Page 41 - Semiconductor For Micro- and Nanotechnology An Introduction For Engineers

The Crystal Lattice System

Figure 2.7. Silicon nitride appears
in many crystalline configurations.
α
The structure of and of β
Si N 4 are based on vertical
3
stacks of SiN 4 tetrahedra, as
shown in (I) and (II) respectively. (I) (II)

whose constituents are taken from the columns III and V of the periodic
table. The atoms form into a zinc-blende crystal, structurally similar to
the diamond-like structure of silicon, but with gallium and arsenic atoms
alternating, see Figure 2.8.

Figure 2.8. The zinc-blende struc-
ture of gallium arsenide. The two
atom types are represented by
spheres of differing diameter. Also
see Figure 2.2.

38 Semiconductors for Micro and Nanosystem Technology