Abstract. In recent years, first-principles quantum-mechanical simulations have become established as a complementary tool to experiments in the design and characterization of new materials. Here we illustrate this in the case of boron nitride (BN) analogues of conjugated organic polymers which offer a cheap alternative to inorganic semiconductors in the manufacture of electronic devices. By analogy with heterostructures, such as quantum wells and superlattices, currently used by the conventional semiconductor industry, we show how copolymers consisting of sections of carbon and BN can be designed to tune the electronic properties of these new materials.

Print publication: Issue 42 (28 October 2002)
Received 31 May 2002
Published 11 October 2002