise but comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals and current state of the art in thermoelectrics. Addressing an audience of materials scientists and engineers, the book covers theory, materials selection, and applications, with a wide variety of case studies reflecting the most up-to-date research approaches from the past decade, from single crystal to polycrystalline form and from bulk to thin films to nano dimensions. The world is facing major challenges for finding alternate energy sources that can satisfy the increasing demand for energy consumption while preserving the environment. The field of thermoelectrics has long been recognized as a potential and ideal source of clean energy. However, the relatively low conversion efficiency of thermoelectric devices has prevented their utility on a large scale. While addressing the need for thermal management in materials, device components, and systems, thermoelectrics provides a fundamental solution to waste heat recovery and temperature control. This book summarizes the global efforts that have been made to enhance the figure of merit of various thermoelectric materials by choosing appropriate processes and their influence on properties and performance. Because of these advances, today, thermoelectric devices are found in mainstream applications such as automobiles and power generators, as opposed to just a few years ago when they could only be used in niche applications such as in aeronautics, infrared imaging, and space. However, the continued gap between fundamental theoretical results and actual experimental data of figure of merit and performance continues to challenge the commercial applications of thermoelectrics. This book presents both recent achievements and continuing challenges, and represents essential reading for researchers working in this area in universities, industry, and national labs.




Semiconductor Materials for Solar Photovoltaic Cells


Book Description

This book reviews the current status of semiconductor materials for conversion of sunlight to electricity, and highlights advances in both basic science and manufacturing. Photovoltaic (PV) solar electric technology will be a significant contributor to world energy supplies when reliable, efficient PV power products are manufactured in large volumes at low cost. Expert chapters cover the full range of semiconductor materials for solar-to-electricity conversion, from crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon to cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium sulfide selenides, dye sensitized solar cells, organic solar cells, and environmentally friendly copper zinc tin sulfide selenides. The latest methods for synthesis and characterization of solar cell materials are described, together with techniques for measuring solar cell efficiency. Semiconductor Materials for Solar Photovoltaic Cells presents the current state of the art as well as key details about future strategies to increase the efficiency and reduce costs, with particular focus on how to reduce the gap between laboratory scale efficiency and commercial module efficiency. This book will aid materials scientists and engineers in identifying research priorities to fulfill energy needs, and will also enable researchers to understand novel semiconductor materials that are emerging in the solar market. This integrated approach also gives science and engineering students a sense of the excitement and relevance of materials science in the development of novel semiconductor materials. · Provides a comprehensive introduction to solar PV cell materials · Reviews current and future status of solar cells with respect to cost and efficiency · Covers the full range of solar cell materials, from silicon and thin films to dye sensitized and organic solar cells · Offers an in-depth account of the semiconductor material strategies and directions for further research · Features detailed tables on the world leaders in efficiency demonstrations · Edited by scientists with experience in both research and industry




Introduction to Microfabrication


Book Description

Microfabrication is the key technology behind integrated circuits,microsensors, photonic crystals, ink jet printers, solar cells andflat panel displays. Microsystems can be complex, but the basicmicrostructures and processes of microfabrication are fairlysimple. Introduction to Microfabrication shows how the commonmicrofabrication concepts can be applied over and over again tocreate devices with a wide variety of structures andfunctions. Featuring: * A comprehensive presentation of basic fabrication processes * An emphasis on materials and microstructures, rather than devicephysics * In-depth discussion on process integration showing how processes,materials and devices interact * A wealth of examples of both conceptual and real devices Introduction to Microfabrication includes 250 homework problems forstudents to familiarise themselves with micro-scale materials,dimensions, measurements, costs and scaling trends. Both researchand manufacturing topics are covered, with an emphasis on silicon,which is the workhorse of microfabrication. This book will serve as an excellent first text for electricalengineers, chemists, physicists and materials scientists who wishto learn about microstructures and microfabrication techniques,whether in MEMS, microelectronics or emerging applications.




CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics


Book Description

Thermoelectrics is the science and technology associated with thermoelectric converters, that is, the generation of electrical power by the Seebeck effect and refrigeration by the Peltier effect. Thermoelectric generators are being used in increasing numbers to provide electrical power in medical, military, and deep space applications where combinations of their desirable properties outweigh their relatively high cost and low generating efficiency. In recent years there also has been an increase in the requirement for thermoelectric coolers (Peltier devices) for use in infrared detectors and in optical communications. Information on thermoelectrics is not readily available as it is widely scattered throughout the literature. The Handbook centralizes this information in a convenient format under a single cover. Sixty of the world's foremost authorities on thermoelectrics have contributed to this Handbook. It is comprised of fifty-five chapters, a number of which contain previously unpublished material. The contents are arranged in eight sections: general principles and theoretical considerations, material preparation, measurement of thermoelectric properties, thermoelectric materials, thermoelectric generation, generator applications, thermoelectric refrigeration, and applications of thermoelectric cooling. The CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics has a broad-based scope. It will interest researchers, technologists, and manufacturers, as well as students and the well-informed, non-specialist reader.




Thermoelectric Materials and Devices


Book Description

Authoritative account of recent developments in thermoelectric materials and devices for power energy harvesting applications, ideal for researchers and industrialists in materials science.




Transport Phenomena in Thermoelectric and Ferromagnetic Nanostructures


Book Description

Research on transport phenomena in a variety of materials has played a decisive role in the development of solidstate physics and has led to important applications of functional materials, e.g. for the conversion and storage of energy or in the fi eld of storage and processing of data. This thesis deals with transport phenomena in nanoscale systems. The Seebeck effect is explored in Bi2Te3 nanowires, the anisotropic magnetothermal resistance effect in Ni nanowires, and the giant magnetothermal resistance effect in Co/Cu multilayers.