Introduction to the Electronic Properties of Materials

The subject of electronics, and in particular the electronic properties of materials, is one which has experienced unprecedented growth in the last thirty years. The discovery of the transistor and the subsequent development of integrated circuits has enabled us to manipulate and control the electronic properties of materials to such an extent that the entire telecommunications and computer industries are dependent on the electronic properties of a few semiconducting materials. The subject area is now so important that no modern physics, materials science or electrical engineering degree programme can be considered complete without a significant lecture course in electronic materials. Ultimately the course requirements of these three groups of students may be quite different, but at the initial stages of the discussion of electronic properties of materials, the course requirements are broadly identical for each of these groups. Furthermore, as the subject continues to grow in importance, the initial teaching of this vital subject needs to occur earlier in the curriculum in order to give the students sufficient time later to cover the increasing amount of material.