abstract: Semiconductor manufacturing economics necessitate the development of innovative device measurement techniques for quick assessment of products. Several novel electrical measurement techniques will be proposed for screening silicon device parameters. The studied parameters range from oxide reliability, and carrier lifetime in MOS capacitors to the power MOSFET reverse recovery. It will be shown that positive charge trapping is a dominant process when thick oxides are stressed through the ramped voltage test (RVT). Exploiting the physics behind positive charge generation/trapping at high electric fields, a fast I-V measurement technique is proposed that can be used to effectively distinguish the ultra-thick oxides' intrinsic quality at low electric fields. Next, two novel techniques will be presented for studying the carrier lifetime in MOS Capacitor devices. It will be shown that the deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) can be applied to MOS test structures as a swift mean for screening the generation lifetime. Recombination lifetime will also be addressed by introducing the optically-excited MOS technique as a promising tool. The last part of this work is devoted to the reverse recovery behavior of the body diode of power MOSFETs. The correct interpretation of the LDMOS reverse recovery is challenging and requires special attention. A simple approach will be presented to extract meaningful lifetime values from the reverse recovery of LDMOS body-diodes exploiting their gate voltage and the magnitude of the reverse bias. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Materials Science and Engineering 2015

abstract: Nanowires are one-dimensional (1D) structures with diameter on the nanometer scales with a high length-to-diameter aspect ratio. Nanowires of various materials including semiconductors, dielectrics and metals have been intensively researched in the past two decades for applications to electrical and optical devices. Typically, nanowires are synthesized using the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) approach, which allows defect-free 1D growth despite the lattice mismatch between nanowires and substrates. Lattice mismatch issue is a serious problem in high-quality thin film growth of many semiconductors and non-semiconductors. Therefore, nanowires provide promising platforms for the applications requiring high crystal quality materials. With the 1D geometry, nanowires are natural optical waveguides for light guiding and propagation. By introducing feedback mechanisms to nanowire waveguides, such as the cleaved end facets, the nanowires can work as ultra-small size lasers. Since the first demonstration of the room-temperature ultraviolet nanowire lasers in 2001, the nanowire lasers covering from ultraviolet to mid infrared wavelength ranges have been intensively studied. This dissertation focuses on the optical characterization and laser fabrication of two nanowire materials: erbium chloride silicate nanowires and composition-graded CdSSe semiconductor alloy nanowires. Chapter 1 – 5 of this dissertation presents a comprehensive characterization of a newly developed erbium compound material, erbium chloride silicate (ECS) in a nanowire form. Extensive experiments demonstrated the high crystal quality and excellent optical properties of ECS nanowires. Optical gain higher than 30 dB/cm at 1.53 μm wavelength is demonstrated on single ECS nanowires, which is higher than the gain of any reported erbium materials. An ultra-high Q photonic crystal micro-cavity is designed on a single ECS nanowire towards the ultra-compact lasers at communication wavelengths. Such ECS nanowire lasers show the potential applications of on-chip photonics integration. Chapter 6 – 7 presents the design and demonstration of dynamical color-controllable lasers on a single CdSSe alloy nanowire. Through the defect-free VLS growth, engineering of the alloy composition in a single nanowire is achieved. The alloy composition of CdSxSe1-x uniformly varies along the nanowire axis from x=1 to x=0, giving the opportunity of multi-color lasing in a monolithic structure. By looping the wide-bandgap end of the alloy nanowire through nanoscale manipulation, the simultaneous two-color lasing at green and red colors are demonstrated. The 107 nm wavelength separation of the two lasing colors is much larger than the gain bandwidth of typical semiconductors. Since the two-color lasing shares the output port, the color of the total lasing output can be controlled dynamically between the two fundamental colors by changing the relative output power of two lasing colors. Such multi-color lasing and continuous color tuning in a wide spectral range would eventually enable color-by-design lasers to be used for lighting, display and many other applications. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 2015

