Development of the physical insight into the nature of the factors that control electrophysical and other properties of semiconductors

Abstract

Evolution of the physical insight into the nature of main factors that influence the energy band structure formation in semiconductors, and, hence, their basic electrophysical, optical, thermoelectrical and even mechanical properties, is reviewed. These factors are: - dopant and residual impurities, intrinsic point defects, elongated defects (of the dislocation type), - electrically active thermal donors and other complexes that are formed due to direct impurity-impurity or impurity-defect interaction. Keywords: electron transport, point defect complex, impurity-impurity interaction, impurity-defect interaction.