Semiconductors Overview

Principles

Definition

Semiconductors is the academic field of study concerned with materials possessing electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators, investigating their unique electronic band structure, charge carrier behavior, and methods for controlling conductivity through doping and external stimuli, which is fundamental to the design and fabrication of electronic components and integrated circuits essential for modern technology.

Ontological type

Electronic Band Structure

Doping and Defects

Semiconductor Devices

Key developments

Key Figures

Band-Structure and Defects era

Steven G. Louie [1] was active at the University of Pennsylvania [3] and the University of California, Berkeley [4] during this era. His key contributions in this era include advancing band-structure concepts through electron-correlation insights and quasiparticle-energy calculations, as evidenced by Electron correlation in semiconductors and insulators: Band gaps and quasiparticle energies [7] and First-Principles Theory of Quasiparticles: Calculation of Band Gaps in Semiconductors and Insulators [8]. D. S. Chemla [2] was affiliated with Stanford University [5] and Université Paris-Sud [6] during this era. His contributions include the electric field dependence of optical absorption near the band gap in quantum-well structures [9], the theory of transient excitonic optical nonlinearities in semiconductor quantum-well structures [10], and room-temperature excitonic nonlinear-optical effects in semiconductor quantum-well structures [11], which collectively advanced understanding of optical nonlinearities and exciton dynamics in this era.

Surface and Interface Engineering era

Georg Kresse [1] is associated with Lund University [3] and the University of Vienna [4] during this era. His contribution on Efficiency of ab-initio total energy calculations for metals and semiconductors using a plane-wave basis set [7] advanced ab Initio methods by enabling efficient, scalable modeling of electronic structure in metals and semiconductors, underpinning later surface and interface studies in this era. Moungi G. Bawendi [2] is associated with Harvard University [5] and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [6] during this era. His papers include Synthesis and characterization of nearly monodisperse CdE (E = sulfur, selenium, tellurium) semiconductor nanocrystallites [8], Electroluminescence from CdSe quantum-dot/polymer composites [9], and Luminescence properties of CdSe quantum crystallites: Resonance between interior and surface localized states [10], together shaping colloidal nanocrystal synthesis and device integration in this era.

Van der Waals Semiconductors era

Tsutomu Miyasaka [1] has been associated with Toin University of Yokohama [3] and the University of Oxford [4] during this era. Organometal Halide Perovskites as Visible-Light Sensitizers for Photovoltaic Cells [7] helped catalyze the rapid growth of solution-processed, high-efficiency photovoltaics and broadened the applications of hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductors in this era. Haibo Zeng [2] has been associated with The University of Osaka [5] and McGill University [6] during this era. CsPbX3 Quantum Dots for Lighting and Displays [8] and Atomically Thin Arsenene and Antimonene [9] mark key contributions, advancing room-temperature synthesis and tunable band-gap transitions in 2D van der Waals semiconductors and supporting the development of broadband, self-powered optoelectronic platforms in this era.