Showing papers in "Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences in 1986"

Fractal scaling in thin film condensation and material surfaces

Abstract: Surfaces and interfaces play a crucial role in a very broad spectrum of natural and commercial processes involving solid materials. It is common to idealize the geometry of these surfaces by smooth planes. However, only in very rare cases (such as mica or carefully prepared low index single crystal faces) are surfaces smooth down to atomic length scales. In some cases, the deviations from the idealized planar geometry are small and we can think in terms of various types of “defects” in an otherwise perfect surface. As the defect density becomes larger, interactions between defects become important and the “isolated defect” picture becomes less useful.

Schottky barrier formation on iii-v semiconductor surfaces: A critical evaluation

Abstract: More than 100 years ago, Braun' reported that the point contacts between a thin metal wire and a crystal showed a resistance dependent on the polarity of the applied voltage. The first metal-semiconductor (MS) rectifying contact had been detected. Since then, the MS interface has played an important role in many technological developments. However, a full understanding of the physics behind the barrier height has so far been elusive. and it remains a very active research field today.

The physics and applications of n-i-p-i doping superlattices

Abstract: The idea of fabricating “artificial” semiconductors with novel electronic properties by introducing a superlattice was put forward independently by a number of authors around 1970.1–8 Two different schemes were considered in order to introduce a periodic superlattice potential: the “compositional superlattice”, made by alternating between ultrathin layers of different semiconductor material, and the “doping superlattice” which, in the most general case, consists of a periodic sequence n- and p-doped layers with intrinsic regions in between (n-i-p-i crystals) grown C:.:m an otherwise uniform semiconductor. Although they had pro- posed both schemes in their first publication, Esaki and Tsu1 gave preference to compositional superlattices for their subsequent experimental investigations9 because of the unfavorable properties associated with dopants as free-carrier scattering centers and because of expected impurity diffusion.6 In 1972, Dohler performed the first detailed theoretical study of a doping...

Memory effects in semicrystalline polymers

Abstract: In amorphous and semicrystalline (SC) polymers, it is well known that the morphological and mechanical properties of the solid state depend on the thermal treatment after solidification.1-3

Polymeric optical disk recording media

Abstract: High-speed, instantaneous optical recording by use of a laser is finally emerging from the laboratory as a powerful new technology for information storage. The technique offers the capability for low-cost, high-capacity data storage with rapid. random-access retrieval. Materials that have been evaluated for laser marking vary from thin metal films (particularly tellurium [Te] and its alloys) to organiclpolymeric-based systems. The challenge to find appropriate materials is a significant one — high marking sensitivity at an appropriate wavelength coupled with long-term stability of the recording medium and the recorded information. The medium must support several other important performance considerations. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of recorded information should be high to facilitate data retrieval, and the defect density level should be extremely low to minimize errors. It is desirable for the medium to be read immediately (microseconds) after the marking event (direct read after write [DRA...