Chapter 7 Phenomena in Solid Solutions

Publisher Summary The purpose of this chapter is to provide information on the phenomena in solid solutions. At the early stage of investigations, it did not seem that III-V compounds would always form mixed crystals, even one with another. It may be supposed from the beginning that, in the case of isovalent substitution, the substituting atom cannot be an active impurity affecting the type of conduction. Mixed crystals or solid solutions of substitution between III-V compounds represent semiconducting tetrahedral phases. Isovalent substitution taking place in these phases does not result in a formation of impurity (donor or acceptor) levels. Deviations from stoichiometric proportions in solid solutions of this kind do not exceed those typical of the starting III-V compounds. Many physical properties of these substances are intermediate with respect to those of the starting III-V compounds.