La protection contre les décharges électrostatiques (ESD) est un fait necessaire dans chaque circuit intégré. Elle se fait par le déploiement sur la puce d'un réseau de dispositifs spéciaux, à côtés des éléments fonctionnels. La demande pour des améliorations en continu dans la conception et la simulation de l'ESD apporte le besoin de modèles nouveaux et plus précises. La SCR (« Silicon Controlled Rectifier ») est l'un des dispositifs les plus efficaces de protection contre l'ESD. Un nouveau modèle électrique, qui peut être utilisé pour évaluer les structures de protection complexe dont il fait partie, a été développé au cours de cette thèse. Construit avec une forte relation entre les phénomènes physiques et ses équations, il a été parametrisé geometriquement, offrant la possibilité d'adapter et d'optimiser le dispositif selon le niveau de protection nécessaire. Par ailleurs, une étude à haute fréquence sur le SCR et la diode de protection ESD a été réalisé, conduisant à un modèle capable de prédire l'impact de ces dispositifs ont sur le circuit protégé. / Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is a must in every integrated circuit. It is done by deploying a network of special devices on-chip, alongside the functional elements. The demand for continuously improvements in ESD design and simulations brings the need of new and more accurate scalable models. The SCR (silicon controlled rectifier) is one of the most efficient ESD protection devices. A new electrical model, that can be used to evaluate the complex protection structures of which it is part of, was developed during this thesis. Built with a strong relation between the physical phenomena and its equations, it was rendered scalable, offering the possibility of tailoring and optimizing the device according to the needed protection level. Moreover, a high-frequency study on the SCR and the ESD protection diode was carried out, leading to a model able to predict the impact these devices have on the protected circuit.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-03-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:48:07Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 menarim_bc_me_botfmvz.pdf: 322994 bytes, checksum: 061ca67256aa286109bdc9976c3cf3c3 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a caracterização das alterações radiográficas na articulação metacarpofalângica de cavalos que desenvolvem a modalidade de Três Tambores. Foram utilizados 30 animais oriundos dos Estados de São Paulo e Paraná, que participam desta modalidade e ao exame clínico apresentaram claudicação pós-flexão. Ao exame clínico foi observado que 13,3% (n=4) apresentaram claudicação espontânea (CE) e os demais somente após a flexão forçada. Entre os animais considerados foi constatada predominância de claudicação de grau II no membro anterior direito (MAD) e de grau I no membro anterior esquerdo (MAE). Ao exame radiográfico constatouse que 3,3% (n=1) não apresentaram anormalidades radiográficas. Dentre os demais animais observou-se incidência de: sesamoidite (S) (70%), havendo predominância de apresentação nos sesamóides laterais dos MAD; sinovite vilonodular (SV) (53,3%), com prevalência de apresentação dorsal de grau leve no MAE; osteoartrite (OA) (36%) prevalecendo formação de osteófito na face medial da falange proximal em MAD/MAE; osteocondrite dissecante (OCD) (13,3%) com predomínio de apresentação de fragmentos oriundos da porção dorsal proximal da crista sagital mediana em ambos os membros; capsulite (C) (13,3%) prevalente no MAE e edema de tecidos moles (ETM) (6,6%) distribuídos igualmente em ambos os membros. Esta modalidade de diagnóstico por imagem, apesar de bastante estabelecida, necessita de complementos do exame ultrasonográfico, no entanto proporcionou a criação de referências para Veterinários que trabalhem com claudicação em cavalos de Três Tambores. / The objective of this study was to determine the characterization of radiographic abnormalities at the metacarpophalangeal joint of Barrel Race horses. Thirty barrel race horses presenting lameness after joint forced flexion, originated from the states of São Paulo and Paraná were submitted into this study. At the clinical examination it was observed that 13,3% (n=4) exhibited spontaneous lameness (CE) and the other horses only after forced flexion. It was observed prevalence of grade II lameness from the right forelimb (MAD) and grade I lameness from the left forelimb (MAE). By the radiographic examination it was observed that 3,3% (n=1) did not show radiographic changes. Among the other horses, it was observed the following incidence: sesamoiditis (S) (70%), with predominance of presentation in the lateral sesamoid bones of the MAD; vilonodular synovitis (VS) (53,3%), with presentation prevalence at the proximal dorsal surface in the MAE; osteoarthritis (OA) (36%), exhibiting prevalence of osteophyte formation in the medial surface of the proximal falanx in MAD/MAE; osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) (13,3%) predominating presentation of osteochondral fragments originated of the dorsal proximal surface of the sagital ridge in both forelimbs; capsulitis (C) (13,3%) prevalent in the MAE and soft tissue edema (STE) (6,6%) equally distributed in both forelimbs. The radiographic examination, despite being very established and need complementary data from ultrasonographic examination, promoted the creation of a small database useful as a reference for Barrel Racing horse Veterinarians.

