The researchers say that amorphous semiconductors, which have no order and atoms are randomly distributed, are more cost-effective, easier and more uniform to manufacture.
However, traditional amorphous hydrogenated silicon used for such applications “has insufficient electrical properties and the search for new materials is necessary,” they write, published in an accelerated preview in the peer-reviewed journal Nature on Wednesday. It was stated in a paper published by
This paper has been peer-reviewed but requires further editing.
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However, the development of new generation devices is hampered by the challenge of developing suitable amorphous semiconductors.
According to the research team, the development of thin-film transistors, a technology that leads to liquid crystal displays, was driven by the creation of high-mobility amorphous n-type semiconductors.
N-type semiconductors have an excess of electrons and a small number of “holes”, where electrons within the atom move from the valence shell where they normally reside into the conduction band, where they can easily escape from the atom, creating a vacancy. .
On the other hand, P-type semiconductors have an excess of holes due to introduced impurities, which changes their electrical properties.
According to the researchers, developing p-type semiconductors for CMOS has proven to be a major challenge because the compounds used only work optimally in crystalline form.
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According to their paper, the crystalline form is “less stable, has a more complex synthesis process, has large area and heterogeneity, and is less industrially compatible” than the amorphous form.
Their proposed strategy outperforms reported new amorphous p-type semiconductors, demonstrating superior electrical performance, cost-effectiveness, high stability, scalability, and processability. their paper states.
“This work represents a significant advance toward establishing a commercially viable” amorphous p-type semiconductor in a “low-cost and industry-compatible manner,” the research team wrote. There is.
