Grain boundaries are important structural components of polycrystalline materials used in the vast majority of technical applications. Because grain boundaries form a continuous network throughout such materials, their properties may limit their practical use. One of the serious phenomena which evoke these limitations is the grain boundary segregation of impurities. It results in the loss of grain boundary cohesion and consequently, in brittle fracture of the materials. The current book deals with fundamentals of grain boundary segregation in metallic materials and its relationship to the grain boundary structure, classification and other materials properties.

This book summarizes the most recent aspects of polycrystalline semiconductors as presented at the conference Polycrystalline Semiconductors - Grain Boundaries and Interfaces. It contains 12 review articles on selected topics written by experts in their fields and 41 complementary contributed papers. The structure, chemistry and physics of grain boundaries and other interfaces are experimentally and theoretically studied. Aspects of the technologically important polycrystalline silicon are discussed in detail. Also covered are other polycrystalline semiconductors, germanium and compound semiconductors, that are currently of interest in fundamental research and in the technology of solar cells and thin film devices. Anyone interested in polycrystalline semiconductors will be able to use this comprehensive collection to advantage. It also suggests directions for new research and development.

Because of the continuous evolution of integrated circuit manufacturing (ICM) and design for manufacturability (DfM), most books on the subject are obsolete before they even go to press. That’s why the field requires a reference that takes the focus off of numbers and concentrates more on larger economic concepts than on technical details. Semiconductors: Integrated Circuit Design for Manufacturability covers the gradual evolution of integrated circuit design (ICD) as a basis to propose strategies for improving return-on-investment (ROI) for ICD in manufacturing. Where most books put the spotlight on detailed engineering enhancements and their implications for device functionality, in contrast, this one offers, among other things, crucial, valuable historical background and roadmapping, all illustrated with examples. Presents actual test cases that illustrate product challenges, examine possible solution strategies, and demonstrate how to select and implement the right one This book shows that DfM is a powerful generic engineering concept with potential extending beyond its usual application in automated layout enhancements centered on proximity correction and pattern density. This material explores the concept of ICD for production by breaking down its major steps: product definition, design, layout, and manufacturing. Averting extended discussion of technology, techniques, or specific device dimensions, the author also avoids the clumsy chapter architecture that can hinder other books on this subject. The result is an extremely functional, systematic presentation that simplifies existing approaches to DfM, outlining a clear set of criteria to help readers assess reliability, functionality, and yield. With careful consideration of the economic and technical trade-offs involved in ICD for manufacturing, this reference addresses techniques for physical, electrical, and logical design, keeping coverage fresh and concise for the designers, manufacturers, and researchers defining product architecture and research programs.

The utilization of sun light is one of the hottest topics in sustainable energy research. To efficiently convert sun power into a reliable energy – electricity – for consumption and storage, silicon and its derivatives have been widely studied and applied in solar cell systems. This handbook covers the photovoltaics of silicon materials and devices, providing a comprehensive summary of the state of the art of photovoltaic silicon sciences and technologies. This work is divided into various areas including but not limited to fundamental principles, design methodologies, wafering techniques/fabrications, characterizations, applications, current research trends and challenges. It offers the most updated and self-explanatory reference to all levels of students and acts as a quick reference to the experts from the fields of chemistry, material science, physics, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, solar energy, etc..

Grain boundaries are a main feature of crystalline materials. They play a key role in determining the properties of materials, especially when grain size decreases and even more so with the current improvements of processing tools and methods that allow us to control various elements in a polycrystal. This book presents the theoretical basis of the study of grain boundaries and aims to open up new lines of research in this area. The treatment is light on mathematical approaches while emphasizing practical examples; the issues they raise are discussed with reference to theories. The general approach of the book has two main goals: to lead the reader from the concept of ‘ideal’ to ‘real’ grain boundaries; to depart from established knowledge and address the opportunities emerging through "grain boundary engineering", the control of morphological and crystallographic features that affect material properties. The book is divided in three parts: I ‘From interganular order to disorder’ deals with the concept of the perfect grain boundary, at equilibrium, and questions the maintenance of its crystalline state. II ‘From the ideal to the real grain boundary’ deals with the concept of the faulted grain boundary. It attempts to reveal the influence of the grain boundary structure on its defects, their formation and their accommodation. III ‘From free to constrained grain boundaries’ is devoted to grain boundary ensembles starting from the triple junction (the elemental configuration) to real grain boundary networks in polycrystals This part covers a new and topical development in the field. It presents for the first time an avenue for researchers working on macroscopic aspects, to approach the scale of description of grain boundaries. Audience: graduate students, researchers and engineers in Materials Science and all those scientists pursuing grain boundary engineering in order to improve materials performance.