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.
Transistors, the building blocks of modern electronics, are typically made of silicon. Because it's a semiconductor, this material can control the flow of electricity in a circuit. But silicon has fundamental physical limits ...
Condensed Matter
Sep 23, 2025
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199
Excitons, bound states between an electron (i.e., a negatively charged particle) and a hole (i.e., the absence of an electron) in materials, are a key focus of condensed matter physics studies. These bound states can give ...
Black phosphorus nanoribbons (BPNRs), thin and narrow ribbon-like strips of black phosphorus, are known to exhibit highly advantageous electronic properties, including a tunable bandgap. This essentially means that the energy ...
A study published in Molecules and led by researchers from the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences demonstrated how deep learning can streamline the identification ...
Nanophysics
Aug 21, 2025
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37
When light hits solar cells, so-called electron-hole pairs are created: the electrons are excited and can move almost freely in the material—i.e. to generate electricity. The electrons will leave 'positive gaps," so-called ...
Nanophysics
Aug 18, 2025
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106
Known for their ability to seamlessly integrate into semiconductor chips, VCSELs (vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers) are used in everything from computer mice to face-scanning hardware in smartphones. However, these ...
Optics & Photonics
Jul 29, 2025
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97
Physicists at Bielefeld University and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden) have developed a method to control atomically thin semiconductors using ultrashort light pulses. The ...
General Physics
Jul 24, 2025
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145
Quantum confinement is a physical effect that occurs when the size of a material—usually a semiconductor or conductor—is reduced to the nanoscale, thereby restricting the movement of electrons or holes.
Nanophysics
Jul 23, 2025
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105
A new method for combining magnetic elements with semiconductors—which are vital materials for computers and other electronic devices—was unveiled by a research team led by the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA.
Nanophysics
Jul 22, 2025
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49
Solar cells and computer chips need silicon layers that are as perfect as possible. Every imperfection in the crystalline structure increases the risk of reduced efficiency or defective switching processes.
Condensed Matter
Jul 22, 2025
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