epitaxy

Epitaxy is a process used in the manufacturing of layered semiconductor materials, where a crystalline film is grown on a crystalline substrate in such a way that the film's atomic arrangement aligns precisely with the substrate’s crystal structure. This results in a high-quality, uniform layer essential for electronic devices like transistors and solar cells. Essentially, epitaxy guides the growth of new crystal layers, ensuring they grow in the same orientation as the underlying material, which improves the performance and efficiency of electronic components.