The unique materials properties of GaN-based semiconductors have stimulated a great deal of interest in research and development regarding nitride materials growth and optoelectronic and nitride-based electronic devices. High electron mobility and saturation velocity, high sheet carrier concentration at heterojunction interfaces, high breakdown field, and low thermal impedance of GaN-based films grown over SiC or bulk AlN substrates make nitride-based electronic devices very promising. The chemical inertness of nitrides is another key property.This volume, written by experts on different aspects of nitride technology, addresses the entire spectrum of issues related to nitride materials and devices, and it will be useful for technologists, scientists, engineers, and graduate students who are working on wide bandgap materials and devices. The book can also be used as a supplementary text for graduate courses on wide bandgap semiconductor technology.

Based on its outstanding properties, including a wide energy band gap, high thermal conductivity, and high electron drift velocity, GaN is uniquely suited for many novel devices including solar-blind UV light detectors, high power microwave transistors, and cold cathode electron emitters. This excellent reference covers the basic physical and chemical properties, surveys existing processing technology, and presents summaries of the current state-of-the-art of devices.