"The book is intended not only to provide an encyclopedia on the phase relations and compounds in ternary systems of III-V semiconductors for graduate-level students as well as for researchers at industrial and national laboratories and universities but may also serve as a comprehensive guide for experts in solid state sciences particularly of electronic materials. The book is introduced by a comprehensive preface declaring its use and content.
The content of the book follows the nomenclature of ternary systems III - X - V, where III = B, Al, Ga, In; V = N, P, As, Sb; and X covers all elements in the periodic table for which corresponding ternary information could be assembled from a total of 1492 relevant references: i.e. 3 chapters on B-X-{N,P,As} and 4 chapters for each of Al, Ga and In, {Al,Ga,In}-X-{N,P,As,Sb}. In these 15 chapters, the book is summarizing, for each of the 577 critically assessed ternary systems based on III-V semiconductors, information (whatever available) on (i) the ternary phase relations (isothermal section, liquidus projection, glass forming regions, isopleths), (ii) the hitherto identified ternary compounds and their synthesis (data on crystal structure, their homogeneity region as f(T,p), on phase transformation/modifications, on thermodynamic quantities), (iii) in some cases for crystal growth also equilibria with vapour and/or liquid, as well as (iv) data/graphs on pressure-temperature-composition. As is inherent to critical assessment work, original graphs were amended, whenever new data of higher quality superseded older values of lower impact. In all cases, where ambiguities could not be resolved by the assessor, all original data/graphs are presented.
In general, the information is presented in a clear manner illustrated by a large number of graphs (505). As the reader is taken step by step through the constitution of ternary systems based on III-V semiconductors, the information may be also useful for teaching in materials science. The compilation does not only (i) back research on electronic semiconductors, but (ii) via boron nitride (BN) also reaches into the science of superhard materials, via (iii) systems with low melting components such as Ga, In, Sb. It furthermore addresses research on lead-free solders and (iv) may provide basic knowledge to thermoelectric materials. Although the relative importance of ternary systems based on III-V semiconductors in industry or at the leading edge of fundamental science cannot be evaluated in such a data collection, students and researchers related to the afore mentioned subjects will, however, find it useful to have on their shelves such a concise description of critically assessed ternary systems based on III-V semiconductors, which, to this day, this book remains the only such one."
—Prof. Peter Franz Rogl, Institute of Materials Chemistry and Research, University of Vienna