Orientador: Erivaldo Antonio da Silva / Banca: Hélio Ricardo Silva / Banca: Rubens Augusto Camargo Lamparelli / Resumo: Imagens CCD/CBERS 2 nas bandas B2, B3 e B4, dos anos de 2004 e 2005, de Mirante do Paranapanema, SP (Brasil), foram transformadas em reflectância de superfície usando o modelo 5S de correção atmosférica e normalizadas radiometricamente tendo como base o trabalho desenvolvido por Hall et al. (1991). O objetivo foi caracterizar espectralmente áreas de pastagens de Brachiaria brizantha (Hoschst ex A. Rich) Stapt, em fase de florescimento, isentas e infectadas com a doença "mela-das-sementes da braquiária", no sentido de possibilitar a sua detecção através da comparação entre os valores de FRBS - Fator de Reflectância Bidirecional de Superfície. Ao mesmo tempo, objetivou-se também, avaliar a eficácia das imagens CCD/CBERS-2 para a obtenção de respostas espectrais de pastagens. Os valores de reflectância de superfície foram comparados e analisados através da variação espectral existente entre as áreas sadias e doentes e os resultados indicaram que as principais diferenças foram a diminuição da reflectância na banda B3 e o aumento da reflectância na banda B4 nas áreas doentes. Diferenças significativas também foram constatadas pela comparação entre dados obtidos de imagens índices de vegetação NDVI e RVI. A metodologia empregada com o uso de imagens CCD/CBERS-2 mostrou-se eficaz para descriminar áreas infectadas com a doença. / Abstract: CCD/CBERS 2 images in the spectral bands B2, B3 and B4 of the years 2004 and 2005, from Mirante do Paranapanema, SP (Brazil), were transformed in surface reflectance images using the model 5S of atmospheric correction and radiometrically normalized tends as base the work developed by Hall et al. (1991). The objective was characterize spectrally areas of pastures of Brachiaria brizantha (Hoschst ex A. Rich) Stapt, in your flowering phase, exempt and infected with the disease "mela-das-sementes da braquiária", in the sense of making possible your detection through the comparison among the FRBS - Surface of Bidirectional Reflectance Factor values. At the same time, it was aimed at to evaluate the effectiveness of the CCD/CBERS-2 images for the obtaining of spectral response of pastures. The surface of reflectance values were compared and analyzed through the existent spectral variation between the healthy and diseased areas and the results they indicated that the main differences were the decrease of the reflectance in the band B3 and the increase of the reflectance in the band B4 in the diseased areas. Significant differences were also verified by the comparison among obtained of vegetation indexes NDVI and RVI data. The methodology used with the use of CCD/CBERS-2 images it was shown effective for discrimination the areas infected with the disease. / Mestre

O amido é um dos polímeros naturais mais aplicados na indústria farmacêutica por sua versatilidade, disponibilidade e por ser um produto renovável. O pinhão é a semente da Araucaria angustifolia, a espécie de conífera nativa do Brasil mais importante economicamente, e é uma boa fonte de amido (aproximadamente 36 % em base úmida). A criação de novos usos para o amido de pinhão pode contribuir na preservação desta espécie pela utilização de um produto que geralmente sobra ao final da safra e, muitas vezes, é utilizado para alimentação animal. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar uma fonte de amido alternativa a partir do pinhão para uso como excipiente farmacêutico. Para isso, foi avaliada a metodologia de extração do amido de pinhão a partir do pinhão nativo (in natura) e do pinhão cozido em autoclave a 120 °C por 15 minutos. Os produtos obtidos foram caracterizados considerando as características de fluxo, através da determinação do ângulo de repouso, densidade bruta e de compactação, Índice de Carr e Fator de Hausner, conteúdo de umidade, pH, solubilidade em água fria, tamanho e distribuição de tamanho de partícula, morfologia através da microscopia ótica com luz normal e polarizada e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), presença de compostos fenólicos, avaliação colorimétrica, difração de raios-X e avaliação das propriedades térmicas através da temperatura de gelatinização e entalpia de gelatinização. Para fins de comparação, os mesmo parâmetros foram avaliados em uma amostra de amido de milho farmacêutico comercial. Os resultados mostraram que a extração do amido de pinhão nativo (APN) foi eficiente, uma vez que o percentual de amido em base seca (b.s.) encontrado foi de 94,53 ± 0,13 %. O amido de pinhão cozido (APC) apresentou rendimento de extração muito mais baixo que APN e menor conteúdo de amido, demonstrando menor eficiência de extração. Em relação à caracterização, os produtos obtidos apresentaram diferenças principalmente quanto ao tamanho de partícula, cor, presença