Wide Bandgap Semiconductors

The pn junction was invented in the ?rst half of the twentieth century and the latter half saw the birth of light emitting diodes: red and yellow/green in the 1960s and yellow in the 1970s. However, theoretical predictions of the improbabilityofsynthesizingp-typewidebandgapsemiconductorscastalong shadow over hopes for devices emitting in the elusive blue part of the elect- magnetic spectrum, which would complete, with red and green, the quest for the primary colors making up white light. At a time when many researchers abandoned their e?orts on nitrides, Professor Isamu Akasaki of Nagoya U- versity at this time remained committed to his belief that synthesis of high quality GaN crystals would eventually enable p-type doping and in 1989 he succeeded in fabricating the world's ?rst GaN pn junction light emitting diode. Professor Isamu Akasaki kindly accepted our invitation to contribute to this book and describes his journey 'from the nitride wilderness' to the ?rst experimental results of blue emission from GaN pn junctions: Japan's major contribution to the development of wide bandgap semiconductor devices. The discovery of blue emission from GaN pn junctions in 1989 was the major technological turning point during the development of wide bandgap emission devices with wide reaching scienti?c, industrial and social impli- tions.

Klappentext

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the development, current state and future prospects of wide bandgap semiconductor materials and related optoelectronics devices. It includes an overview of recent developments in III-V nitride semiconductors, SiC, diamond, ZnO, II-VI materials and related devices including AIGaN/GaN FET, UV LDs, white light LEDs, and cold electron emitters.

With 901 references, 333 figures and 21 tables, this book will serve as a one-stop source of knowledge on wide bandgap semiconductors and related optoelectronics devices.

After reviue of the basic physics of WBGS and the relevance of the physical properties to the development of commercial devices, the book addresses the applications of WBGS devices for solid-state white-light illumination, medicine and gigahertz-high power telecommunications. In addition, description of recent development in the growth and applications of nitride semiconductors are complemented by chapters on the properties and device applications of SiC, diamond thin films, doping of ZnO, II-IVs and the novel BeZnSeTe/BAlGaAs material systems. Practical issues and problems such as the effect of defects on device performance are highlighted and solutions proposed based on recent studies.

Inhalt
Development and Applications of Wide Bandgap Semiconductors.- Fundamental Properties of Wide Bandgap Semiconductors.- Photonic Devices.- Electronic Devices.- Novel Nano-Heterostructure Materials and Related Devices.- Crystal Growth.