Book excerpt: VLSI Electronics Microstructure Science, Volume 13: Metal-Semiconductor Contacts and Devices presents the physics, technology, and applications of metal-semiconductor barriers in digital integrated circuits. The emphasis is placed on the interplay among the theory, processing, and characterization techniques in the development of practical metal-semiconductor contacts and devices. This volume contains chapters that are devoted to the discussion of the physics of metal-semiconductor interfaces and its basic phenomena; fabrication procedures; and interface characterization techniques, particularly, ohmic contacts. Contacts that involve polycrystalline silicon; applications of the metal-semiconductor barriers in MOS, bipolar, and MESFET digital integrated circuits; and methods for measuring the barrier height are covered as well. Process engineers, device physicists, circuit designers, and students of this discipline will find the book very useful.