JAP: Applied Physics Reviews and Focused Reviews

High performance ferroelectric relaxor-PbTiO single crystals: Status and perspective

Shujun Zhang and Fei Li
Ferroelectrics are essential components in a wide range of applications, including ultrasonic transducers, sensors, and actuators. In the single crystal form, relaxor-PbTiO (PT) piezoelectric materials have been extensively studied due to their ultrahigh piezoelectric and electromechanical propertie ... [J. Appl. Phys. 111, 031301 (2012)] published Tue Feb 7, 2012.

Gauge fields in spintronics

T. Fujita, M. B. A. Jalil, S. G. Tan, and S. Murakami
We present an overview of gauge fields in spintronics, focusing on their origin and physical consequences. Important topics, such as the Berry gauge field associated with adiabatic quantum evolution as well as gauge fields arising from other non-adiabatic considerations, are discussed. We examine th ... [J. Appl. Phys. 110, 121301 (2011)] published Thu Dec 22, 2011.

Photoluminescence of deep defects involving transition metals in Si: New insights from highly enriched Si

M. Steger, A. Yang, T. Sekiguchi, K. Saeedi, M. L. W. Thewalt et al.
Deep luminescence centers in Si associated with transition metals have been studied for decades, both as markers for these deleterious contaminants, as well as for the possibility of efficient Si-based light emission. They are among the most ubiquitous luminescence centers observed in Si, and have s ... [J. Appl. Phys. 110, 081301 (2011)] published Mon Oct 31, 2011.

Electrical transport mechanisms in three dimensional ensembles of silicon quantum dots

I. Balberg
In this review, we try to derive a comprehensive understanding of the transport mechanisms in three dimensional ensembles of Si quantum dots (QDs) that are embedded in an insulating matrix. This understanding is based on our systematic electrical measurements as a function of the density of Si nanoc ... [J. Appl. Phys. 110, 061301 (2011)] published Thu Sep 29, 2011.

Will we exceed 50% efficiency in photovoltaics?

Antonio Luque
Solar energy is the most abundant and reliable source of energy we have to provide for the multi-terawatt challenge we are facing. Although huge, this resource is relatively dispersed. High conversion efficiency is probably necessary for cost effectiveness. Solar cell efficiencies above 40% have bee ... [J. Appl. Phys. 110, 031301 (2011)] published Mon Aug 8, 2011.

The third-order nonlinear optical coefficients of Si, Ge, and SiGe in the midwave and longwave infrared

Nick K. Hon, Richard Soref, and Bahram Jalali
Using a combination of semiconductor theory and experimental results from the scientific literature, we have compiled and plotted the key third-order nonlinear optical coefficients of bulk crystalline Si and Ge as a function of wavelength (1.56.7 [mu]m for Si and 214.7 [mu]m for Ge). The real part o ... [J. Appl. Phys. 110, 011301 (2011)] published Thu Jul 14, 2011.

ZnO Schottky barriers and Ohmic contacts

Leonard J. Brillson and Yicheng Lu
ZnO has emerged as a promising candidate for optoelectronic and microelectronic applications, whose development requires greater understanding and control of their electronic contacts. The rapid pace of ZnO research over the past decade has yielded considerable new information on the nature of ZnO i ... [J. Appl. Phys. 109, 121301 (2011)] published Thu Jun 23, 2011.

Tunable, continuous-wave Terahertz photomixer sources and applications

S. Preu, G. H. Dohler, S. Malzer, L. J. Wang, and A. C. Gossard
This review is focused on the latest developments in continuous-wave (CW) photomixing for Terahertz (THz) generation. The first part of the paper explains the limiting factors for operation at high frequencies ~ 1 THz, namely transit time or lifetime roll-off, antenna (R)-device (C) RC roll-off, cur ... [J. Appl. Phys. 109, 061301 (2011)] published Tue Mar 22, 2011.

Two-dimensional carbon nanostructures: Fundamental properties, synthesis, characterization, and potential applications

Y. H. Wu, T. Yu, and Z. X. Shen
Since its discovery in less than five years ago, graphene has become one of the hottest frontiers in materials science and condensed matter physics, as evidenced by the exponential increase in number of publications in this field. Several reviews have already been published on this topic, focusing o ... [J. Appl. Phys. 108, 071301 (2010)] published Wed Oct 13, 2010.

A thermodynamic analysis of native point defect and dopant solubilities in zinc-blende IIIV semiconductors

D. T. J. Hurle
A thermodynamic model is used to analyze available experimental data relevant to point defects in the binary zinc-blende IIIV compounds (Ga,In)-(P,As,Sb). The important point defects and their complexes in each of the materials are identified and included in the model. Essentially all of the availab ... [J. Appl. Phys. 107, 121301 (2010)] published Mon Jun 21, 2010.

