Nanostructured silicon-germanium (SiGe) opens up the prospects of novel and enhanced electronic device performance, especially for semiconductor devices. Silicon-germanium (SiGe) nanostructures reviews the materials science of nanostructures and their properties and applications in different electronic devices. The introductory part one covers the structural properties of SiGe nanostructures, with a further chapter discussing electronic band structures of SiGe alloys. Part two concentrates on the formation of SiGe nanostructures, with chapters on different methods of crystal growth such as molecular beam epitaxy and chemical vapour deposition. This part also includes chapters covering strain engineering and modelling. Part three covers the material properties of SiGe nanostructures, including chapters on such topics as strain-induced defects, transport properties and microcavities and quantum cascade laser structures. In Part four, devices utilising SiGe alloys are discussed. Chapters cover ultra large scale integrated applications, MOSFETs and the use of SiGe in different types of transistors and optical devices. With its distinguished editors and team of international contributors, Silicon-germanium (SiGe) nanostructures is a standard reference for researchers focusing on semiconductor devices and materials in industry and academia, particularly those interested in nanostructures. Reviews the materials science of nanostructures and their properties and applications in different electronic devices Assesses the structural properties of SiGe nanostructures, discussing electronic band structures of SiGe alloys Explores the formation of SiGe nanostructuresfeaturing different methods of crystal growth such as molecular beam epitaxy and chemical vapour deposition

Silicon and germanium present distinct and interesting transport properties. However, composites made of silicon-germanium (SiGe) have resulted in a breakthrough in terms of their transport properties. Currently, these alloys are used in different applications, such as microelectronic devices and integrated circuits, photovoltaic cells, and thermoelectric applications. With respect to thermoelectricity, in the last decades, Si0.8Ge0.2 has attracted significant attention as an energy harvesting material, for powering space applications and other industrial applications. This chapter focuses on the recent advances and new approaches in silicon-germanium (Si1−xGex) nanostructures for thermoelectric devices with high thermoelectric efficiency obtained through magnetron sputtering.

The industrial relevance of SiGe has increased dramatically in the last few years with the manufacture of heterojunction bipolar circuits for the commercial wireless and datacomms markets by IBM and TEMIC. Major high technology companies see the development and use of SiGe as an important part of their strategy, so that there is a strong impetus to improve its characterization and exploitation. This liberally illustrated and fully indexed volume distills in a homogeneous, structured way the expertise of some 40 invited authors to comprehensively review the whole range of properties as well as SiGe; C, self-assembled nanostructures, quantum effects and device trends.

The industrial relevance of SiGe has increased dramatically in the last few years with the manufacture of heterojunction bipolar circuits for the commercial wireless and datacomms markets by IBM and TEMIC, with over 20 companies planning manufacture in the near future. Major high technology companies see the development and use of SiGe as an important part of their strategy, so that there is a strong impetus to improve its characterization and exploitation. This liberally illustrated and fully indexed volume distils in a homogeneous, structured way the expertise of some 40 invited authors to comprehensively review the whole range of properties as well as SiGe: C, self-assembled nanostructures, quantum effects and device trends. The book contains 75% more text than Prof. Kasper's earlier book Properties of strained and relaxed SiGe (INSPEC, IEE, 1995), thoroughly updates its content and adds many new topics.

This book focuses on advances in materials science and device applications of nanostructures composed of Si, Ge, diamond, SiGe and SiCGe. Continuous progress in the development of reproducibly grown quantum dots, wires and wells has produced a new class of functional materials and devices with characteristic dimensions less than 50nm. The broad spectrum of these devices ranges from commercially offered high-mobility transistors using strained Si to exploratory SiGe nanostructures for integrated optical interconnects and THz lasers. This book brings together researchers from chemistry, physics, biology, materials science and engineering to share and discuss both the challenges and progress towards a new generation of Si(SiGe, SiCGe)-based novel functional structures and devices. Topics include: light emission and photonic devices; Ge, SiGe and diamond nanostructures; strains, Si/Ge films and layers and Si nanocrystals.