Materials containing picocrystalline quantum dots that form artificial atoms are disclosed. The picocrystalline quantum dots (in the form of born icosahedra with a nearly-symmetrical nuclear configuration) can replace corner silicon atoms in a structure that demonstrates both short range and long-range order as determined by x-ray diffraction of actual samples. A novel class of boron-rich compositions that self-assemble from boron, silicon, hydrogen and, optionally, oxygen is also disclosed. The preferred stoichiometric range for the compositions is (B.sub.12H.sub.w).sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z with 3≤w≤5, 2≤x≤4, 2≤y≤5 and 0≤z≤3. By varying oxygen content and the presence or absence of a significant impurity such as gold, unique electrical devices can be constructed that improve upon and are compatible with current semiconductor technology.

A nitride semiconductor structure includes a Group III nitride semiconductor portion and a Group II-IV nitride semiconductor portion. The Group III nitride semiconductor portion is single crystalline. The Group III nitride semiconductor portion has a predetermined crystallographic plane. The Group II-IV nitride semiconductor portion is provided on the predetermined crystallographic plane of the Group III nitride semiconductor portion. The Group II-IV nitride semiconductor portion is single crystalline. The Group II-IV nitride semiconductor portion contains a Group II element and a Group IV element. The Group II-IV nitride semiconductor portion forms a heterojunction with the Group III nitride semiconductor portion. The predetermined crystallographic plane is a crystallographic plane other than a (0001) plane.

A semiconductor device includes an extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator substrate (ETSOI) having a base substrate, a thin semiconductor layer and a buried dielectric therebetween. A device channel is formed in the thin semiconductor layer. Source and drain regions are formed at opposing positions relative to the device channel. The source and drain regions include an n-type material deposited on the buried dielectric within a thickness of the thin semiconductor layer. A gate structure is formed over the device channel.

A laser sintering deposition method for disposing lead selenide onto a substrate. The method includes: wet-milling a lead selenide ingot mixed with methanol into a colloidal slurry containing nanocrystals; separating the colloidal slurry into nanocrystal particles and the methanol; depositing the nanocrystal particles to a substrate; and emitting coherent infrared light onto the nanocrystal particles for fusing into a lead selenide crystalline film. Afterwards, the lead selenide film can be exposed to oxygen to form a lead selenite layer, and subsequently to iodine gas to produce a lead iodide layer onto the lead selenite layer.

Systems and methods are described herein to include an epitaxial metal layer between a rare earth oxide and a semiconductor layer. Systems and methods are described to grow a layered structure, comprising a substrate, a first rare earth oxide layer epitaxially grown over the substrate, a first metal layer epitaxially grown over the rare earth oxide layer, and a first semiconductor layer epitaxially grown over the first metal layer. Specifically, the substrate may include a porous portion, which is usually aligned with the metal layer, with or without a rare earth oxide layer in between.

A manufacturing method of an indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film based on a solution method is disclosed. The manufacturing method includes: a step of providing an array substrate; a step of obtaining a dispersion solution by mixing ITO grains, an organic small molecule phase transfer agent, and an N-chlorosuccinimide (NCs) solution; a step of obtaining uniformly assembled ITO grains by coating the dispersion solution onto a passivation layer and baking to remove the organic small molecule phase transfer agent; and a step of obtaining the ITO thin film by annealing at an inert atmosphere to refine the ITO grains.

A stacked structure may include a first material layer, a two-dimensional material layer on the first material layer, and a second material layer on the two-dimensional material layer. The two-dimensional material layer may include a plurality of holes that each expose a portion of the first material layer. The second material layer may be coupled to the first material layer through the plurality of holes.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming Group VA element containing thin films, such as Sb, Sb—Te, Ge—Sb and Ge—Sb—Te thin films are provided, along with related compositions and structures. Sb precursors of the formula Sb(SiR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3).sub.3 are preferably used, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are alkyl groups. As, Bi and P precursors are also described. Methods are also provided for synthesizing these Sb precursors. Methods are also provided for using the Sb thin films in phase change memory devices.

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, first and second fin structures are formed over a substrate, an isolation insulating layer is formed over the substrate, a gate structure is formed over channel regions of the first and second fin structures, source/drain regions of the first and second fin structure are recessed, and an epitaxial source/drain structure is formed over the recessed first and second fin structures. The epitaxial source/drain structure is a merged structure having a merger point, and a height of a bottom of the merger point from an upper surface of the isolation insulating layer is 50% or more of a height of the channel regions of the first and second fin structures from the upper surface of the isolation insulating layer.

Disclosed herein are laser-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition devices and methods of use thereof.