Ion and electron irradiation-induced effects in nanostructured materials

A. V. Krasheninnikov and K. Nordlund
A common misconception is that the irradiation of solids with energetic electrons and ions has exclusively detrimental effects on the properties of target materials. In addition to the well-known cases of doping of bulk semiconductors and ion beam nitriding of steels, recent experiments show that ir ... [J. Appl. Phys. 107, 071301 (2010)] published Tue Apr 6, 2010.

On the shock response of cubic metals

N. K. Bourne, G. T. Gray, III, and J. C. F. Millett
The response of four cubic metals to shock loading is reviewed in order to understand the effects of microstructure on continuum response. Experiments are described that link defect generation and storage mechanisms at the mesoscale to observations in the bulk. Four materials were reviewed; these we ... [J. Appl. Phys. 106, 091301 (2009)] published Fri Nov 6, 2009.

Microporous inorganic membranes for high temperature hydrogen purification

Junhang Dong, Y. S. Lin, Masakoto Kanezashi, and Zhong Tang
The general mechanisms of gas separation in microporous inorganic membranes are reviewed in this article. Emphasis has been placed on discussing the requirements of membrane pore structure and material properties for high temperature hydrogen separation from other small gases involved in processes o ... [J. Appl. Phys. 104, 121301 (2008)] published Thu Dec 18, 2008.

A critical literature review of focused electron beam induced deposition

W. F. van Dorp and C. W. Hagen
An extensive review is given of the results from literature on electron beam induced deposition. Electron beam induced deposition is a complex process, where many and often mutually dependent factors are involved. The process has been studied by many over many years in many different experimental se ... [J. Appl. Phys. 104, 081301 (2008)] published Fri Oct 17, 2008.

Small-scale energy harvesting through thermoelectric, vibration, and radiofrequency power conversion

Nicholas S. Hudak and Glenn G. Amatucci
As sensors for a wide array of applications continue to shrink and become integrated, increasing attention has been focused on creating autonomous devices with long-lasting power supplies. To achieve this, energy will have to be harvested from the sensors' environment. An energy harvesting device ca ... [J. Appl. Phys. 103, 101301 (2008)] published Tue May 20, 2008.

Semiconductor-doped glass saturable absorbers for near-infrared solid-state lasers

A. M. Malyarevich, K. V. Yumashev, and A. A. Lipovskii
A survey of results on use of semiconductor-doped glass saturable absorbers for near-infrared passively mode-locked and Q-switched solid-state lasers is presented. Nanosized semiconductor particles (quantum dots) belong to quantum confined systems where motion of an electron and a hole is defined by ... [J. Appl. Phys. 103, 081301 (2008)] published Fri Apr 25, 2008.

Surface characterization and functionalization of carbon nanofibers

K. L. Klein, A. V. Melechko, T. E. McKnight, S. T. Retterer, P. D. Rack et al.
Carbon nanofibers are high-aspect ratio graphitic materials that have been investigated for numerous applications due to their unique physical properties such as high strength, low density, metallic conductivity, tunable morphology, chemical and environmental stabilities, as well as compatibility wi ... [J. Appl. Phys. 103, 061301 (2008)] published Mon Mar 17, 2008.

Internal photoemission at interfaces of high-kappa insulators with semiconductors and metals

V. V. Afanas'ev and A. Stesmans
Internal photoemission spectroscopy provides the most straightforward way to characterize the relative energies of electron states at interfaces of insulators with metals and semiconductors by measuring the spectral onset of electron/hole photoemission from one solid into another. The article review ... [J. Appl. Phys. 102, 081301 (2007)] published Thu Oct 25, 2007.

Perpendicular recording media for hard disk drives

S. N. Piramanayagam
Perpendicular recording technology has recently been introduced in hard disk drives for computer and consumer electronics applications. Although conceptualized in the late 1970s, making a product with perpendicular recording that has competing performance, reliability, and price advantage over the p ... [J. Appl. Phys. 102, 011301 (2007)] published Fri Jul 6, 2007.

Making waves: Kinetic processes controlling surface evolution during low energy ion sputtering

Wai Lun Chan and Eric Chason
When collimated beams of low energy ions are used to bombard materials, the surface often develops a periodic pattern or ripple structure. Different types of patterns are observed to develop under different conditions, with characteristic features that depend on the substrate material, the ion beam ... [J. Appl. Phys. 101, 121301 (2007)] published Wed Jun 20, 2007.

Diffusion in alumina

Robert H. Doremus
Experimental results on diffusion in alumina are summarized and critically discussed. The most reliable results are those on volume diffusion in single crystals (sapphire), and are available for a wide variety of substances, including the structural elements oxygen and alumina, water, monovalent cat ... [J. Appl. Phys. 100, 101301 (2006)] published Thu Nov 30, 2006.