Introduction

Abstract

In this chapter we have introduced the wide class of materials referred to as semiconductors and we have mentioned the large range of structural and physical properties they can have. Most of the semiconductors used in science and modern technology are single crystals, with a very high degree of perfection and purity. They are grown as bulk three-dimensional crystals or as thin, two-dimensional epitaxial layers on bulk crystals which serve as substrates. Among the techniques for growing bulk crystals that we have briefly discussed are the Czochralski and Bridgman methods. Epitaxial techniques for growing two-dimensional samples introduced in this chapter include chemical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, and liquid phase epitaxy. Self-organized two-dimensional lattices of quantum dots can also be grown with epitaxial techniques.