The field of charge conduction in disordered materials is a rapidly evolving area owing to current and potential applications of these materials in various electronic devices This text aims to cover conduction in disordered solids from fundamental physical principles and theories, through practical material development with an emphasis on applications in all areas of electronic materials. International group of contributors Presents basic physical concepts developed in this field in recent years in a uniform manner Brings up-to-date, in a one-stop source, a key evolving area in the field of electronic materials
In the last couple of decades, high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices based on semiconductor heterostructures have been required to obtain increasingly strict and well-defined performances, needing a detailed control, at the atomic level, of the structural composition of the buried interfaces. This goal has been achieved by an improvement of the epitaxial growth techniques and by the parallel use of increasingly sophisticated characterization techniques and of refined theoretical models based on ab initio approaches. This book deals with description of both characterization techniques and theoretical models needed to understand and predict the structural and electronic properties of semiconductor heterostructures and nanostructures. - Comprehensive collection of the most powerful characterization techniques for semiconductor heterostructures and nanostructures - Most of the chapters are authored by scientists that are among the top 10 worldwide in publication ranking of the specific field - Each chapter starts with a didactic introduction on the technique - The second part of each chapter deals with a selection of top examples highlighting the power of the specific technique to analyze the properties of semiconductors
The development of new sources and methods in the terahertz spectral range has generated intense interest in terahertz spectroscopy and its application in an array of fields. Presenting state-of-the-art terahertz spectroscopic techniques, Terahertz Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications focuses on time-domain methods based on femtosecond laser sources and important recent applications in physics, materials science, chemistry, and biomedicine. The first section of the book examines instrumentation and methods for terahertz spectroscopy. It provides a comprehensive treatment of time-domain terahertz spectroscopic measurements, including methods for the generation and detection of terahertz radiation, methods for determining optical constants from time-domain measurements, and the use of femtosecond time-resolved techniques. The last two sections explore a variety of applications of terahertz spectroscopy in physics, materials science, chemistry, and biomedicine. With chapters contributed by leading experts in academia, industry, and research, this volume thoroughly discusses methods and applications, setting it apart from other recent books in this emerging terahertz field.
Semiconducting polymers are a promising class of organic electronic materials, with the potential to have a large impact in the field of macroelectronics. In this thesis, we focus on understanding the relationship between microstructure and charge transport in semicrystalline polythiophenes. A method is presented for the measurement of complete pole figures of polymer thin films using an area detector, allowing for the first time quantitative characterization of crystalline texture and degree of crystallinity. Thin film transistors are used to measure electrical characteristics, and charge transport behavior is modeled according to the Mobility Edge (ME) model. These characterization methods are first used to investigate the effect of substrate surface treatment and thermal annealing on the microstructure of polythiophene thin films, and the effect of microstructural details on charge transport. Next, we investigate the semicrystalline microstructure in confined polythiophene films. Pole figures are used to quantify a decrease in the degree of crystallinity of films with decreasing thickness, accompanied by an improvement in crystalline texture. Next, we investigate the influence of the degree of regioregularity, molecular weight and the processing solvent on microstructure (degree of crystallinity and texture) and charge transport in high mobility P3HT thin films. Surprisingly, when processing conditions are optimized, even a polymer with moderate regioregularity can form a highly textured film with high charge carrier mobility. Finally, we use films of P3HT with engineered, anisotropic in-plane microstructure to understand the importance and mechanism of transport across grain boundaries in these semicrystalline films. Results from this study provide the first experimental evidence for the application of a percolation model for charge transport in high molecular weight semicrystalline polymer semiconductors. Understanding how characteristics of the polymer as well as details of the processing conditions can affect the film microstructure and device performance is important for future materials design and device fabrication.
A review of recent advancements in colloidal nanocrystals and quantum-confined nanostructures, Nanocrystal Quantum Dots is the second edition of Semiconductor and Metal Nanocrystals: Synthesis and Electronic and Optical Properties, originally published in 2003. This new title reflects the book’s altered focus on semiconductor nanocrystals. Gathering contributions from leading researchers, this book contains new chapters on carrier multiplication (generation of multiexcitons by single photons), doping of semiconductor nanocrystals, and applications of nanocrystals in biology. Other updates include: New insights regarding the underlying mechanisms supporting colloidal nanocrystal growth A revised general overview of multiexciton phenomena, including spectral and dynamical signatures of multiexcitons in transient absorption and photoluminescence Analysis of nanocrystal-specific features of multiexciton recombination A review of the status of new field of carrier multiplication Expanded coverage of theory, covering the regime of high-charge densities New results on quantum dots of lead chalcogenides, with a focus studies of carrier multiplication and the latest results regarding Schottky junction solar cells Presents useful examples to illustrate applications of nanocrystals in biological labeling, imaging, and diagnostics The book also includes a review of recent progress made in biological applications of colloidal nanocrystals, as well as a comparative analysis of the advantages and limitations of techniques for preparing biocompatible quantum dots. The authors summarize the latest developments in the synthesis and understanding of magnetically doped semiconductor nanocrystals, and they present a detailed discussion of issues related to the synthesis, magneto-optics, and photoluminescence of doped colloidal nanocrystals as well. A valuable addition to the pantheon of literature in the field of nanoscience, this book presents pioneering research from experts whose work has led to the numerous advances of the past several years.
Graduate Programs in the Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Agricultural Sciences, the Environment & Natural Resources 2012 contains more than 2,900 graduate programs in 59 disciplines-including agriculture and food sciences, astronomy and astrophysics, chemistry, physics, mathematics, environmental sciences and management, natural resources, marine sciences, and more. This guide is part of Peterson's six-volume Annual Guides to Graduate Study, the only annually updated reference work of its kind, provides wide-ranging information on the graduate and professional programs offered by U.S.-accredited colleges and universities in the United States and throughout the world. Informative data profiles for more than 2,900 graduate programs in 59 disciplines, including facts and figures on accreditation, degree requirements, application deadlines and contact information, financial support, faculty, and student body profiles. Two-page in-depth descriptions, written by featured institutions, offer complete details on specific graduate programs, schools, or departments as well as information on faculty research and the college or university. Expert advice on the admissions process, financial support, and accrediting agencies. Comprehensive directories list programs in this volume, as well as others in the graduate series. Up-to-date appendixes list institutional changes since the last addition along with abbreviations used in the guide
Reliability and Failure of Electronic Materials and Devices is a well-established and well-regarded reference work offering unique, single-source coverage of most major topics related to the performance and failure of materials used in electronic devices and electronics packaging. With a focus on statistically predicting failure and product yields, this book can help the design engineer, manufacturing engineer, and quality control engineer all better understand the common mechanisms that lead to electronics materials failures, including dielectric breakdown, hot-electron effects, and radiation damage. This new edition adds cutting-edge knowledge gained both in research labs and on the manufacturing floor, with new sections on plastics and other new packaging materials, new testing procedures, and new coverage of MEMS devices. Covers all major types of electronics materials degradation and their causes, including dielectric breakdown, hot-electron effects, electrostatic discharge, corrosion, and failure of contacts and solder joints New updated sections on "failure physics," on mass transport-induced failure in copper and low-k dielectrics, and on reliability of lead-free/reduced-lead solder connections New chapter on testing procedures, sample handling and sample selection, and experimental design Coverage of new packaging materials, including plastics and composites