de fenólicos, cristalinidade, morfologia e solubilidade. A amostra APC apresentou maior tamanho de partícula, com uma distribuição de tamanhos mais larga, deixando o pó menos homogêneo que APN e AMF, que se mostraram semelhantes. O formato do grânulo de APN é mais arredondado que AMF, enquanto que APC, com grânulos maiores, apresentou formato muito irregular. A temperatura de gelatinização e a entalpia de gelatinização de APN foram mais baixas que de AMF, provavelmente em função de seu menor conteúdo de amilose. APN e AMF apresentaram características de semicristalinidade através dos diagramas de difração de raios-X e APC demonstrou ser um produto amorfo, como se espera de amidos prégelatinizados, apresentando cor mais escura em função da presença de compostos fenólicos. As propriedades de fluxo dos pós apresentaram-se semelhantes, sendo que quando avaliada através do ângulo de repouso, as amostras APN e APC foram classificadas como fluxo aceitável enquanto que AMF foi classificada como fluxo pobre. Por outro lado, quando avaliado o fluxo de acordo com Índice de Carr e Fator de Hausner, APC e AMF foram classificadas como fluxo aceitável e APN como fluxo pobre. APC apresentou uma melhora significativa na solubilidade, onde foi classificado como ligeiramente solúvel enquanto que APN e AMF foram classificados como muito pouco solúveis. O pH de APN é mais próximo da neutralidade enquanto que APC e AMF são considerados como fracamente ácidos. O conteúdo de umidade dos amidos extraídos a partir do pinhão foi menor que do amido de milho comercial. Apesar das diferenças apresentadas, os amidos de pinhão nativo e de milho se assemelham, fazendo com que o amido de pinhão nativo possa ser utilizado como excipiente farmacêutico. / Starch is a natural polymer widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for its versatility and availability, and also because it is a renewable product. Pinhão is the seed of Araucaria angustifolia, the more economically important conifer species native in Brazil, and is a good source of starch (about 36 %). Some new uses of pinhão starch can contribute to preserve this specie by using a product that very often left at the end of season and, in general, is simply used as animal feed. The purpose of this study was characterizing an alternative source of starch from pinhão to use as pharmaceutical excipient. Starch extraction method was evaluated using native and cooked pinhão in autoclave at 120 ºC for 15 minutes. The products obtained were characterized considering flow properties, by determining the angle of repose, bulk and tapped density, Carr index and Hausner ratio, moisture content, pH, solubility in cold water, particle size and size distribution, morphological characteristics by optical microscopy with and without polarized light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), phenolic compounds, colorimetric evaluation, X-ray diffraction and thermal properties through gelatinization temperature and enthalpy. For comparison, the same parameters were evaluated in a sample of pharmacist commercial corn starch. Results showed that native pinhão starch (NPS) was effective, since the starch content found was 94,53 ± 0.13 % on dry basis (d.b.). Cooked pinhão starch (CPS) showed values of yield extraction and starch content much lower than NPS indicating lower extraction efficiency. The different starches differ of particle size, color, phenolic presence, crystallinity, morphology and solubility. CPS sample showed a higher particle size with a wider size distribution and, consequently, granules size less homogeneous than NPS and PCS, which were similar. NPS granule shape is more rounded than PCS, whereas CPS, with larger granules, showed very irregular shape. NPS gelatinization temperature and enthalpy are lower than PCS, probably due its lower amylose content. NPS and PCS showed a semicrystalline structure through X-ray diffraction patters and CPS had amorphous characteristics, as expected for a pre-gelatinized starch. In addition, CPS had a darker color due the presence of phenolics compounds which migrates from coat to seed during cooking. Flow properties of powders were similar, whereas when evaluated through angle of repose, NPS and CPS samples were classified as acceptable flow and PCS had a poor flow. Moreover, when evaluated according to Carr index and Hausner ratio PCS and CPS were classified as acceptable and NPS as poor flow. CPS showed an improvement in solubility, which was classified as slightly soluble while NPS and PCS were classified as very low soluble. NPS pH was close to neutrality while PCS and CPS were considered as weakly acid and the moisture content from pinhão starches (NPS and CPS) were smaller than commercial corn starch. Despite the differences observed, native pinhão starch is similar of corn starch and could be used as pharmaceutical excipient.

