The progress made in physics and technology of semiconductors depends main.ly on three families of materials： the group—IV elemental，Ⅲ—Ⅴ， and Ⅱ—Ⅵ pound semiconductors.Almost all ⅡⅥ pound semiconductors crystallize either in the zincblende or wurtzite structure.The first research papers on Ⅱ—Ⅶ pound semiconductors date back to the middle of the nieenth century.In the ensuring hundred years extensive literature has been accumulated as much research and development works are being carried out on these pound semiconductors.At present， the Ⅱ—Ⅵ pound semiconductors are widely used as photodetectors， x—ray sensors and scintillators， phosphors in lighting， displays， etc.New applications are continuously being proposed.Thus， it seems to timely bring together the most up—to—date information on the material and semiconducting properties of Ⅱ—Ⅵ pound semiconductors.