Amorphous semiconductors: structure, optical, and electrical properties

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to a survey of the structural, optical optical property and electrical properties electrical properties of amorphous semiconductors amorphous semiconductor on the basis of their fundamental understanding. These properties are important for various types of applications using amorphous semiconductors. First, we review general aspects of the electronic states and defects in amorphous semiconductors amorphous semiconductor, i. e., a-Si:H and related materials, and chalcogenide glass chalcogenide glasses, and their structural, optical and electrical properties. Further, we survey the two types of phenomena associated with amorphous structure, i. e., light-induced phenomena light-induced phenomena, and quantum phenomena associated with nanosized amorphous structure. The former are important from the viewpoint of amorphous-silicon solar cell solar cells. The latter phenomena promise novel applications of amorphous semiconductors from the viewpoint of nanotechnology. nanotechnology.