Introduction to Space Charge Effects in Semiconductors

Karl W. BÖEr

• 23 december 2009
• 9783642022357

Samenvatting:

Describing space-charge effects in semiconductors, this text moves from basic principles to advanced application in semiconducting devices. It uses detailed analyses of the transport, Poisson, and continuity equations to show the behavior of solution curves.

This book is the most comprehensive one to describe the basics of space-charge effects in semiconductors, starting from basic principles to advanced application in semiconducting devices. It uses detailed analyses of the transport, Poisson, and continuity equations to demonstrate the behavior of the solution curves of the complete set of field and current distributions, along with quantitative descriptions of the relevant band models of typical pn-junction and Schottky barrier devices. It emphasizes the relevance to actual devices and sets these results apart from more simple models of networks of diodes and resistors. The book is especially important for people interested in detail analysis of solar cells and their efficiencies.

This short Introduction into Space Charge E?ects in Semiconductors is designed for teaching the basics to undergraduates and show how space charges are created in semiconductors and what e?ect they have on the el- tric?eldandthe energybanddistributioninsuchmaterials,andconsequently on the current-voltage characteristics in semiconducting devices. Such space charge e?ects were described previously in numerous books, fromtheclassicsofSpenkeandShockleytothemorerecentonesofSeegerand others.Butmanymoredetailedinformationwereonlyavailableintheoriginal literatureandsomeofthemnotatall.Itseemstobeimportanttocollectallin a comprehensive Text that can be presented to students in Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Material Science to create the fundamental knowledge that is now essential for further development of more sophisticated semiconductor devices and solar cells. This book will go through every aspect of space charge e?ects and - scribe them from simple elementaries to the basics of semiconductor devices, systematically and in progressing detail. For simplicity we have chosen this description for a one-dimensional se- conductorthatpermitsasimpledemonstrationoftheresultsgraphicallywi- out requiring sometimes confusing perspective rendering. In order to clarify the principles involved, the book starts with a hy- thetical model, by assuming simple space charge distributions and deriving their e?ects on ?eld and potential distributions, using the Poisson equation. Itemphasizestheimportantsignrelationsoftheinterreactingvariables,space charge, ?eld, and potential (band edges). It then expands into simple semiconductor models that contain an abrupt nn-junction and gives an example of important space chargelimited currents, + as observed in nn -junctions.