Introduction to the Electronic Properties of Materials

There has been an unprecedented growth of interest in the electronic properties of materials over the past thirty years. This text provides a complete and structured approach to the understanding and description of the various properties of materials which are dependent on their electronic structure, the main objective is to provide an understanding of the diverse range of electronic materials and their properties. The text begins with simple definitions to qualify the properties of interest before describing the elementary underlying physics of electrons in materials. The electrical, thermal, magnetic and optical properties are then explained on the basis of electrons in materials. Finally the engineering applications of these materials in microelectronics, optoelectronics, magnetic recording, superconductivity, transducers and radiation detection are discussed, with the description of the applications of each of these important technological areas carefully related to the underlying explanations given earlier in the text. Each chapter contains numerous problems and complete worked solutions to every one is given in the apppendicies. As with the authors previous text, Introduction to magnetism and magnetic materials, the subject area under discussion is truly multidisciplinary, spanning the traditional subject areas of physics, electrical engineering and materials science. The presentation should be of interest to two groups of students: those who have a primary interest in electronic materials and who need an introductory text as a stepping stone to more advanced texts; and those whose primary interest lies elsewhere but who would nevertheless benef it from a broad knowledge of the subject. Practising engineers in related industries seeking a comprehensive overview of the subject will also find this text invaluable.

Table of Contents:
One Fundamentals of Electrons in Materials.- 1 Properties of a material continuum.- 1.1 Relationships between macroscopic properties of materials.- 1.2 Mechanical properties.- 1.3 Electrical properties.- 1.4 Optical properties.- 1.5 Thermal properties.- 1.6 Magnetic properties.- 1.7 Relationships between various bulk properties.- 1.8 Conclusions.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- 2 Properties of atoms in materials.- 2.1 The role of atoms within a material.- 2.2 The harmonic potential model.- 2.3 Specific heat capacity.- 2.4 Conclusions.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- 3 Conduction electrons in materials - classical approach.- 3.1 Electrons as classical particles in materials.- 3.2 Electrical properties and the classical free-electron model.- 3.3 Thermal properties and the classical free-electron model.- 3.4 Optical properties of metals.- 3.5 Conclusions.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- 4 Conduction electrons in materials - quantum corrections.- 4.1 Electronic contribution to specific heat.- 4.2 Wave equation for free electrons.- 4.3 Boundary conditions: the Sommerfeld model.- 4.4 Distribution of electrons among allowed energy levels.- 4.5 Material properties predicted by the quantum free-electron model.- 4.6 Conclusions.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- 5 Bound electrons and the periodic potential.- 5.1 Models for describing electrons in materials.- 5.2 Solution of the wave equation in a one-dimensionalperiodic square-well potential.- 5.3 The origin of energy bands in solids: the tight-bindingapproximation.- 5.4 Energy bands in a solid.- 5.5 Reciprocal or wave vector k-space.- 5.6 Examples of band structure diagrams.- 5.7 Conclusions.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- Two Properties of Materials.- 6 Electronic properties of metals.- 6.1 Electrical conductivity of metals.- 6.2 Reflectance and absorption.- 6.3 The Fermi surface.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- 7 Electronic properties of semiconductors.- 7.1 Electron band structures of semiconductors.- 7.2 Intrinsic semiconductors.- 7.3 Extrinsic (or impurity) semiconductors.- 7.4 Optical properties of semiconductors.- 7.5 Photoconductivity.- 7.6 The Hall effect.- 7.7 Effective mass and mobility of charge carriers.- 7.8 Semiconductor junctions.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- 8 Electrical and thermal properties of materials.- 8.1 Macroscopic electrical properties.- 8.2 Quantum mechanical description of conduction electronbehaviour.- 8.3 Dielectric properties.- 8.4 Other effects caused by electric fields, magnetic fieldsand thermal gradients.- 8.5 Thermal properties of materials.- 8.6 Other thermal properties.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- 9 Optical properties of materials.- 9.1 Optical properties.- 9.2 Interpretation of optical properties in terms of simplifiedelectron band structure.- 9.3 Band structure determination from optical spectra.- 9.4 Photoluminescence and electroluminesence.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- 10 Magnetic properties of materials.- 10.1 Magnetism in materials.- 10.2 Types of magnetic material.- 10.3 Microscopic classification of magnetic materials.- 10.4 Band electron theory of magnetism.- 10.5 The localized electron model of magnetism.- 10.6 Applications of magnetic materials.- References.- Further Reading.- Exercises.- Three Applications of Electronic Materials.- 11 Microelectronics - semiconductor technology.- 11.1 Use of materials for specific electronic functions.- 11.2 Semiconductor materials.- 11.3 Typical semiconductor devices.- 11.4 Microelectronic semiconductor devices.- 11.5 Future improvements in semiconductors.- References.- Further Reading.- 12 Optoelectronics - solid-state optical devices.- 12.1 Electronic materials with optical functions.- 12.2 Materials for optoelectronic devices.- 12.3 Lasers.- 12.4 Fibre optics and telecommunications.- 12.5 Liquid-crystal displays.- References.- Further Reading.- 13 Quantum electronics - superconducting materials.- 13.1 Quantum effects in electrical conductivity.- 13.2 Theories of superconductivity.- 13.3 Recent developments in high-temperature superconductors.- 13.4 Applications of superconductors.- References.- Further Reading.- 14 Magnetic materials - magnetic recording technology.- 14.1 Magnetic recording of information.- 14.2 Magnetic recording materials.- 14.3 Conventional magnetic recording using particulate media.- 14.4 Magneto-optic recording.- References.- Further Reading.- 15 Electronic materials for transducers - sensors and actuators.- 15.1 Transducers.- 15.2 Transducer performance parameters.- 15.3 Transducer materials considerations.- 15.4 Ferroelectric materials.- 15.5 Ferroelectrics as transducers.- References.- Further Reading.- 16 Electronic materials for radiation detection.- 16.1 Radiation sensors.- 16.2 Gas-filled detectors.- 16.3 Semiconductor detectors.- 16.4 Scintillation detectors.- 16.5 Thermoluminescent detectors.- 16.6 Pyroelectric sensors.- References.- Further Reading.- Solutions.- Author Index.