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A heterostructure is formed when thin semiconductor layers of different compositions are grown epitaxially on a bulk semiconductor wafer. This process allows for the modification of the material's band gap, enabling the creation of semiconductor properties not found in nature.1

Semiconductors are materials with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. Their conductivity is sensitive to factors like temperature and impurities. Common semiconductors include silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), as well as compound semiconductors like gallium arsenide (GaAs).23

The electronic properties of semiconductors are understood through their band structure, which includes energy bands like the valence band and conduction band, separated by an energy gap or bandgap. The size of this band gap determines a material's conductivity. In semiconductors, this gap is narrow enough for electrons to be excited into the conduction band, allowing for electrical conduction. This property makes semiconductors crucial for electronic devices such as diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits.452

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