Semiconductors are physical systems whose electrical conductivity lies between that of conductors and insulators and is strongly tunable by temperature, impurity concentration, and external fields. Their behavior is governed by band structure, featuring a finite band gap between valence and conduction bands that enables controlled carrier generation and recombination. Charge transport arises from electrons and holes, with densities modulated via doping, optical excitation, or electrostatic gating. Semiconductor systems support phenomena such as drift, diffusion, and quantum confinement, and they serve as the foundational medium for devices like diodes, transistors, and optoelectronic components through engineered heterostructures, junctions, and nanostructures.
In the rapidly evolving field of quantum computing, silicon spin qubits are emerging as a leading candidate for building scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Quantum Physics
May 12, 2025
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The use of light signals to connect electronic components is a key element of today's data communication technologies, because of the speed and efficiency that only optical devices can guarantee. Photonic integrated circuits, ...
Condensed Matter
May 7, 2025
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Wurtzite-structured crystals, characterized by their hexagonal symmetry, are widely valued for their unique electronic and piezoelectric properties—their ability to generate an electric charge when subjected to mechanical ...
Nanophysics
Apr 30, 2025
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A squishy, layered material that dramatically transforms under pressure could someday help computers store more data with less energy.
Condensed Matter
Apr 28, 2025
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Consumer electronic devices are made from materials that we have been using for more than 60 years, mainly silicon, germanium and copper. Why have semiconductor electronics become increasingly fast over this time?
Opaque materials can transmit light when excited by a high-intensity laser beam. This process, known as optical bleaching, induces a nonlinear effect that temporarily alters the properties of a material. Remarkably, when ...
Condensed Matter
Apr 16, 2025
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An international research team led by QuTech has realized a three-site Kitaev chain using semiconducting quantum dots coupled by superconducting segments in a hybrid InSb/Al nanowire. When comparing two-and three-site chains ...
Nanophysics
Mar 31, 2025
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A research team, led by Professor Jimin Kwon from the Department of Electrical Engineering at UNIST, in collaboration with Professor Yong-Young Noh and his research team from the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH, ...
Nanophysics
Mar 31, 2025
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In the quest for next-generation energy, sensing, and pigment technologies, semiconducting metal oxides like titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have emerged as essential materials due to their abundance, stability, and intriguing photophysical ...
A RIKEN study shows that squeezing the right amount of potassium ions between the atomic layers of molybdenum disulfide can turn it from a semiconductor into a metal, superconductor or insulator. The same layered material ...
Nanophysics
Mar 27, 2025
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