From L. R. Dawson and S. T. Picreaux, MRS Bulletin May 1994, p. 45.

Compound semiconductors exhibit a wide range of lattice constants and band-gap energies. The lines in the plot indicate energy gaps of pseudobinary alloys formed from the compounds at the end points. The band-gap energies determine the wavelength of the light emitted from devices (light-emitting diodes or lasers) that would exploit optical transitions in these materials. The color of the emitted light is indicated in the figure.

As part of my research, I have studied the properties of heterojunctions between these materials, as well as the behavior of defects and impurities. A semiconductor of high current interest that I am working on and which is not included in the above figure (because its energy gap is too large) is GaN.

updated: 6/16/95