Semiconductor research. Researcher using forceps to prepare a semiconductor circuit by the use of thin film technology. This uses a strong vacuum in which to deposit thin layers of a material atom by atom. The material is heated and evaporates into the vacuum. It can be directed onto the surface by a range of techniques, including using electricity to charge the surface and attract the materials to be deposited. The substrate being used here is silicon. This can be doped with other chemicals to produce a semiconductor material. Semiconductors are used in a wide range of electronics, including computer technology.