This book presents experimental results on the structural and electronic metastable states in Se-rich chalcogenides. Coverage includes states in the mobility gap, structural transformation, photocrystallization, and many potential related applications.

This book provides introductory, comprehensive, and concise descriptions of amorphous chalcogenide semiconductors and related materials. It includes comparative portraits of the chalcogenide and related materials including amorphous hydrogenated Si, oxide and halide glasses, and organic polymers. It also describes effects of non-equilibrium disorder, in comparison with those in crystalline semiconductors.

Amorphous chalcogenide semiconductors have commercial value and have many uses such as image formation, including x-rays, and high-definition TV pick up tubes. They have widespread application in the microelectronics industry and amorphous metallic alloys also have useful magnetic properties. This book focuses on their imaging applications and related properties. It examines the two groups of amorphous semiconductors that are of most commercial interest: the chalcogenide glasses the tetrahedrally bonded amorphous solids such as amorphous silicon, germanium and related alloys Both of these groups may be conveniently prepared in the form of thin/thick films which is of considerable importance in applications where large-area coverage of flat or curved surfaces of rigid or flexible materials is desirable such as in photovoltaic arrays, X-Ray sensors, display screens and photocopier drums. Provides information on the amorphous semiconductors that are of most commercial interest Presents the history of the commercial applications, the latest developments and future possibilities

Amorphous semiconductors are subtances in the amorphous solid state that have the properties of a semiconductor and which are either covalent or tetrahedrally bonded amorphous semiconductors or chelcogenide glasses. Developed from both a theoretical and experimental viewpoint Deals with, amongst others, preparation techniques, structural, optical and electronic properties, and light induced phenomena Explores different types of amorphous semiconductors including amorphous silicon, amorphous semiconducting oxides and chalcogenide glasses Applications include solar cells, thin film transistors, sensors, optical memory devices and flat screen devices including televisions

A review summarising the current state of research in the field, bridging the gaps in the existing literature. All the chapters are written by world leaders in research and development and guide readers through the details of photo-induced metastability and the results of the latest experiments and simulations not found in standard monographs on this topic. A useful reference not only for graduates but also for scientific and industrial researchers. With a foreword of Kazunobu Tanaka

There is a major international interest in thin film materials and devices, Future Directions in Thin Film Science and Technology stimulated by important current and projected applications in many areas of information technology and other fields, constitutes the proceedings of the Ninth International School on Condensed Matter Physics. It features invited review articles by over 40 scientists of international repute, covering many aspects of thin film science and technology. Also included is a broad selection of shorter contributed papers by other participants, describing results of their recent research.The book will be of interest to postgraduate students and established scientists involved in the fabrication, characterisation, and applications of thin film materials and devices. The invited reviews will also be of value to final year undergraduates in physics, materials science, and electronic engineering studying many areas of contemporary solid state technology.

This comprehensive, detailed treatise on the physics and applications of the new emerging technology of amorphous semiconductors focuses on specific device research problems such as the optimization of device performance. The first part of the book presents hydrogenated amorphous silicon type alloys, whose applications include inexpensive solar cells, thin film transistors, image scanners, electrophotography, optical recording and gas sensors. The second part of the book discusses amorphous chalcogenides, whose applications include electrophotography, switching, and memory elements. This book will serve as an excellent reference source for solid state scientists and engineers, and as a useful self-contained introduction to the field for graduate students.

A state-of-the-art description of metastability observed in chalcogenide alloys is presented with the accent on the underlying physics. A comparison is made between sulphur(selenium)-based chalcogenide glasses, where numerous photo-induced phenomena take place entirely within the amorphous phase, and tellurides where a reversible crystal-to-amorphous phase-change transformation is a major effect. Applications of metastability in devices¿optical memories and nonvolatile electronic phase-change random-access memories among others are discussed, including the latest trends. Background material essential for understanding current research in the field is also provided.

Landmark contributions to science and mechanisms for the origin of the phenomena, and technology are rarely recognized at the time of reached important conclusions about the physical publication. Few people, even in technical areas, nature of the materials at equilibrium and their recogni zed the importance of developments such as electronic nonequilibrium properties. Many of these the transistor, the laser, or electrophotography ideas were condensed into a publication for Physical until well after their successful demonstration. Review Letters, paper 1 in this collection. This So-called experts, in fact, tend to resist new paper immediately attracted attention to the field, inventions, a natural instinct based on a combina and directly lead to the initiation of large research tion of fear of obsolescent expertise and jealousy efforts at both industrial laboratories and univer- arising from lack of active participation in the ties throughout the world. Inevitably, there was discovery. the usual amount of controversy, with many experts Denigration of new ideas is a relatively simultaneously taking positions (2) and (3) above. safe modus operandi, since the vast majority It has now been well over 20 years since eventually are abandoned well short of commerciality. the original publication date, and an objective view However, a successful device can be identified by can be taken in hindsight.