heterostructured

Heterostructured refers to a material or device composed of two or more distinct materials joined together at an interface. These constituent materials possess different properties, such as their chemical composition, crystal structure, electronic band structure, or lattice constants. The key characteristic of a heterostructure is the deliberate engineering of this interface to achieve novel functionalities or enhanced performance compared to the individual constituent materials.

The formation of heterostructures can be achieved through various fabrication techniques, including epitaxial growth, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, and atomic layer deposition. Epitaxial growth, for example, involves depositing one material onto a crystalline substrate of another material, often resulting in a highly ordered and coherent interface. The mismatch in lattice constants between the materials can lead to strain, which can further influence the electronic and optical properties of the heterostructure.

Heterostructures are fundamental building blocks in many advanced technological applications. In electronics, they are crucial for the operation of transistors, such as high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), which utilize the unique electronic properties at the interface between two semiconductors. In optoelectronics, heterostructures are employed in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes, where the band alignment at the interface controls the recombination of electrons and holes to generate light. Solar cells also frequently utilize heterojunctions to efficiently separate photogenerated charge carriers. The ability to combine materials with complementary properties makes heterostructures a versatile platform for designing next-generation devices.