Levels of Structural Modification of Noncrystalline Semiconductors and Limits of Their Applicability.

The method for the structural modification of noncrystalline semiconductors consists in controlling the properties of these materials by changing their structure at a fixed chemical composition. It is shown that there exist at least four levels of structural modification distinguished by changes in the material structure: the levels of short- and medium-range order, morphology, and the defect subsystem. Each level of structural modification affects a certain group of properties. The possibility and efficiency of changing the structure at different levels of the above classification is analyzed for covalent semiconducting compounds of elements belonging to Groups IV-VI of the periodic table and some systems on their basis. Based on this analysis, the applicability limits of various levels of structural modification are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]