As is well known, Silicon widely dominates the market of semiconductor devices and circuits, and in particular is well suited for Ultra Large Scale Integration processes. However, a number of III-V compound semiconductor devices and circuits have recently been built, and the contributions in this volume are devoted to those types of materials, which offer a number of interesting properties. Taking into account the great variety of problems encountered and of their mutual correlations when fabricating a circuit or even a device, most of the aspects of III-V microelectronics, from fundamental physics to modelling and technology, from materials to devices and circuits are reviewed. Containing contributions from European researchers of international repute this volume is the definitive reference source for anyone interested in the latest advances and results of current experimental research in III-V microelectronics.

Silicon-based microelectronics has steadily improved in various performance-to-cost metrics. But after decades of processor scaling, fundamental limitations and considerable new challenges have emerged. The integration of compound semiconductors is the leading candidate to address many of these issues and to continue the relentless pursuit of more

This book describes advanced epitaxial growth and self-aligned processing techniques for the fabrication of III-V semiconductor devices such as heterojunction bipolar transistors and high electron mobility transistors. It is the first book to describe the use of carbon-doping and low damage dry etching techniques that have proved indispensable in making reliable, high performance devices. These devices are used in many applications such as cordless telephones and high speed lightwave communication systems.

GaAs processing has reached a mature stage. New semiconductor compounds are emerging that will dominate future materials and device research, although the processing techniques used for GaAs will still remain relevant. This book covers all aspects of the current state of the art of III-V processing, with emphasis on HBTs. It is aimed at practicing

This is the first book to describe thoroughly the many facets of doping in compound semiconductors. Equal emphasis is given to the fundamental materials physics and to the technological aspects of doping. The author describes various doping techniques, including doping during epitaxial growth, doping by implantation, and doping by diffusion. The key characteristics of all dopants that have been employed in III-V semiconductors are discussed. In addition, general characteristics of dopants are analyzed, including the electrical activity, saturation, amphotericity, autocompensation, and maximum attainable dopant concentration. Redistribution effects are important in semiconductor microstructures. Linear and non-linear diffusion, different microscopic diffusion mechanisms, surface segregation, surface drift, surface migration, impurity-induced disordering, and the respective physical driving mechanisms are illustrated. Topics related to basic impurity theory include the hydrogenic model for shallow impurities, linear screening, density of states, classical and quantum statistics, the law of mass action, as well as many analytic approximations for the Fermi-Dirac integral for three-, two- and one dimensional systems. The timely topic of highly doped semiconductors, including band tails, impurity bands, bandgap renormalization, the Mott transition, and the Burstein-Moss shift, is discussed as well. Doping is essential in many semiconductor heterostructures including high-mobility selectively doped heterostructures, quantum well and quantum barrier structures, doping superlattice structures and d-doping structures. Technologically important deep levels are summarized, including Fe, Cr, and the DX-center, the EL2 defect, and rare-earth impurities. The properties of deep levels are presented phenomenologically, including emission, capture, Shockley-Read recombination, the Poole-Frenkel effect, lattice relaxation, and other effects. The final chapter is dedicated to the experimental characterization of impurities. This book will be of interest to graduate students, researchers and development engineers in the fields of electrical engineering, materials science, physics, and chemistry working on semiconductors. The book may also be used as a text for graduate courses in electrical engineering and materials science.

This timely and authoritative book addresses the fact that semiconductor devices are fast reaching their theoretical limit in size, and what this means to the future evolution and even survival of the electronics industry. Uniting microelectronics experts from all areas of the industry, this title details the future research items required if the electronics industry is to continue its expansion.

This practical book shows how an understanding of structure, thermodynamics, and electrical properties can explain some of the choices of materials used in microelectronics, and can assist in the design of new materials for specific applications. It emphasizes the importance of the phase chemistry of semiconductor and metal systems for ensuring the long-term stability of new devices. The book discusses single-crystal and polycrystalline silicon, aluminium- and gold-based metallisation schemes, packaging semiconductor devices, failure analysis, and the suitability of various materials for optoelectronic devices and solar cells. It has been designed for senior undergraduates, graduates, and researchers in physics, electronic engineering, and materials science.