Thanks to relentless scaling, coupled with advances in materials and process integration of semiconductor devices have enabled the exponential growth of applications enabling sensors and information technologies that have transformed society. The level of instrumentation grows daily with ever increasing intelligence and ability to communicate and automate many processes and industries in what is now known as the Internet of Things (IoT) at much higher speeds with the upcoming advent of 5G. Thanks to these advances the world is already smaller and flatter. The reality of living in a globally integrated world is upon us and is presenting us with many opportunities and challenges. This increased information content gives us a unique path to alleviate and find solutions to the very serious problems that pose some of the most important issues facing the world today; Climate change, water scarcity, soil depletion, overpopulation and social interaction. As technology advances we must be reminded that we are all now connected – economically, technically and socially, sharing an increasingly fragile planet. But we are also learning that just being connected may not be sufficient. We must solve many problems. As engineers, we have the knowledge and the responsibility to do so. In this talk, we will discuss how advances in semiconductor technology and electron devices have benefited society and the world in which we live. The extraordinary advances in devices and materials have provided us with unprecedented amounts of solutions and information at continually decreasing costs. In this lecture I will provide tangible evidence to illustrate how Electron Devices are influencing society, enabling us to better use the energy in a more sustainable manner and changing our interaction with other people near and far. I will also show how the Electron Devices Society EDS is funding projects and engaging many talented members to provide tangible solutions. We are now able to provide many people the ability to have access to advanced technology even in the most remote corners of the planet. We must leverage these advances to expand global educational opportunities, access to clean water, all while helping to preserve a sustainable and greener environment. We will provide information on initiatives and access to funding for engineering projects at the local level. Ultimately we must always bear in mind that the large number of scientific and technological advances must produce tangible results for the benefit and progress of humanity

A photovoltaic solar cell is an electronic device that transforms the energy of solar radiation (photons) into electrical energy (electric current, electrons). Photovoltaic solar cells are a clean and renewable energy source that have evolved over the years, improving their efficiency and lifespan. Although the most well-known and widely used solar cells are silicon-based ones, today you can find solar cells based on different technologies and materials such as gallium arsenide, cadmium telluride, amorphous silicon, copper, indium gallium selenide, polymers, quantum dots, perovskite, etc. (1st generation, 2nd generation and 3rd generation of solar cells). The new solar cells have new properties that have allowed the development of new applications such as wearable devices, sensors, the Internet of Things, architecture, agriculture, devices for medicine, textiles, decoration, etc. Each technology has advantages and disadvantages (efficiency, economic cost, lifetime, flexibility, environmental impact, etc.) and in general its use depends on the application. In this lecture we want to introduce the basic concepts of operation of a photovoltaic solar cell, the parameters that characterize it, analyze the limiting factors, electrical modeling and the different types of solar cells: silicic, thin film, III-V, perovskite, dye, organic, hybrid and tandem. Finally, it concludes with a perspective of the future and potentialities of photovoltaic solar cells

The widespread use of the electronics in computers, wireless communication systems, bank transactions, household appliances, electric vehicles, or a large variety of gadgets, has been possible thanks to the introduction of integrated circuit technologies based on semiconductors materials. Then, in this report, a description of the use of semiconductor materials in the design and fabrication of semiconductor devices, such as advanced transistor structures for integrated circuits, or various types of sensors, is introduced. Special attention is given to the use or modification, at the atomic scale, of semiconductor materials for their use in physical, chemical, and biological sensors. The sensors are considered as the sensorial appendixes of electronic systems that mimics the human being sensorial capacity. Therefore, the proper design, compatibility, and reliability of sensors become crucial for the development of the next generation of intelligent systems for medical, security, and environmental applications. All these aspects are addressed in this report. Brief biography Dr. Edmundo A. Gutiérrez D. got his PhD in 1993 from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) in Leuven, Belgium. The PhD work focused on the physics and electrical performance of submicron CMOS technologies for cryogenic applications. In 1993 was hired as a researcher at the Mexico National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE in Spanish). From 2000 to 2002 was in charge, as a Design Manager, of the Motorola Mexico Center for Semiconductor Technologies. From 2005 to 2006 was the Technical Director of the Intel Mexico Systems Research Center. Dr. Gutiérrez has published more than 160 scientific papers in international journals and conference proceedings, is author of two books, and has supervised 17 PhD thesis. He is Editor-In Chief of IEEE Transactions on Device and Materials Reliability, Editor of IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, IEEE Fellow member, and General Director of the Mexico National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics