Introduction

Abstract

The ability of mankind to produce and process materials has been an important aspect of human development. This is reflected in the names of certain historical periods, which mirror the ability of mankind at that time to manufacture or work different materials (e.g. the Bronze Age and Iron Age). From these examples, it is clear that for a long time the mechanical properties of matter were of key interest. This situation has changed tremendously in the last century, in which the main attention has been focused on the electronic properties of matter. Possibly, future historians will call this period the “Silicon Age” [1]. It is this material and its usage in semiconductor and information technology that have had one of the most pronounced influences on everyday life.