A palmeira Livistona chinensis, nativa do sul do Japão, é muito utilizada como planta ornamental em paisagismos em todo o território brasileiro, e além de adaptar-se bem a vários tipos de solos é de fácil reprodução. Essa palmeira produz uma bainha fibrosa na base de seu pecíolo, que é de fácil extração, plana, flexível e porosa, com características ainda pouco conhecidas e exploradas, é um material de fonte renovável que instiga a criatividade para seu uso tanto de forma artesanal quanto industrial. Neste contexto a caracterização da bainha fibrosa da palmeira Livistona chinensis se torna relevante, pois pode representar um leque de oportunidades para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos para o mercado. A caracterização da bainha fibrosa foi realizada com auxílio de microscópio eletrônico de varredura, espectrometria de energia dispersiva de raios-X, microtomografia, análise termogravimétrica, difração de raios-X, composição química e umidade, espectroscopia no infravermelho por transformada de Fourier Também foram obtidos valores para densidade, gramatura e resistência à tração, incluindo índice de absorção acústica, condutividade térmica e Termografia infravermelha. Os ensaios e análises realizados indicaram que a fibra possui propriedades e características que são comparáveis a outras fibras lignocelulósicas e os resultados estão bem próximas aos encontrados para as fibras de coco, como a composição química, densidade e índice de cristalinidade. Um dos fatores relevantes é o índice de condutividade térmica da bainha fibrosa que se manteve próximo aos valores de materiais isolantes utilizados industrialmente como a lã de rocha e lã de vidro. Quanto aos ensaios de termografia de infravermelho, que apontam seu potencial para ser usado como isolante térmico. / The Livistona chinensis palm, native to southern Japan, is widely used as an ornamental plant in landscaping throughout the Brazilian territory, and besides adapting well to various types of soils, it is easy to reproduce. It produces a fibrous sheath at the base of its petiole, which is easy to extract, flat, flexible and porous, with characteristics still little known and exploited, is a renewable source material, and which instigates creativity for its use both artisanly and industrial. In this context the characterization of the fibrous sheath of palmeira Livistona chinensis becomes relevant, since it can represent a range of opportunities for the development of new products for the market. The characterization of the fibrous sheath was performed with scanning electron microscope, X-ray dispersive energy spectrometry, microtomography, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, chemical composition and humidity, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy We also obtained values for density, weight and tensile strength, including acoustic absorption index, thermal conductivity and infrared thermography. The tests and analyzes indicated that the fiber has properties and characteristics that are comparable to other lignocellulosic fibers and the results are very close to those found for coconut fibers, such as chemical composition, density and crystallinity index. One of the relevant factors is the thermal conductivity index of the fibrous sheath that remained close to the values of insulating materials used industrially as rock wool and glass wool. Regarding the infrared thermography tests, which point out its potential to be used as thermal insulation.

