The semiconductor ZnO has gained substantial interest in the research community in part because of its large exciton binding energy (60meV) which could lead to lasing action based on exciton recombination even above room temperature. Even though research focusing on ZnO goes back many decades, the renewed interest is fueled by availability of high-quality substrates and reports of p-type conduction and ferromagnetic behavior when doped with transitions metals, both of which remain controversial. It is this renewed interest in ZnO which forms the basis of this review. As mentioned already, ZnO is not new to the semiconductor field, with studies of its lattice parameter dating back to 1935 by Bunn [Proc. Phys. Soc. London 47, 836 (1935)], studies of its vibrational properties with Raman scattering in 1966 by Damen et al. [Phys. Rev. 142, 570 (1966)], detailed optical studies in 1954 by Mollwo [Z. Angew. Phys. 6, 257 (1954)], and its growth by chemical-vapor transport in 1970 by Galli and Coker [Appl. Phys. ...

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A comprehensive review of zno materials and devices

The optical constants of amorphous Ge are determined for the photon energies from 0.08 to 1.6 eV. From 0.08 to 0.5 eV, the absorption is due to k-conserving transitions of holes between the valence bands as in p-type crystals; the spin-orbit splitting is found to be 0.20 and 0.21 eV in non-annealed, and annealed samples respectively. The effective masses of the holes in the three bands are 0.49 m (respectively 0.43 m); 0.04 m, and 0.08 m. An absorption band is observed below the main absorption edge (at 300 °K the maximum of this band is at 0.86 eV); the absorption in this band increases with increasing temperature. This band is considered to be due to excitons bound to neutral acceptors, and these are presumably the same ones that play a decisive role in the transport properties and which are considered to be associated with vacancies. The absorption edge has the form: ω2ϵ2∼(hω−Eg)2 (Eg = 0.88 eV at 300 °K). This suggests that the optical transitions conserve energy but not k vector, and that the densities of states near the band extrema have the same energy-dependence as in crystalline Ge. A simple theory describing this situation is proposed, and comparison of it with the experimental results leads to an estimate of the localization of the conduction-band wavefunctions.

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Optical Properties and Electronic Structure of Amorphous Germanium

We present a comprehensive, up-to-date compilation of band parameters for the technologically important III–V zinc blende and wurtzite compound semiconductors: GaAs, GaSb, GaP, GaN, AlAs, AlSb, AlP, AlN, InAs, InSb, InP, and InN, along with their ternary and quaternary alloys. Based on a review of the existing literature, complete and consistent parameter sets are given for all materials. Emphasizing the quantities required for band structure calculations, we tabulate the direct and indirect energy gaps, spin-orbit, and crystal-field splittings, alloy bowing parameters, effective masses for electrons, heavy, light, and split-off holes, Luttinger parameters, interband momentum matrix elements, and deformation potentials, including temperature and alloy-composition dependences where available. Heterostructure band offsets are also given, on an absolute scale that allows any material to be aligned relative to any other.

Band parameters for III–V compound semiconductors and their alloys

Metal halides perovskites, such as hybrid organic–inorganic CH3NH3PbI3, are newcomer optoelectronic materials that have attracted enormous attention as solution-deposited absorbing layers in solar cells with power conversion efficiencies reaching 20%. Herein we demonstrate a new avenue for halide perovskites by designing highly luminescent perovskite-based colloidal quantum dot materials. We have synthesized monodisperse colloidal nanocubes (4–15 nm edge lengths) of fully inorganic cesium lead halide perovskites (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, and I or mixed halide systems Cl/Br and Br/I) using inexpensive commercial precursors. Through compositional modulations and quantum size-effects, the bandgap energies and emission spectra are readily tunable over the entire visible spectral region of 410–700 nm. The photoluminescence of CsPbX3 nanocrystals is characterized by narrow emission line-widths of 12–42 nm, wide color gamut covering up to 140% of the NTSC color standard, high quantum yields of up to 90%, and radiativ...

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Nanocrystals of Cesium Lead Halide Perovskites (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, and I): Novel Optoelectronic Materials Showing Bright Emission with Wide Color Gamut

Raman spectroscopy is an integral part of graphene research. It is used to determine the number and orientation of layers, the quality and types of edge, and the effects of perturbations, such as electric and magnetic fields, strain, doping, disorder and functional groups. This, in turn, provides insight into all sp(2)-bonded carbon allotropes, because graphene is their fundamental building block. Here we review the state of the art, future directions and open questions in Raman spectroscopy of graphene. We describe essential physical processes whose importance has only recently been recognized, such as the various types of resonance at play, and the role of quantum interference. We update all basic concepts and notations, and propose a terminology that is able to describe any result in literature. We finally highlight the potential of Raman spectroscopy for layered materials other than graphene.

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Raman spectroscopy as a versatile tool for studying the properties of graphene

Fundamentals of Semiconductors

Light Scattering in Solids II

We have studied the number and nature of the silicon-hydrogen bonds in amorphous silicon films prepared in plasmas either of silane or of hydrogen and argon. The films from silane glow discharges have qualitatively different Raman and infrared spectra which depend on deposition parameters such as substrate temperature and silane gas pressure. Three main groups of spectral bands are seen associated with the Si-H bonds: the Si-H bond stretch bands, the bands due to relative bending of two or three Si-H bonds with a common silicon atom, and the "wagging" bands of Si-H bonds with respect to the Si matrix. These bands are split in a way suggestive of the presence of SiH, Si${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, and Si${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ complexes: the bond-bending bands are absent when only SiH bonds are present. All three types of complexes are identified in films deposited from glow discharges of silane at pressures \ensuremath{\sim} 1 Torr and room temperature. Higher substrate temperatures and/or lower pressures reduce the Si${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and Si${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ concentrations: films deposited at 250\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and 0.1 Torr contain only SiH groups. From the strength of the corresponding absorption bands, H concentrations as high as 35 to 52 atomic percent are estimated. Films sputtered at 200\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C in a 10% ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$-90% Ar mixture contain all three groupings observed in the silane-derived samples. Deuterated sputtered films are used to confirm the analysis. The first- and second-order Raman scattering spectra of the Si-Si bonds in pure and hydrogenated $a\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}$ are also discussed. The scattering efficiency of $a\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}$ is found to be as much as 10 times that of crystal Si. The depolarization ratio of the $a\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}$ Raman spectrum has been remeasured. Finally, a picture is presented of when it is appropriate to refer to heavily hydrogenated $a\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}$ as still being a material describable by $a\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}$ network models.

Infrared and Raman spectra of the silicon-hydrogen bonds in amorphous silicon prepared by glow discharge and sputtering

Electronic Band Structures.- Vibrational Properties of Semiconductors, and Electron-Phonon Interactions.- Electronic Properties of Defects.- Electrical Transport.- Optical Properties I.- Optical Properties II.- Photoelectron Spectroscopy.- Effect of Quantum Confinement on Electrons and Phonons in Semiconductors.

Manuel Cardona

Papers

Fundamentals of Semiconductors

Light Scattering in Solids II

Infrared and Raman spectra of the silicon-hydrogen bonds in amorphous silicon prepared by glow discharge and sputtering

Fundamentals of Semiconductors: Physics and Materials Properties

Light Scattering in Solids V