abstract: Wind measurements are fundamental inputs for the evaluation of potential energy yield and performance of wind farms. Three-dimensional scanning coherent Doppler lidar (CDL) may provide a new basis for wind farm site selection, design, and control. In this research, CDL measurements obtained from multiple wind energy developments are analyzed and a novel wind farm control approach has been modeled. The possibility of using lidar measurements to more fully characterize the wind field is discussed, specifically, terrain effects, spatial variation of winds, power density, and the effect of shear at different layers within the rotor swept area. Various vector retrieval methods have been applied to the lidar data, and results are presented on an elevated terrain-following surface at hub height. The vector retrieval estimates are compared with tower measurements, after interpolation to the appropriate level. CDL data is used to estimate the spatial power density at hub height. Since CDL can measure winds at different vertical levels, an approach for estimating wind power density over the wind turbine rotor-swept area is explored. Sample optimized layouts of wind farm using lidar data and global optimization algorithms, accounting for wake interaction effects, have been explored. An approach to evaluate spatial wind speed and direction estimates from a standard nested Coupled Ocean and Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) model and CDL is presented. The magnitude of spatial difference between observations and simulation for wind energy assessment is researched. Diurnal effects and ramp events as estimated by CDL and COAMPS were inter-compared. Novel wind farm control based on incoming winds and direction input from CDL's is developed. Both yaw and pitch control using scanning CDL for efficient wind farm control is analyzed. The wind farm control optimizes power production and reduces loads on wind turbines for various lidar wind speed and direction inputs, accounting for wind farm wake losses and wind speed evolution. Several wind farm control configurations were developed, for enhanced integrability into the electrical grid. Finally, the value proposition of CDL for a wind farm development, based on uncertainty reduction and return of investment is analyzed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering 2013

abstract: The research described in this dissertation involved the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to characterize II-VI and III-V compound semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and dilute-nitride alloys grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and intended for photovoltaic applications. The morphology of CdTe QDs prepared by the post-annealing MBE method were characterized by various microscopy techniques including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and high-angle annular-dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Extensive observations revealed that the of QD shapes were not well-defined, and the QD size and spatial distribution were not determined by the amount of CdTe deposition. These results indicated that the formation of II-VI QDs using a post-annealing treatment did not follow the conventional growth mechanism for III-V and IV-IV materials. The structural properties of dilute-nitride GaAsNx films grown using plasma-assisted MBE were characterized by TEM and HAADF-STEM. A significant amount of the nitrogen incorporated into the dilute nitride films was found to be interstitial, and that fluctuations in local nitrogen composition also occurred during growth. Post-growth partial relaxation of strain resulted in the formation of {110}-oriented microcracks in the sample with the largest substitutional nitrogen composition. Single- and multi-layered InAs QDs grown on GaAsSb/GaAs composite substrates were investigated using HR-TEM and HAADF-STEM. Correlation between the structural and optoelectronic properties revealed that the GaAsSb barrier layers had played an important role in tuning the energy-band alignments but without affecting the overall structural morphology. However, according to both XRD measurement and electron microscopy the densities of dislocations increased as the number of QD layers built up. An investigation of near-wetting layer-free InAs QDs incorporated with AlAs/GaAs spacer layers was carried out. The microscopy observations revealed that both embedded and non-embedded near-wetting layer-free InAs QDs did not have well-defined shapes unlike conventional InAs QDs. According to AFM analysis and plan-view TEM characterization, the InAs QDs incorporated with spacer layers had smaller dot density and more symmetrical larger sizes with an apparent bimodal size distribution (two distinct families of large and small dots) in comparison with conventional InAs QDs grown without any spacer layer. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering 2014

abstract: ABSTRACT This thesis focuses on structural characterizations and optical properties of Si, Ge based semiconductor alloys. Two material systems are characterized: Si-based III-V/IV alloys, which represent a possible pathway to augment the optical performance of elemental silicon as a solar cell absorber layer, and Ge-based Ge1-ySny and Ge1-x-ySixSny systems which are applicable to long wavelength optoelectronics. Electron microscopy is the primary tool used to study structural properties. Electron Energy Loss spectroscopy (EELS), Ellipsometry, Photoluminescence and Raman Spectroscopy are combined to investigate electronic band structures and bonding properties. The experiments are closely coupled with structural and property modeling and theory. A series of III-V-IV alloys have been synthesized by the reaction of M(SiH3)3 (M = P, As) with Al atoms from a Knudsen cell. In the AlPSi3 system, bonding configurations and elemental distributions are characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)/EELS and correlated with bulk optical behavior. The incorporation of N was achieved by addition of N(SiH3)3 into the reaction mixture yielding [Al(As1-xNx)]ySi5-2yalloys. A critical point analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry data reveals the existence of direct optical transitions at energies as low as 2.5 eV, well below the lowest direct absorption edge of Si at 3.3 eV. The compositional dependence of the lowest direct gap and indirect gap in Ge1-ySny alloys extracted from room temperature photoluminescence indicates a crossover concentration of yc =0.073, much lower than virtual crystal approximation but agrees well with large atomic supercells predictions. A series of Ge-rich Ge1-x-ySixSny samples with a fixed 3-4% Si content and progressively increasing Sn content in the 4-10% range are grown and characterized by electron microscopy and photoluminescence. The ternary represents an attractive alternative to Ge1-ySny for applications in IR optoelectronic technologies. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Physics 2014